Cure for Laziness? How do you motivate yourself?

MaudeBeige

So... Log those calories now and next time you post wait 5 minutes before disappearing off to the kitchen!!!

Oh yes, WATER... I drink loads of water, especially in the beginning. Bit harder now as I am back at work. (Yes, started my mission when I was on holiday!)

geekymom57

How great that you got immediate feedback and support--that's one of the benefits of this site, I believe--people are there if/when you need them. The minute (well, maybe not the minute, but the moment) I start to feel like I don't want to go to the gym, I don't want to use our elliptical, etc., I think of what I would be doing with that time instead and if it's more valuable to me than the other activity I'm avoiding. Facebook or weeding? On-line browsing or the gym and a sauna afterwards? Feeling fat and unhappy that I've ignored my health and fitness needs and put others' ahead of mine or taking the time to get healthy and fit and be a good role model to my young adult daughters? You get the picture.

If you're someone who likes routine and structure and meeting goals, then use that to your advantage. Say "exercise 3 times a week, 30 minutes a time" and then set the days for that. Set up a plan for your weekly meals and buy what you need for them all at ounce, thereby avoiding the excuse of "there's nothing healthy to eat so I may as well order a pizza." If you're an emotional eater and graze the pantry/fridge, then don't keep unhealthy foods on hand, so your choices for grazing are things such as fruits, vegetables, etc.

Logging what you eat will make you very aware and conscious of the "cost" of that--is a giant cookie or bag of chips worth the X hours of exercise to burn it off, or the healthy meal you can't eat if you want to stay within your calorie goals? I can't tell you how many times I start to eat something (esp. at work when people bring in treats) and stop after considering that the item would be a quarter of my total calories for the day and is it really worth that?

If your lack of energy/motivation is somewhat new or extends to other areas of your life, you may want to consider possible medical issues. For example, I learned two years ago I had hypothyroidism and am now finally getting close to normal levels, but my meds need adjusting every few months. Looking back, I realize that my usual energy/activity levels had decreased but I had attributed it to other things-a lot of life stress going on at the time.

Hang in there, one day at a time, don't beat yourself up on days/times that you make less than ideal choices. As you will see many times on here, excess weight is gained over time, so be realistic in how long you should allot yourself to lose it. Incremental, small success that you can maintain is much better than a short burst of extreme dieting and activity that you won't maintain the rest of your life.

Rikki444

What you call 'laziness' I call 'making a choice'.....I hate to break it to you, but this 'feeling' never really goes anywhere. It is part of our human DNA and something that we choose against or for on a daily basis in a lot of things... not only on being healthy. So how do YOU motivate yourself to get out of bed and go to work when you would rather sleep another 2 hours? Same thing. When your health gets on your list of priorities....you will choose against 'laziness' more often than not.

As to going to the market today....(sigh!).... I feel the same way.... I just don't want to go... not today and not ever! BUT....I don't focus on how I feel about it...I'm just going to go and the sooner I get this chore out of the way... the better... so here I go.

cgfol1

I'm supposed to be on a diet and exercising but I'm hungry and lazy, so I don't think it's going to happen somehow today. This was meant to be my first day. I can't even be bothered to go to the shop for some healthy food. Totally lacking motivation. Wish I could just snap out of it!

How do you motivate yourself's to get up and just do it?

What I found interesting about what you said is that you can't be bothered shopping for healthy food. This is a tough one, which I'm sure everyone struggles with because of the way supermarkets are set up, I know I do! The way I combat this is by writing a shopping list with all the foods you need, lots of fruit, veggies, etc. Then take it to the shop with you. Don't enter the junk food section! And supermarkets always put lollies and chips on the end of the aisle and at the register. Put your head down and march on, and if you get itchy fingers at the register, grab some gum!


It's hard, but the end result is going to be so much better then how you're feeling now!

pinkgigi

You know I had no motivation, but I acted like I did, you know "fake it till you make it"?

It really doesn't require motivation just action, make an iron clad decision, set yourself up for success and just behave the way a thin, fit person does.

Now how you set yourself up for success is: planning - planning your food, planning when you are going to move yourself and just doing it. You are talking yourself out of action by giving yourself the excuse of laziness, but just like Rikki's fantastic reply (love it) we make choices every day, you just have to make the right ones.

GG

theabcgirl

I agree with so many... the only thing you can do is force yourself to do it! I believe you have to make a decision to make it happen. You can do it!

CindyWarner

I've been taking slow but steady changes in my eatting habits and my exercise habits. I think - for me - that I would not stick to a drastic change in my lifestyle. Not all at once. I've lost 7lb in 3 weeks since I started. I'm still making changes. Positive ones.

All you need is a commitment to yourself.

:flowerforyou: