Can't keep motivation

ame337
ame337 Posts: 27
edited September 21 in Motivation and Support
I want to lose weight, I hate the shape I am in.
But for some reason I will start working out, eating right- try to make the life style change.. then one day I just stop and can't find any motivation at all. I will try to get myself to at least get up and go for a walk or something and I just can't make myself move.

it's getting very frustrating.
does anyone have any advice?

Replies

  • hamiltonba
    hamiltonba Posts: 474 Member
    do you have someone you can exercise with? The buddy system works really well.
  • lutzsher
    lutzsher Posts: 1,153 Member
    I yo-yo'ed like this for a number of months before I got serious. Im a "weekend warrior" so had no issues during the week, but as soon as the weekend came around I would undo all of my hard work. It finally clicked with me just this year that IM WORTH IT. Im only quitting on ME . . . and darn it . . . I really want this. I want this more than anything else and somehow I had my "lightbulb" moment and have been dedicated to ME ever since.

    I create myself with the choices I make each day ~Bob Greene

    I have this posted and see it every morning. I make a promise to myself to do my due diligence today only, not looking any farther than just today . . . that has helped me also as looking at the "big" picture can just be too much sometimes.
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    I have a friend that lives below me and he teaches during the day, and I work in theatre at night. also he is trying to find motivation to get to the gym as well, he has stopped. I've been trying to find a buddy, but with the schedule I'm on its hard.
  • daniface
    daniface Posts: 338 Member
    I'm guilty of this habit myself. Honestly i think it just comes down to getting sick enough of the cycle that you're putting yourself though to break it. if you can be self aware enough to the point where you're like "hey im doing this again" then you're already on the right track. you now have the control to change your behavior. you can do it.

    also if its just one day you dont follow through, fine. its just ONE day. get back on track tomorrow. dont let one day turn into a month. That's where we all get into alot of trouble..
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    What works for me if just pushing past my feeling of not wanting to workout/eat right and just do it. For me, once I decide and move in the right direction the rest is easy and a lot fun. I've keep saying to myself that my desire to be fit and healthy HAS TO be more important than my desire to sit on my butt and be lazy.
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    I yo-yo'ed like this for a number of months before I got serious. Im a "weekend warrior" so had no issues during the week, but as soon as the weekend came around I would undo all of my hard work. It finally clicked with me just this year that IM WORTH IT. Im only quitting on ME . . . and darn it . . . I really want this. I want this more than anything else and somehow I had my "lightbulb" moment and have been dedicated to ME ever since.

    I create myself with the choices I make each day ~Bob Greene

    I have this posted and see it every morning. I make a promise to myself to do my due diligence today only, not looking any farther than just today . . . that has helped me also as looking at the "big" picture can just be too much sometimes.


    Thanks, I'll have to post something in my apartment to keep me motivated. Maybe that will help
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    I'm guilty of this habit myself. Honestly i think it just comes down to getting sick enough of the cycle that you're putting yourself though to break it. if you can be self aware enough to the point where you're like "hey im doing this again" then you're already on the right track. you now have the control to change your behavior. you can do it.

    also if its just one day you dont follow through, fine. its just ONE day. get back on track tomorrow. dont let one day turn into a month. That's where we all get into alot of trouble..


    well said.
  • karebear32505
    karebear32505 Posts: 47 Member
    Try to keep it up for about 21 days after that it becomes a habit!!!!
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    I'm guilty of this habit myself. Honestly i think it just comes down to getting sick enough of the cycle that you're putting yourself though to break it. if you can be self aware enough to the point where you're like "hey im doing this again" then you're already on the right track. you now have the control to change your behavior. you can do it.

    also if its just one day you dont follow through, fine. its just ONE day. get back on track tomorrow. dont let one day turn into a month. That's where we all get into alot of trouble..

    ya, I fell into the one month thing again. I need to start today and get out of this.
    I injured my knee so I stopped working out for 2 weeks to let it heal.. then I just never started back up.. 3 months later I gained everything back and mad at myself again
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    What works for me if just pushing past my feeling of not wanting to workout/eat right and just do it. For me, once I decide and move in the right direction the rest is easy and a lot fun. I've keep saying to myself that my desire to be fit and healthy HAS TO be more important than my desire to sit on my butt and be lazy.

    True. Good point ha! thanks
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    Thanks everyone. I'm going to use my day off today to get back on track.
    aka- throw out all the junk food in my apartment (yes people say we should be allowed a treat now and then) but if it is in my apartment I will eat it all.
    also get up and go at least for a walk.

    I want to try to do the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred again because it worked so well for me (even tho I only did 15 days)
    it's hard to stick to.. ah I just need to do something.
  • fordtechron
    fordtechron Posts: 3
    Everybody has different things that motivate them. I have lost 45 pounds so far. My motivation came in two forms one was my wife, a beautiful woman that kept telling me I needed to get in shape for health reasons (high blood pressure diabetes sleep apnea) I wanted to look good for her. The other was I just wanted to rejoin life get off the couch and see the world. You had the motivation to join this website, what drove that, what’s important to you a spouse, kids, want to see your grand kids grow, or do you want to just feel better.
  • swopeswick
    swopeswick Posts: 43 Member
    Motivation is a really really tough thing to control and is very individualized. Everybody above has presented great advice and in the end it comes down to how much you want it. Just remember that you don't have to be extreme with your lifestyle change. A lot of times people jump in 100% and abandon things they like (i.e., food & drink) and try to eat nothing but healthy stuff and they will spend 1 or 2 hours per day 6 or 7 days a week in the gym. Usually, a drastic about-face like this is not sustainable and they go off the wagon and turn 100% back to what they used to do. If you are having a hard time making the change, try slowly incorporating healthy living into your lifestyle. Make it fun and interesting and exciting... You can still eat very tasty food, but have it fit within your fitness profile to where you are going to lose weight. There are hundreds of recipes that use cheese and meat and pasta, etc. that you can eat but still remain within your calories, fat, & carbs. Also, exercising doesn't have to be trudging on gym equipment for an hour... find somewhere that interests you and walk or run or bike through there. Like somebody welse said... grab a buddy and go hiking or canoeing or swimming. Just do something to get your heart rate up.
    I always had problems keeping motivated for more than a couple of months, but something clicked for me about 15 months ago and I have been vigilant ever since. I think it was seeing my fat self in some vacation pictures and home videos and I said enough is enough. Once I started seeing results... not just in lost weight, but in strength, better endurnace in running, looser clothing, etc. it just compounded my motivation and now when I have a bad couple of days I enjoy them while they are happening and work even harder in the gym the next day.

    stay positive and stay focused... you can do it!
  • Behavior_Modification
    Behavior_Modification Posts: 24,482 Member
    It has helped me to write down what exactly my motivation is. Every little reason. That way when I feel like a slacker and I can go to my notebook and remind myself why I'm doing what I'm doing.
  • ame337
    ame337 Posts: 27
    thank you for the advice everyone. it helps to hear it from other people and hear what helps for you guys.
  • Kath15
    Kath15 Posts: 165 Member
    Everyone has great advice, but I think swopeswick truly summed it up the best. You have to really want it and commit yourself to making the lifestyle change. You don't have to do everything at once and go 'hardcore', but slowly make the changes and start to create a schedule that you can stick to. After a while, it all does become a part of your daily life. You will start to really see the positive changes and that will motivate you to continue on. Know that you can do this and just get moving...
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