THE MYTH OF MOTIVATION (AND WHAT YOU NEED INSTEAD)

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Replies

  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    ETA - the thing I always say when someone says "That had to be such hard work!" or some such comment - "Not really. Once I decided to do it, the rest was easy."

    That's what I think in my head, what I say is "Yes it's hard." because that is what they want to hear.
  • jomtois
    jomtois Posts: 22 Member
    Bump and thanks!
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Exactly. A million times I've said "I need to lose weight", "I'll try to lose weight", "I wish this garment fitted" (and most often "why are shops making their clothes smaller?:noway: )

    I decided I didn't want to be this size any longer. I'd made the decision. BUT being on here is the tool that makes me keep to it. I really didn't want to exercsie last night. But I'm going out to dinner tomorrow so I did. I could have just said"I'll have the night off" but we all know where that leads.....

    As Master Yoda says "No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try".
  • Timmmy40
    Timmmy40 Posts: 152 Member
    Great post. Thank you!!
  • PJmetts
    PJmetts Posts: 210 Member
    lol. what you described is exactly what making a decision is. sometimes it is hard. sometimes it is second nature.
    [/quote]

    Those Hard things....when you do them, they BECOME second nature. If theres one thing I fall back on time and again, in my 20 years in the Navy, it was the hardest times I was learning the most. Everytime I fall away from my goals here I remind my self "You are a mom, you are a 20 year Vet, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING" It's a decision and I needed to read this today, just to remind me - today - to stay in the moment.

    Thank you!
  • johloz
    johloz Posts: 176 Member
    I know there's already been a bunch of comments, but THANK YOU for sharing this. This is exactly what I have been trying to explain to a friend who has been waiting around for "motivation" to get fit. Perfect.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    2 comments from movies that always hit home.

    Yoda from "Empire Strikes Back"
    "Do or do not.............there is no try."


    Mr. Miyagi from "Karate Kid"
    "You karate do yes, you karate do no, you karate do guess so, squish like grape."

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • rdelsaz
    rdelsaz Posts: 15 Member
    I absolutely loved the post. I agree. Discipline and habits will take us a long way so long we make the decision of a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are visible to everyone, but the decision to lead our lives in a healthy manner is absolutely ours!
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    Love it.
    This is what I've been trying to tell people when they ask how I lost so much weight/gained muscle in the last year. It's not (mentally) hard... It's just being willing to do what you know you need to do and stop giving yourself excuses.
  • Lt_Starbuck
    Lt_Starbuck Posts: 576 Member
    As Master Yoda says "No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try".

    This is what makes Yoda- Yoda.
  • openskybeach
    openskybeach Posts: 294 Member
    bump
  • vesperpt
    vesperpt Posts: 44 Member
    Love this!
  • peterdt
    peterdt Posts: 820 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.

    Emotions are a piss poor excuse for lack of willpower. Emotional eating is a piss poor excuse for stuffing one's face with 8000 calories in a day. He's still spot on. People need to get control of their heads. This also includes their emotions. If they cannot control these, they will ultimately fail at almost anything that they try that results in elevated stress levels.
  • Erica262
    Erica262 Posts: 226 Member
    Wow. Thanks so much for posting that. I definitely needed to read it.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.

    i used to do that too. former emotional smoker, drinker and eater.

    then i made the decision to be an emotional exerciser.

    the decision was mine from the beginning. even decided to get depressed. and i decided to buy that pack of cigarettes, and that bottle of bourbon, and the mcdonalds.

    then one day i decided i didn't like how all that made me feel. i decided that i didn't like what i was seeing in the mirror.

    then i decided to do something about it.
  • genericaroar
    genericaroar Posts: 51 Member
    Love this. Thanks for sharing.
  • nellyett
    nellyett Posts: 436 Member
    bump....just what i need today!
  • psychedmom
    psychedmom Posts: 39 Member
    :happy: :drinker:
  • cannotfailunlessyoustoptrying
    cannotfailunlessyoustoptrying Posts: 90
    Perfect post.
  • Lt_Starbuck
    Lt_Starbuck Posts: 576 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.

    It's not feelings getting in the way. It is a lack of emotional responsibility. (as far as stressed/bored/sad - clinical depression is not a feeling, it is a condition)
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    I agree awesome!
  • pattypureheart
    pattypureheart Posts: 44 Member
    Wonderful post... Simple truth.. too many of us are able to cave in to excuses etc. Bottom line is we will not get to that hoped for/ dreamed of destination without KNOWING and acting on exactly what you say here... Thanks so much for the truth!
  • nc90
    nc90 Posts: 83 Member
    This is great! Really what I needed! Thanks for sharing!
  • tasharock
    tasharock Posts: 136 Member
    Thanks for re-posting.
  • sammielealea
    sammielealea Posts: 245 Member
    LOVE IT!! Thank-you for sharing :flowerforyou:
  • CaffeinatedGlitter
    CaffeinatedGlitter Posts: 201 Member
    Just what I was needing to read! Thanks for posting!!
  • SavvyGurl0528
    SavvyGurl0528 Posts: 228 Member
    Bump! Gonna print this out and hang it on my wall! Thanks for sharing!
  • peterdt
    peterdt Posts: 820 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.

    Emotions are a piss poor excuse for lack of willpower. Emotional eating is a piss poor excuse for stuffing one's face with 8000 calories in a day. He's still spot on. People need to get control of their heads. This also includes their emotions. If they cannot control these, they will ultimately fail at almost anything that they try that results in elevated stress levels.

    they key is to learn to work with these emotions and how to handle them. That is really not a matter of willpower. If you use "willpower" to suppress your emotions eventually something will break. It is better to get in touch with them and find better ways of coping rather than eating. Meditation is one good way of doing that.
  • peterdt
    peterdt Posts: 820 Member
    A lot of truth in what you wrote.

    But...

    99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.

    So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.

    It's not feelings getting in the way. It is a lack of emotional responsibility. (as far as stressed/bored/sad - clinical depression is not a feeling, it is a condition)

    you can't tell people what feelings that they can have Lt. That is the nature of feelings. The important part is how you deal with them.

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