Motivated one day, lose it the next. Any advice?

aquasw16

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!~ I NEED TO GET MY HINEY MOTIVATED AND IN SHAPE!!!!! I HAVE LESS THAN 5 MONTHS TIL THE SPRINT TRI THAT I WANT TO DO END OF JULY!

Most of the time, all I think about is how much I want to do a 5k and sprint triathlon. I get really motivated during the day...eat well...and by the time it comes to work out after work/school...I lose my motivation. I am tired and really, all my body feels like it desires to do...is sit on the couch and watch tv. But deep down i am craving being this athlete I long to be.

I am pretty sure I already know the answer to my own question: I need to find time to squeeze in work outs during the morning/day and I need an accountability buddy. Easy to say. I can come up with every excuse in the book.

Exercise isn't my only problem. I eat well all day long...but as soon as I make the slightest mistake, I just desire to say "screw it," for the day and i eat like crap the rest of the night.

I am so frustrated with myself. I am in college for nursing and I live in the dorm so I eat cafeteria food ALL OF THE TIME. I know there are healthy options there. I just need to choose them.

dls06

You need to stop saying " Screw it" and realize, no matter how many buddies you have you are the only one that can do it. Keep your eye on the prize and think before you reach for anything.

aquasw16

Well believe me, lol that's stating the obvious. But actually, i have no work out or accountability buddies where I live. I think that is something that would help me...since im obviously struggling at doing it alone.

JustLindaLou

I know what you mean... Some days I am so fired up, make all the right choices, and it seems the moment I see progress on the scale I start to slack. I find that writing my goals down and the reasons for them, and reviewing them constantly -daily if necessary - really helps. I know I am the only one who can make them happen, and excuses won't make them happen. Motivation is truly and issue of mental toughness, kicking your own butt into gear. Accountability partners are great, just be sure your partner is strong and committed or you will soon be helping each other slack rather than keeping each other on track!
All the best to you. The power to succeed is within you!!

VanishaDawn

I have small visual cues all over the place...notes on the calendar...in notebooks, on my phone, on the fridge. Also Planning out a meal schedule or workout schedule may help. You have to make this a priority like you make going to work, or showering, or sleeping, make it a definite part of your day. Good Luck!

dls06

Well believe me, lol that's stating the obvious. But actually, i have no work out or accountability buddies where I live. I think that is something that would help me...since im obviously struggling at doing it alone.

If you click on the SEARCH button above and enter " work out buddies" you will find a bunch of people. Or check the blog section at the top of the page.

Jbadiam

Hello my advice to you also is to plan your day. Dont get bored eating the samething everyday and set asided time that you will/can workout 3-4 a week. If at all possible when you leave work or school go straight to the gym. If you go home it is so much harder to make your self get off the couch and go back out. That is what I struggled with. As for food try very hard to make healthy choices. Good Luck !!!!!

AlexPflug

I would do the same thing with food if I screwed up. I'd just think, "Oh well, I'll eat whatever now." Then I saw a motivational poster that said:

Saying, "Oh, I've already ruined my good eating today, so I'll just eat crap" is like saying, "Oh I just dropped my phone on the floor, so I'll just keep smashing it til it breaks."

Happymom12

I luckily have co-workers trying to be healthier but they aren't really making me accountable. I am competitive and I track everything I eat and exercise on here. Tracking everything on here I see what my friends on here has done and it helps me with motivation and accountability. I have local friends on here, co-workers, friends from out of state and also family from out of state. The ones I don't see daily but see if they are working out or what on here helps. If I see someone has burned more calories than me on a day I am being lazy that kicks my butt and gets me in gear for me to do more. Also I have taken advantage of my morning and afternoon breaks. I generally walk 1/2 mile at each break (fast pace; or as fast pace as I can with who I am walking with or having to walk around at work). So even on my worst day I am walking 1 mile without really doing a work out. Also I don't count this as work outs but make myself more accountable doing this: where I work we have elevators and it is real easy to just get in and ride I don't I make myself walk up and down the stairs. If it is a regular day I am walking up and down them at least 4 times and then other days more depending on if I have to deliver stuff to other departments. Also I have always had an active job until this one. I tend to sit a lot more so if I have time and I know some one needs something picked up or delivered to another department mainly across the building I offer to do it. Walking our building from one end to the other and back is a 1/4 mile. I hope this helps and gives you ideas. You will get there and good luck on the 5k and sprint triathlon.

rmoga99

A 5 k triathlon sounds like a good long term goal, but maybe turning that into smaller goals along the way will help mentally so that it doesn't seem like such a daunting task. Perhaps first focus on being able to run 5 k. I'm not sure where you are from, but in some of the major cities in Canada we have a running group out of a local running store for people of all levels. The smaller town where I am from someone started the same out of the local sport store...that way when you don't feel like working out later at night you have a group to meet to keep you on track. Online forums work for some people, but I don't find them motivating for me (for exercise). I agree morning workouts are what works for me, but sometimes it is hard to get out of bed (especially in february in the cold). Some people say when you start your morning with a workout you are more likely to keep on track with eating for the rest of the day. I find it makes me hungrier for the morning, so I have to plan protein rich snacks for the morning.

aquasw16

I would love to find a running group. I live in a super small town, so I might have to start one myself!! lol. I am so not a morning person, but I do know that when I work out I USUALLY do not screw up my food that day cuz I think, why waste all that hard work at the gym?

hottea2

we use our power as we make choices. day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. we can use our willpower, and our self-discipline only as we choose it. it's difficult especially when surrounded by people who make bad choices which appear to be good ones for them. don't compare yourself to them, they aren't in the same situation, just follow your vision for yourself and give yourself what you are after, finally!

graysmom2005

Well believe me, lol that's stating the obvious. But actually, i have no work out or accountability buddies where I live. I think that is something that would help me...since im obviously struggling at doing it alone.

I have great news. You are NOT ALONE! :flowerforyou: That is what MFP is here for. We are here to keep you accountable and motivated. If you ever feel like saying screw it...come by the boards and we will help you through. We are all in the same boat. You CAN do this!! Think of all the patients as a nurse you will inspire by living a healthy lifestyle. Create some rewards for yourself. They can be superficial! Pedicure. New workout top. New jeans. Whatever motivates you! Friend me if you want. I was a frumpy stay at home mom, and I'm now a group fitness instructor. You've got this, girl!

jadedone

Are you doing couch to 5k? Have you made your triathlon workout plan? Do you have a friend that might want to do it with you? IF the tri is local, look for other people training for it in your area.

Give yourself a couple of concrete weekly goals to achieve:
1. Run X miles this week
2. Swim for x minutes this week
3. Bike X miles this week
4. Eat 7 servings of product everyday this week
5. Try one new healthy recipe this week
6. Eat breakfast X times this week
7. Eat x grams of protein for breakfast twice this week

and so on. Then work on knocking these off and adding other ones. Since you have 5 months, you can also plan some practice races along the way. These will help you make it through race day, and give you something to train for/look forward too.

StrongandTender

Then I saw a motivational poster that said:

Saying, "Oh, I've already ruined my good eating today, so I'll just eat crap" is like saying, "Oh I just dropped my phone on the floor, so I'll just keep smashing it til it breaks."

That's beautiful. I need to remember that!

hapoo100

On runnersword.com, they have a race finder that will show you all local races from 5k to marathons. Sign up for some, go to the races, there are usually a ton of running clubs there. You may find a local one.

The plus is that by signing up for them, you have events to keep you motivated before your big race