THE MYTH OF MOTIVATION (AND WHAT YOU NEED INSTEAD)

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.

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".

lol. what you described is exactly what making a decision is. sometimes it is hard. sometimes it is second nature.
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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!

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

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.

bump

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.

Wow. Thanks so much for posting that. I definitely needed to read it.

Love this. Thanks for sharing.

:happy: :drinker:

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)

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!

Thanks for re-posting.

Just what I was needing to read! Thanks for posting!!

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.