how do you stay motivated EVERY.SINGLE.DAY?
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I'm not motivated every day, but I never give up. Once you give up, then it is all over and the battle is lost.
I agree-- I am NOT motivated every day. But I never give up.
I did 1/2 a week. & lost 11 pounds. In my mind, what I need to do to lose 1/2 a pound a week, I can do for the rest of life, but what I would have to do for 1-2# a week, I could probably not maintain.
Some days I do not feel motivated, I take the day off and start back up the next day.
Also having goals other than weight loss.. goals like "to deadlift 100#" or "do 15 push ups".... help me. On a day may not be motivated to eat 'just right', I may still be motivated to work on my push ups or deadlifts, or whatever.0 -
I log what I eat EVERY.SINGLE.DAY
It's the only thing that works for me...I log weekends, holidays, vacations, I never ever skip a day and haven't in 18 months. That way, if I have a horrible 3K calorie day it's sitting there right in front of my face. Good luck!0 -
I'm not motivated every single day actually. But every day I do know that the choices I make matter. I've built in two off days a week so when on a Wednesday I'm not feeling it I just remind myself that I have "off" the next day so I drag myself out of bed. I also remind myself how much better I feel when I'm doing it and it helps. I love exercise though and I enjoy eating right so I don't find it's too much of a struggle.
What you want for a lifetime has to become more important than what you want immediately. You also have to find the right balance of what is sustainable. Trying to lose 25 lbs in 16 weeks seems a bit aggressive and might lead to choices that aren't something you can stick with (over exercising, VLCD, etc.). Maybe start slowly and start incorporating changes one by one and that will help make it easier for them to become lifestyle changes instead of just a diet.0 -
I didn't stay motivated every single day. What I did was:
*Eject problem foods from the house. I have some things I can have in restaurants or at friends, so they're not 'forbidden' but can't keep them in the house because I don't feel like putting the energy into resisting them.
*Make my eating pretty routine for most meals - some people don't like the monotony but for me it made things easy and comfortable.
*Log every bite BEFORE eating it. This is an amazing strategy, as a couple of cookies are much less tempting once you enter them into your diary and see the impact.
As far as exercise, I stayed away from things that felt like work and found some things I love like biking and hiking. I don't exercise for the sake of exercise, I exercise by doing things I've learned to really enjoy.0 -
you need to recommit to this new life every single day. Look at old pics, remind yourself WHY you started. You just have to keep going!0
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I get up every morning and say "Let's do it"
And I have this picture on my bathroom mirror so I'm reminded of those words while I'm getting ready for the day
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By telling myself every day that this is the new lifestyle, this is the new me, going back is not an option.
I've had two doctors look at my lower spinal column and both were very frank and even brutal -- if I am part of the huge percentage of people that regain the weight I've lost, my discs cannot and willnot handle that extra weight - and I will be in a wheelchair in less than 5 years.
Yesterday at a faculy meeting there were donuts. Taking one was not even in the game plan -- donuts or wheelchair?
Not really any more questions for me
Stay strong0 -
I've slipped a lot, but I keep a pair of my size 20 jeans in my closet and pull them out when I feel discouraged.0
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I suppose what motivates me is the memory of waking up in the Cardiac ICU and hearing people talk about the doctors saying I might die within a week. It wasn't related to my weight or heart health (it was a tumor that had been pressing against my heart and lungs), but I came to appreciate that being fit and active played a HUGE part in what let me live through that week, and the next, and the next, and the next...
As with other behaviors, it eventually becomes a habit, which makes it easier to stay motivated. In my case, because I plan to consume about 2/3 of my calories at the office, I log the food that I brought with me the moment I arrive or, if I can't bring food from home, the moment I get in from the convenience store. That way, I've mapped out my whole day. This also lets me say "Jim just came by with [insert snack item here], and I'd like one, so I can take this item I was planning on eating today and save it for tomorrow". But it's a part of my daily habit, just like logging into my e-mail.
My motivation is also helped by having a level of flexibility. While I may avoid some foods and I try to make everything I eat myself, I don't ban any foods from my diet, but I am HONEST about it. Yesterday, for example, they had this REALLY good looking cookie at the store. Because I don't usually eat cookies like that one, I decided to imbibe. But when I got back and logged it in, it was 400 calories. So I sat there and thought for a moment about what to do. Did I only want to have half? Or was I willing to let a cookie account for 400 calories instead of something more filling? I decided to go ahead and eat the cookie, but that did mean I was hungry for dinner sooner than usual.0 -
You don't. The trick is that you keep doing it, whether you feel motivated or not. You do it, no matter how you feel. It's not always exciting, and it's not always fun. Some unpleasantness is involved. You do it anyway.
100% agree with this. No matter how you feel if you keep going you will get where you want to be. Don't over think it as Nike say just do it.
