How do you stay motivated?
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I just watched "300". The men kicked *kitten* and were crazy fit. Also, it reminded me of what my female friend told me "It had nearly naked, ripped man in it. Of course I was going to go and watch a violent movie"0
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Great question. it's not as cut & dry as some make it out to be.
I try to keep things as fun and varied as possible. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. From what I've read, your muscles benefit from variations as well, making it a win-win in the end.
YMMV0 -
Meh, motivation lasted only for about six months by which time it was kinda habit - been doing this for 14 months now.
ETA - forget about losing weight quickly. The more you punish yourself by cutting calories to very low levels in the hope of losing weight quickly just makes you hate life and everything in it. Think instead in terms of the rest of your life - eat food you enjoy, in moderate amounts and get some daily exercise. Doing this will mean you won't have to go to extraordinary lengths to motivate yourself - it all just becomes what you do, part of life.
I wish you well.0 -
Love life, wear a smile, help others, join a yoga class take up a martial art join a gym/club/team etc and hang with fit and motivating people...take part be hungry for physical and mental activity not food! You want to be a better version of you, go be that! :happy:0
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I completely agree. If you are like me you have to remind yourself everyday why you are trying to lose weight. I also pick a motivational picture or saying during breakfast and put it as the wallpaper on my phone. That way I can look at it during the day when I get a little weak. I also try to set a goal for that day because that is what I have to concentrate on "today" and not my goals for two months from now. I figure my future self is made with a lot of "today's". My motivational saying for today is "You don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great."0
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i sign up for races. i like having a date to be ready on that is more about what i can DO rather then what i look like. appearance is the result of hard work.0
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I just keep having small goals. Once I reach it I move on to another.
For me I want to lose 10kg (22ish lb) and my main goal is a big event I have in a few months. So my mind is on that.
In the meantime I have smaller goals. For instance.. fitting into certain clothes, being able to do the next yoga level/workout, being able to do x amount of squats, walk uphill for x minutes without stopping.
I do have motivational quotes and pictures on my phone/mirror/computer that I look at every so often.
Every time I'm like "i want to eat my weight in potato chips" or "i dont wanna exercise" I just think of my goals and how much faster ill be there if I suck it up and keep going.
It also helps to realise that its not the end of the world if I go over my calorie limit or if that chocolate somehow makes its way into my mouth. Its good to be focused, but still be kind.0 -
Every time I start to hurt on the X-trainer, bike etc I think about every bad bit of food I've ever eaten. Usually keeps me going.0
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You just need to want it.
Not being motivated really doesn't work as an excuse, as only you are in charge of your feelings. If you want to be more motivated, actively be more motivated.
Perfect answer. You have to choose it.0 -
Lately it's been the looming deadline that has been created.
I'll backtrack.
Ultimately I want to join the Navy, which means I must get down to 160 lbs or (I think) 32% body fat. I was doing this at a leisurely pace, however I got a letter in the mail recently that has stressed the importance of meeting this requirement quick.
I work float pool at a long term care facility. I can pick my own hours, I get paid extra than regular staffing, and I still get overtime pay. According to the letter float pool members will only be able to work 25 hours a week after October 1st, though I did talk to the scheduler who said that for 12 pay periods out of the year the hours can be over. I normally work at least 36 hours a week, that's the minimum I need to be able to pay all the bills and live with a little comfort, but it's not uncommon for me to pick up 50+ hours in a week. So my deadline is set - about 6 months after October 1st. I don't know if it's possible for me to lose the 60 lbs in 6 months or for me to even get down to that body fat percentage in that amount of time, but I'm sure trying! I can always fall back on the fact that if I don't make it to 6 months I can apply for a part of full time position (I guess I'll have to go for full time....) They always have positions open. I don't want to do that though. I just want to move on to the next phase of my life.0 -
I've always lacked motivation - it's just always been something I've had a very hard time with.
How do you all stay motivated to lose weight? I really really really want to be healthier, and feel happier with my body and how I look, but that isn't even motivation enough.
Motivation tips? What do you guys do?
I suspect pep talks and 'go for it' speeches don't work on you.
You don't have to have any motivation though. Just log your calories in the same frame of mind as you brush your teeth. You don't question brushing your teeth do you? You don't need motivation to do it. It's a habit.
You need to turn the things that don't thrill you into habit. Boring, humdrum, automatic habit. Actions that you don't question. Choices that you don't try to negotiate.
When you have no motivation you start to talk yourself out of bothering with any of it. But if you make a hard and fast rule that you will log your calories, and identify what you are eating, all of the rest will follow.
Because you are logging you will see what you are eating.
Because you see what you are eating, you will have natural little choices of 'gee, I'll skip that 2nd icecream sundae' that will almost unconsciously start to happen.
Because of this you will lose weight.
Because of losing weight you will finally get some motivation.
There's nothing like succeeding for feeding you motivation.
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Motivation is the thing that drives you to stick with it. It is deep. It is not to be mistaken for enthusiastic zeal which is not sustainable. Sometimes people get worked up in a white hot state of enthusiasm and then stop when it inevitably fades. The question is: What will cause you to press on on a cold day in January when you are feeling down and no one is around? There will always be days when you just don't feel like doing this.I've always lacked motivation - it's just always been something I've had a very hard time with.
How do you all stay motivated to lose weight? I really really really want to be healthier, and feel happier with my body and how I look, but that isn't even motivation enough.
Motivation tips? What do you guys do?
