Losing Motivation

smily159
smily159 Posts: 13
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been counting calories and doing really well for 5-6 months now, but there are those times when I just need something unhealthy. Lately, these cravings have gotten more frequent and I'm starting to get bored with all my work outs. Any advice on how to keep motivating myself? Some times I let myself have a splurge day, hoping it will help. But after this long, it doesn't seem to do much for me. I don't want to backslide!

Replies

  • lookatme09
    lookatme09 Posts: 57 Member
    I know how you feel. I just went to gym and ran/walked for a hour and did weights but feel like I didnt get into it. I feel like I am not able to push myself to get serious. Nothing seems to be working
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_jz5CJnsng
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Sounds like you've got a diet and fitness fatigue thing happening here. You've been eating in a defict for a long time without a break. it's recommeded to take a break from dieting about every 12 weeks for at least a week or so. This will also help with a hormonal reset and for emotional and psychological reasons. See the attached article by Lyle McDonald.
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html

    I'd also suggest that when you go back to a deficit, you give youself one free day per week where you don't log and eat what you want. This helps with long term compliance.

    As far as your workout routine, you don't say what you are doing but a week or 2 break wouldn't kill you! And you could always take this time to research a new fun routine or method to try out to renew your interest.

    Hope you find this helpful!
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    I give myself a diet break every 6-8 weeks and eat at maintenance. Same for exercise. It is the only way I have been able to do this for the last 630 ish days
  • smily159
    smily159 Posts: 13
    That is helpful, thank you. I have tried all different kinds of working out, including P90x, Insanity, Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Jogging/Walking. I try to integrate everything together so I don't get bored... but after a while, everything just kind of runs together. As far as food, I try to force myself to have a splurge day without tracking, but I end up feeling guilty and tracking it anyway. I guess having self-control goes both ways :)
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_jz5CJnsng

    This is awesome.
  • smily159
    smily159 Posts: 13
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_jz5CJnsng

    This is awesome.


    Yeah I wish I could have that kind of mental strength!
  • popzork
    popzork Posts: 78 Member
    Set some sort of a random goal - not weight related -

    for example, I found myself most motivated when I wanted to pass an Army PT test to support my daughter during her Iraq tour.

    If you sign up for a 5K or 10K or find some concrete goal that motivates you, that will help bring back the drive.

    Also, substitute the work Motivation with Momentum... Because that is what we need to get through this!!
  • smily159
    smily159 Posts: 13
    I am going on a cruise in 7 weeks, so I've been trying to use that as motivation. Maybe I should hang up pictures of girls in bikinis on a beach to motivate myself lol... or have a calendar with a count down.
  • avocado12
    avocado12 Posts: 197 Member
    I really find having a goal/reward helps. If I get to my goal weight by 1st Sep my Dad is going to buy me an iPad - biggest incentive ever! Try and find something to aim for, and plaster it everywhere around your house - helps me.

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