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I just don't like what I see in the mirror. Don't like how my clothes fit. I have some really nice clothes I wanna fit my fat *kitten* into, so that's my motivation. Is it vain? Possibly. Do I care? Nope!!0
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I'm not motivated to brush my teeth every day either, but I do that anyways.
I decided my health and happiness are more important, and I am WORTH changing myself. I accepted who I was, and loved myself just the way I was, but I wanted to change it. I also allow myself to not be perfect and accepted that. That means I can go over my calories, or take a rest day, and not feel guilty and get back to it the next day/meal/workout. I log it all now, too (the good AND the bad).
Exercise is a daily habit now. I know I'll feel better after I do! "I really regretted that workout...said no one ever!!" I also view food as fuel - therefore if I put crap in, I get crap out! Crap performance, and generally feel like crap. Those things are more important to me than what I put in my gullet.
I started playing rugby 3 years ago, 50lb heavier than I am now, and I couldn't even jog around the pitch once. I got in shape for myself, and my teammates. I've got 14 other people on that field relying on me to play my best, and that required a lot of work!0 -
I toss all my clothes that get too big for me. My motivation is I am cheap and don't want to have to buy fat clothes ever again. I also stay motivated by taking pictures of my progress. Sometimes it's really hard to see daily, but if you take a weekly or monthly picture you can see the changes and it makes you want to keep working at it.0
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I toss all my clothes that get too big for me. My motivation is I am cheap and don't want to have to buy fat clothes ever again.
This, too. If my pants get too tight, I gotta do something about it!!!0 -
by knowing that one day i can go to the people who called me fat and show them my abs and yell suck it!0
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100% honesty.. it fine to take a bit here and there count it track it and see how it adds up. The best part of MFP is the visual aspect. Once you see those wasted nibbling calories you will be less likely to continue to eat that way. BUT stay honest with yourself in tracking count everything!0
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Remember these three rules.
It takes 4 weeks for you to start noticing changes in your body.
It takes 8 weeks for your friends to start noticing changes in your body.
In takes 12 weeks for the world to start noticing changes in your body.
There is no quick fix. I stay motivated by being fixed on a long-term goal and making sacrifices for it. When you start noticing the changes it becomes easier though, and you become more motivated to succeed.0 -
And lot of people have already said it.
It's a lifestyle change. Moderation. Commitment. Wanting it bad enough.
Also, once you do something for so long it becomes a habit, I don't even think twice about logging my food.
Exercise should be like an appointment you can't miss.
You can do it 0 -
I keep a picture of my in my undies and bra that truly show how fat and bad I look on my bathroom mirror so I see it every day, that is all it takes to keep me going and eating a carrot stick and not a cookie. I also have a picture of a reward that I am work towards by the fat picture.0
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My motivation is a lot of the stuff mentioned here, but also one other silly thing that keeps me going. I'm doing Jillian Michaels Body Revolution and it came with an exercise calendar that tells you which workouts to do on what days. When I started, I posted it on my fridge and began to cross them off as I completed them. It's such a ridiculous thing, but when I'm on the couch and don't want to get up, I realize I will have a workout that's not checked off and that's enough to motivate me. It's weird, yes, but I don't question it 0
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By thinking more so about the END result. Starting to think of exercise more so as a JOB! In order to get the paycheck I must put in the work...0
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This post resonated with me. For me the key isnt motivation, it's a decision.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818701-the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead0 -
Motivation can be a big problem for some people and this has been the case in the past for me too. However, I have several rules I follow to ensure that I keep being motivated:
Motivation:
a) Keep a photo of your old self in your wallet, on the desk in work, wherever you are. It will remind you why you are doing what you doing;
b) Role model - Have a role model. Follow them on Twitter, look at their training methods, diets etc. Immerse yourself in their world and compare it to your diet and training regimes. For me, it is the Rock (Dwayne Johnson);
c) Quotes - My favourite is 'To be something you've never been, you've got to do something you've never done'. Find one that works for you and remember it.
Rules:
1) Food - Eat only the foods which are single-product items e.g. dairy, meat, veg and fruit. Anything that is processed, mixed or fake is bad. Period.
2) Sugar - This is hidden everywhere. Sugary drinks are the worst as you cant gauge their levels of sugar by looking at it.
3) Fat - Eat fat. Seriously. Eating fat can help to burn fat as it is required as part of the oxidation cycle. Anything that says low fat or fat-free, leave. NB - Fat should be taking in moderation, however.
4) High-Intensity exercise - Contrary to believe and misinformation, low-intensity, long duration exercise may be the best at burning fat in terms of a percentage but over time, it works out inferior due to what is known as the 'afterburn' with high-intensity exercise (HIIT);
5) Enjoyment - Find an activity you enjoy doing and you'll find it much easier to stick to. My achilles was running. First I ran 1 mile then 2 and 3 with music. Now I can run 10 miles with no music whatsoever;
6) Websites - Such as bodybuilding.com are my staple for motivation and tips. So much advice on there. You may not be into that sort of thing. However, there's weight-loss, nutrition, supplementation information also.