Motivation is important, but no one can provide it for you. It's inside you or it's not. For me, it was the simmering anger at myself for getting out of shape in the first place. Every time I'm tempted, I reflect on how angry I was when I was fat.0 -
I stick to a regular routine for a few months and then I slowly changle little things up. Variety is really what keeps me going. I could never just do the same exercises over and over all year and expect motivation or results.0
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Bump...great topic..I am finding this very motivational
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It may seem mean spirited but sometimes I'll see someone who is overweight with their belly hanging over their belt and think "that's what I was starting to look like" and it's then easier to pass up the next doughnut, handful of chips, or fast food burger/fries and to get out of bed early and hit the gym the next morning.
And when I see someone lean and healthy, I think, "That's what I can look like if I keep this up"
And sadly our country has more people in the first category than in the second one.0 -
I've been trying to lose weight for a long time now and it's hard for me to find my motivation and drive because of my depression. I always thought being skinny would help me become happier, but that wasn't the case.
I'm finally getting my life back on track and connecting with friends again. I have a job, I look forward to it every week, I'm going back to school, and it all helps me improve my quality of life. I've realized for me, that having a better quality of life makes me happy and being happy makes me WANT to lose weight and stay healthy. The weight loss decisions and going to the gym just comes naturally for me now. I'm still fat and have a long way to go, but I'll eventually get there because I'm happy, It's been such a long time since I've felt this way and I feel like no one could take that away from me.0 -
I stay motivated by first doing what I say I will do Each time I do... I gain more confidence and before long it's a routine for me:bigsmile: :bigsmile: Also, whatever you do... remember....The sooner you start...:laugh: ...The sooner you'll finish:bigsmile: 0
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At first I stayed motivated by looking at myself naked in the mirror
I'm proud of what I,ve accomplished. I still look at myself naked in the mirror, It's still my motivation.. to keep looking the way I do now 0 -
What drives me is my health. When my doctor said it's time to lose weight, I obeyed. 0
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Meh motivation. Honestly I've never felt super motivated. When I look at the quotes and posters people post, I never feel like "YAY I gotta go workout today!" I feel excited about starting something new and noticing small changes yes. Losing weight and getting fit is a long journey, and you just do what you have to do. Even when it's going slow. It's about asking yourself "what's the alternative?" I eat at a small deficit, I dont deny myself anything, I splurge now and then and don't beat myself up for it. It's not like you have to suffer to lose weight, just take it slow and keep going.0
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I've been trying to lose weight for a long time now and it's hard for me to find my motivation and drive because of my depression. I always thought being skinny would help me become happier, but that wasn't the case.
I have seen this a lot here from those who have come and gone. All I can say is that being 'skinny' will not change you on the inside. It's just like being rich, it's not a magical pill for all your problems. You need to look for deeper reasons, health is a good one, keeping up with your kids (if you have any) etc.. People rarely stay motivated if they don't have a really deeply personal reason for wanting to change.
I consider myself lucky to be able to do everything I do simply because I 'WANT' to - I don't require external motivation, but sadly from what I have seen I am definitely in the minority.
For those who need to stay motivated, find YOUR reason. Something deeply personal to you, something that you can look at / read/ remember that you know will move you. Be it a picture of you at your fattest or the desire to be there for your mate/kids. Everyone's reasons are different. I can't tell you what will motivate someone else because I haven't had their life or experiences. Dig deep and find the REAL reason and you will have your motivation.0 -
I've said this before on another thread... It's not "motivation," it's inertia. I just start. That's the hardest part, starting. After a surprisingly short time, it's easier to keep going than it is to stop. But stopping means you have to start again, and that's the hard part, so just don't stop.
I think people overthink it sometimes, self included. You don't have to be in the perfect mental space with the perfect reasons and the perfect gear and the perfect plan and the perfect set of apps and gadgets. You don't have to wait for the perfect moment or have the revelation that pushes you over the edge (I actually had that revelation, several years before I did something about it, and that's not uncommon). Just start.0 -
Every morning I get up and say to myself
"I'm going to do the very best I can today".
Somedays I do great and somedays not do much.
If I concentrate on having one good day, I don't dwell on the past or worry about tomorrow.0 -
Watch some motivational videos on youtube. Elliot Hulse is a very eccentric guy, but he has some good videos, check him out.0
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You do it until it becomes a habit. I weigh all my food now and log every day. It was a drag at first and now it is a habit, just like brushing teeth. It feels wrong if I don't do it.
As far as exercise goes, I make that first step, by walking into the gym. Do I feel like it? After about 8 months of it, most of the time I don't feel like it-- but once I am there, I lift weights, walk on the treadmill, ride the stationary bike, or stair climber until I break a sweat. I never regret working out, but I usually don't initially feel like going there.
Sometimes you need motivation and you can get it here by reading about other people's struggles and how they were able to overcome them. I don't have much weight to lose (anymore) but there are some people who have a lot to lose and it's fun to cheer them on. Some people have no idea what a nutritious meal looks like because they didn't learn it from their parents. It's exciting when they learn that they actually like spinach, or brussel sprouts or whatever.
You will figure it out. Keep plugging!0 -
I keep photos on the mirror of what I want to achieve - it helps every morning!0
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Self-hatred and anger. A homicidal focus on killing the fat man inside me, burning his corpse, and pissing on his grave.0
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I joined MFP in 2012 but I really only lasted a month or so. Needless to say, I went nowhere. I made a concerted effort again (along with the purchase of a treadmill) in August of this year. Since then I've dropped 15 pounds. I hate running, but I hate feeling unhealthy even more. I have multiple "motivators" but the one that has been pushing me this week was from my 13 year old son who heard me talk about not running one day. "Dad, you can't stop now, you've come so far!" He also just started working out on his own and put three miles on the treadmill himself. Not that he needs it (he's a big kid - size 11 shoe and ripped...and he just turned 13 a week ago). I started getting back into shape partly because of what I do. I needed to model the behavior and discipline for my athletes. In the process I realized I've been modeling the behavior for my son and that's probably all the motivation I'll need moving forward.0
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