want to talk to me about motivation & willpower?

jasmine_noel

because i can't find mine...

i keep starting over with great resolve to lose 20 lbs. and i do great staying within my 1750 calorie goal for a few weeks, or a week, or a few days - and then there's a social event or an emotional reason to eat or drink too much and the consistency takes a back seat and then i'm back to eating the amount and type of food that keeps me feeling fat.

i could tell you stories about the things i've tried to motivate myself and keep myself accountable, but the point is that they haven't worked and i'm looking for inspiration.

what motivates you?

how do you stay within your calorie range? i find myself fairly hungry if i'm not making the right food choices - so when i haven't planned ahead, it all goes out the window.

hkmurphy83

Honestly for me, nothing worked to motivate me until I had hit rock bottom personally. I mean I have wanted to lose weight before and have worked at losing, but all that would fly out the window for various things like you mentioned. But looking back, I realize that I didn't really WANT it then. Once I made the decision to DO it, I don't let those things derail me. I admit that I have bad days, and I admit that I'm not perfect. However, I make myself start over as soon as I realize what I'm doing wrong or the next day because I don't want to undo all of the hard work that I have put in along the way. So I guess what I'm saying is that the motivation has to come from within.

ChristinaD2

Like "hkmurphy83", I hit rock-bottom. I reached a weight that I NEVER thought I'd get to; I hated the way I looked & felt. My motivation (reasons for losing) are in my thoughts all the time and I won't allow myself to undo the progress that I've made. I make mistakes and experience occasional setbacks, but I forgive myself for them and don't let one bad day spiral into a bad week, month, etc. I would suggest that you add some friends because they make all the difference in the world! That daily encouragement & support is enough to sustain me at times when I feel demotivated. Please feel free to send me a friend request, if you like :flowerforyou: I wish you success!

coleybug73

I think you already nailed it. When you don't plan it all goes out the window. I pre log a lot my days. I make meals ahead of time on the weekends to bring to work. So plan. And have a back up plan, until it's habit. If you find yourself faced with an emotional moment, the plan is to do something else besides give in. Go for a walk, take a bath, read a book, brush your teeth even! A lot of times, I used to find myself eating something crappy on impulse. I started to stop in my tracks. Breathe. Think. Do I REALLY want to eat a brownie right now? Why? And how will I feel precisely 11 seconds after I eat it?

As for social events, again...plan. Eat something before you go so you're not starving. If it's a party and you can bring a healthy version of something then do it. Back up plan...choose one or two small portions of something and savor them. Count them. Make room for them. There will always be food around. What you choose to do with it is what matters!

As for motivation, the other half of wardrobe motivates me! Summer clothes and swimsuits motivate me. Running up the stairs and not being out of breath motivates me. You can do it. Your ticker says you already have been! Don't give up!

jasmine_noel

thanks for taking time to reply, ladies!

i keep talking myself into and out of my goal... on one hand, i know the awesome confidence and contentment that comes with being thinner and in better shape. on the other hand, there's so much TIME and EFFORT that comes with being thinner and in better shape - so maybe I'm okay with these size 14 pants and baggy tops. but yeah, i really do hate to hate myself.