Willpower

Willpower comes from within and when you want it bad enough you don't have to fight it. No one else can motivate you or get you moving. When you're ready it will come but it sounds like you aren't ready yet to make the commitment.

It's pretty simple, if you want something bad enough you'll go ahead and make it happen. There are times where I go off the reservation a bit, but I know that I can course correct quickly because it's something I really want.

I found that I needed some exterior products to help me stay motivated. MFP and the Fitbit work for me. They force me to be honest with myself in terms of what I am eating and how much I am moving. When I don't use them I tend to stumble. When I do use them, it is easier for me to stay on track.

If you think Weight Watchers meetins will help you then go for it. Nothing says that developing a healkthy lifestyle is 1) easy or 2) a solo project. If checking in with other people once a week helps you then do it. If working with a trainer or a training group or a training buddy helps you get motivated, then do it.

Start with whats most important, dont worry about working out, right now, get a food scale, get use to doing a tiny bit extra work with your food in controlling portions. When i say controlling portions i mean knowing what is going on your plate and working it out so you have your daily calorie goal met. It does't mean you have to just start eating carrot sticks and lettuce. This is a calorie controlled lifestyle, not a diet. Eat what makes you happy, just learn to eat less of it. I look at calories as $ now. I have so much to spend in a day, therefore i am going to be careful on how i spend it to get the most out of it. Just don't try and change your world in 1 day.

I have to say it is easier to stay motivated when I am loosing, the biggest struggle is when I stay the same or go up when I have been very good with my eating but I try to take the view....at least i am not constantly going up and as long as the weight trend if down then I can at least stay a little motivated to keep going

I had to get into the mindset that I would workout whether at home or at the gym. As I am getting used to moving my body again, my next step is changing the foods I eat. Some people do the revers and change their eating habits and then work out and others do it all at once. Find out what works best for you and stick with it. Also, don't get hung up on the scale. I check by the fact that my cloths have gotten loose and it motivates me to move forward.

Seeing the numbers on the scale and tape measure go down keeps me going.

For me, I just didn't want to be fat and unhealthy anymore. I couldn't keep up with my little one, I had back pain everyday, I felt unattractive, tired, headaches, etc..... I started at 190 size 12/13 and I "dieted" to get the bulk of the weight off with lots of walking. Lots and lots of walking: with my husband, daughter, trips to the park, dog walks. Now, I'm 132 size 4 and I find myself not looking for the closest parking spot, taking the stairs, no back pain at all. I feel great. Have reasonable mini goals for yourself: like .5-1 lb a week and don't get discouraged if you don't make your mini goals. Log all your food and drinks so you can assess what you consume on a whole. Read about nutrition/fitness/health; the more knowledgable you are the better. It's so hard at first but it gets easier as time goes on. Try a mutli-vitamin or fish oil/omega 3 capsules (I take these everyday) . It's all about what you eat, how much you eat and how you exercise. I was surprised that after a while I just couldn't eat nearly as much as I could before. I get full on a lot less food now. Try to eat more slowly if you're a fast eatter, so your brain has time to tell the rest of your body that you are full before you actually overeat! I get involved with everything I can to keep motivated and diversify my exercise. Try signing up for walks; esp the ones that involve a benefit or walks for a cure!!! Buy veggies and fruits that you can cut up quickly and take with you everywhere. Like bell peppers, cucumbers, fresh string beans, etc..... veggies have very few calories so you can eat LOTS of those!!!! Switch em up so you don't get tired of the same things. Try some strength training! Gets some free weights and bands, jump rope. The band with the handles are great because you can do lots of different exercises with them. Try stretching as well.... this with some core exercises (you can look these up on the internet) have completely eliminated all of the pain that I was having on a daily basis for the last 8 years. I have no pain now other than sore muscles from exercising. I also signed up for women's league volleyball. Lots of fun and great exercise! Try doing that, signing up for an activity or sport.

It takes you being committed and just doing it. Even on the days when you tell yourself, I'm tired and I just want to sit and watch some tv..... DON'T! Make yourself do something, even if it's just 15-20 mins before you sit down. I had so many days and still do occasionally where all I want to do it veg out, but I force myself to get some exercise in and I feel so much better afterwards. It's a great feeling to know that you are doing this for yourself and this is something that you can do for you and your health right now! It doesn't take time to prepare. You can start today and doing this for yourself that will make you healthier and likely lead to a longer, happier life. Do it for you, try lots of different things to find what fits you best! Don't give up.... push through it. When you find yourself losing motivation, join a walk or fun exercise class like Zumba, try a different set of weights/exercise, sign up for the gym, see a personal trainer. Do something different that gets you excited again! Good luck!!!!!!!

My willpower kicked in when I started seeing the results of all my hard work.

Also, if I don't buy the junk, I don't eat it. Simple.

I also recently added a meal protein chocolate powder that I mix with 1% choc. milk (Spiru-tein). I drink that in the morning with something else on the side. For instance: this morning, I had 1 scoop meal protein powder with 12oz choc. milk, a medium banana and 5 1/2 in slices of fresh green bell pepper. I had that a 8AM and I'm still full!!!! I'll probably eat lunch at like 1pm today! Probably add some cottage cheese, natural applesause and some other veggies before I go home. Eat a small supper, do my weight lifting and then drink my whey protein (Dymatize 100% whey) with some more choc. milk. I only drink the protein shake after weight lifting 3 days a week. I don't over do it, but I work hard on those 3 days so I need to help my muscles repair themselves.

I didn't start the protein powders until after I lost most of the weight and started weight training! They really do help get in the vitamins and nutrients that you need if you find it hard to consume a lot of veggies, fruits, etc.... NOTE: protein shakes are not meant to be meal replacements! They simple do not have the nessessary vitamins/nutrients to replace a meal. use them as a snack or after a workout. The Spiru-tein I mention does have a ton of extra vitamins so I use that as a breakfast substitute with a banana or something else with it. I find it hard to have a meal for breakfast so this was a nice compromise for me.

Log everything good bad and otherwise... even if you've given up for the day log it. Helps keep you honest and on track.

you are your own will power.

motivation doesnt last forever...
but showers dont either, thats why we take showers everyday
we have to find motivation and believe in ourselves EVERYDAY
that is will power!

good luck! this time you own it!

I this post!

I struggled with motivation in the beginning, but once I get into weight loss mode it's more habit than anything else.