I could go on, good luck!0 -
My best friend Frankii_x; we do a bootcamp together every morning at 6am even though she lives in England and I live in Northern Ireland. She even rings me every morning to make sure Im up for our work out We're going on holiday to Spain on 15th June 2013 and I cant wait! xxxx 0
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A couple things:
1. I have a calendar reminder that goes off every morning that says "I am getting skinnier every day." Having that little mantra hit me in the face in the morning really helps.
2. I ONLY focus on today. I actually don't think about the long term or my future goals. I just think about today. I made two commitments to myself on January 1st of this year: I will log my calories every day. I will work out every day. Somedays I log 2x my daily calories, but I log my calories. I have lost 20 lbs since Jan 1.0 -
It helps me to stay motivated by allowing myself "treats" every single day. I eat ice cream or some sort of dessert almost everyday, (sometimes more than once in a day!) Make some of your favorite foods fit into your daily goal and it won't seem so bad.
Agree with this. Don't deny yourself everything "bad"; build it into your calorie goals. I've found when I totally cut out something, like sweets, I'm more likely to binge on it later. But if I'm satisfying that craving in moderation, I can be more consistent.0 -
My best friend Frankii_x; we do a bootcamp together every morning at 6am even though she lives in England and I live in Northern Ireland. She even rings me every morning to make sure Im up for our work out We're going on holiday to Spain on 15th June 2013 and I cant wait! xxxx
That's cool. What a great way to stay connected to your friend as well as leveraging each other's motivation!0 -
Are you one of the three girls in your profile pic? If so, it will probably take you longer than 16 weeks to lose 25 lb. When you are already lean, you cannot expect more than half a pound to a pound a week. You also have to be quite precise about logging your intake, because the deficit has to be kept fairly low.
So, as far as advice on motivation: tempering your expectations (as above) is important. Also, if you don't like exercising, don't torture yourself. You don't need to work out to lose weight--just log your intake accurately and consistently, and keep the deficit small or else you'll be hangry all the time and won't stick with it.
hey! im the one on the left but now im 10 lbs heavier!! and in the pic, i still wanted to lose 10-15 lbs. i was 140 in that picture. i set it as my profile to have it as a daily motivator!
Ah, well, still--the thing to understand about MFP is that it allows you to set a "2 lbs a week" weight loss goal, but it's not a good idea for someone who is within the normal BMI or just a few clicks above it. If you take it slow, you'll get better results, trust me.
thanks! i definitely dont want to go fast. ive done that soooo many times and it ALWAYS results in regaining. SO FRUSTRATING. i finally acknowledged this time that it's gonna be looong. I'm not gonna lie i didnt think longer than 16 weeks (lol...dammit) but TBH im not even sad. as long as i LOSE IT, and KEEP IT OFF i am 100% happy. thanks for your help!
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This is very much my problem too, i'm far too impatient! I want to lose another 9/10lbs, and the thought that it could takes months is seriously depressing because i wan to be thin NOW god damnit! It can be a difficult thing to accept. but it's one that you have to, because the desire to lose weight ASAP can lead to starving which is never good. Sounds like you've accepted the fact it will be a long process though, and the fact that you are doing it sensibly will definitely work out better in the long run. Keep it up 0 -
Are you one of the three girls in your profile pic? If so, it will probably take you longer than 16 weeks to lose 25 lb. When you are already lean, you cannot expect more than half a pound to a pound a week. You also have to be quite precise about logging your intake, because the deficit has to be kept fairly low.
So, as far as advice on motivation: tempering your expectations (as above) is important. Also, if you don't like exercising, don't torture yourself. You don't need to work out to lose weight--just log your intake accurately and consistently, and keep the deficit small or else you'll be hangry all the time and won't stick with it.
hey! im the one on the left but now im 10 lbs heavier!! and in the pic, i still wanted to lose 10-15 lbs. i was 140 in that picture. i set it as my profile to have it as a daily motivator!
Ah, well, still--the thing to understand about MFP is that it allows you to set a "2 lbs a week" weight loss goal, but it's not a good idea for someone who is within the normal BMI or just a few clicks above it. If you take it slow, you'll get better results, trust me.
thanks! i definitely dont want to go fast. ive done that soooo many times and it ALWAYS results in regaining. SO FRUSTRATING. i finally acknowledged this time that it's gonna be looong. I'm not gonna lie i didnt think longer than 16 weeks (lol...dammit) but TBH im not even sad. as long as i LOSE IT, and KEEP IT OFF i am 100% happy. thanks for your help!!0 -
Remembering what you want to achieve in the end.0
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