Lack of Motivation & Embarassment

Britlynn0809
Britlynn0809 Posts: 3 Member
edited February 22 in Motivation and Support
Hi Everybody,
I'm new on here so I'm hoping I'm doing this right... basically I need some advice/words of encouragement/tips on how to keep myself motivated and on track. Every week I say that I'm going to be better. That I'm going to make it to the park for exercise everyday and that my diet will be better because I just went to the grocery store and bought al this great healthy stuff. But it will only last for a day or two and then I'm right back to my old habits and I use the typical, I'm to tired or to busy to work out and my food doesn't sound great after I see someone I work with come back from lunch with a burger or bbq excuses. I absolutely kick my self in the butt every week because I want to lose weight and be smaller and healthier but yet I continue to fail which makes me just not want to do it anymore. I can only fail so many times before I start to think its just not possible and I'm stuck with what I got.. I thought about joining a gym called Orange Theory Fitness by my house. I've read some great reviews online and thought that maybe spending money and being in a group class will make me be more accountable but then I'm to embarrassed to workout in a group. I'm just too out of shape and feel like people will be watching and judging me. I just moved to a new state by myself so I cant have a friend workout buddy because I don't know anyone. I used to be an athlete but after an injury I let myself gain 50lbs. I absolutely am disgusted with myself because I know how fit I used to be but I just cant seem to motivate myself or have the will power to stick with anything. And here's the kicker.. I'm leaving for a 2 year Australia trip September 2015 and want to be in shape and be able to wear a swim suit and shorts and go snorkeling/surfing or just beach relaxing ( I want to be able to do that sooo bad, I haven't worn a swim suit in years) and even that isn't keeping me motivated. I'm just out of ideas and need help.

Replies

  • Luke_I_am_your_spotter
    Luke_I_am_your_spotter Posts: 4,179 Member
    welcome. just ease into it.... moderation.... too much too fast can discourage you... ease into it and before you know it, you will have a routine and look forward to your workouts every day. good luck
  • bebeisfit
    bebeisfit Posts: 951 Member
    Perhaps focus on one or two small goals every day. 8 glasses of water, eating 5 servings of vegetables a day. Work on that for a while and the rest will start to fall in place.

    Ask yourself to make drastic changes all at once and of course you can't stick with it...no one could.

    Know that this will take work and it doesn't magically happen over night. Can you walk to the end of your driveway or block?

    Great - go do that ..right now! Repeat every single day with a goal of going one step or one minute longer each day or each week.

    And also know that you can't go back to old habits, that's why easing into a change in lifestyle works for so many people. It took several years to drop about 80 pounds - after years of up and down. I stayed at that weight for several years, and now I have somehow gained about 15 back... I'm going back to basics..eating lots of vegetables and making my body move, every single day.

    Good luck.:smile:
  • LittleMissAlx
    LittleMissAlx Posts: 291 Member
    Just take it one day at a time. You have a good day? Fantastic. Now get up and do it again. There's always going to be temptations, it's about learning to manage them. If you have to go out of your way to avoid them, find the ways to do that. If you slip up and have a bad day - that's all it is - a bad day. Get back up and make the next day better. You've got to have some forgiveness.
  • DivineChoices
    DivineChoices Posts: 193 Member
    You CAN do this!! I "failed" a thousand times before, but I think each of those times was just preparing me for this time.

    I've only been doing this for 30 days (as of today, actually! :)) but for me, I started by logging EVERYTHING. Even if I went over. Even if I ate crap. Just log it. Get used to seeing how many calories you are actually consuming, and listen to your body. Is it hungry at a certain time? What type of food keeps you full the longest? Once you've been doing that for a while (I lasted a week), look at ways you can get your calories to your goal. AIM to reach goal but not go over, and keep listening to your body, is it starving during the day? Maybe eating more calories during the day and having a light dinner works best. For me, I'm completely voracious during the day, so I plan around that.

    Somethings I've learned/tried:
    -be 100% honest in your food diary. I've had people tell me they lie in their food diary, and it baffles my mind.
    -for every 1 soda, drink 1 glass of water
    -if still hungry after a meal, drink some water and wait 20 minutes to see if it's true hunger
    -if you go over, try to take a walk so you can balance the net
    -If you go over, don't take it as a failure. Acknowledge it and move on. Try better tomorrow.
    -develop a strong support system, either IRL or here on MFP

    tl;dr - You can do this! Make small changes, one at a time. Don't overly restrict your diet as that can make it easier to fall off the wagon, so to speak. If you want fast food, find a way to fit it in your calories. Moderation is key.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Quoting this from a previous motivation thread from DavPul. It's perfectly said.
    People have it backwards. It's not the motivation that gets you going; it's the going that gets you motivated

    I don't have the right mindset. I don't have any motivation. I just have a set time to go workout and when it's that time....I go workout. And then when I'm there, sometimes the right mindset will materialize and motivate me. Or not, but no matter, I'm there so I'm getting my workout on.

    If it was an important business appointment you'd make it no matter what mindset you were in. If it was your kid's doctor appointment you wouldn't blow it off. Treat your workout like any other important thing in your schedule and get it done.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    These might not work for everyone, but these are ways I stay motivated:

    1. I keep a Pinterest board with motivational pictures of women with figures I want, or accomplishing things I want to accomplish.

    2. I keep very small, individually portioned treats (ice cream bars, chocolate, pudding, etc.) and make sure I don't feel deprived.

    3. I practice reminding myself that I can have one, or part, of something delicious...I don't have to eat the whole thing. I can have one Pop Tart and save the other for the next day. I can order anything I want in a restaurant and put half of it in a to-go box before I even start eating. I remind myself that by doing this, I get to enjoy it more than once.

    4. I try to slow down and really savor my food.

    5. I don't use food as a reward...I use other things for that, usually fitness related. I set small goals and I get something new for achieving them...a new outfit, workout bands, headband...I even got running shoes as a reward for logging in more than a month in a row, and now I'm getting a MediaFit as a reward for doubling my (pathetic) starting weights on Stronglifts.
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    When I started a year ago I spent a lot of time reading the success board and looking at the pictures. There are so many people that have overcome their dieting fears and stumbling blocks...I'm one of them.

    Eating is 90% of the battle. Don't worry about joining gyms or doing a certain amount of exercise everyday. Just take time getting used to the number of calories you are allotted for the day. And don't stress out about what those calories consist of. If you have room in your calories for a hamburger, then have it! Don't try to overhaul your whole diet. Start with some simple changes like stop drinking you calories. Skip pop, milk, juice and stick to water. Then try to model your food around some of your favorite things. Eventually you'll find that you'll be eating less fatty high calorie foods because you'll be hungry at the end of the day and have no calories left to play with. :-)

    Good luck!
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,823 Member
    Set short term, attainable goals. Success breeds success. Blend weight loss goals with fitness goals. Cross train. Try new recipes. Weigh-in every day but expect big fluctuations and deal with it maturely.
  • McCluskey1128
    McCluskey1128 Posts: 88 Member
    Quoting this from a previous motivation thread from DavPul. It's perfectly said.
    People have it backwards. It's not the motivation that gets you going; it's the going that gets you motivated

    I don't have the right mindset. I don't have any motivation. I just have a set time to go workout and when it's that time....I go workout. And then when I'm there, sometimes the right mindset will materialize and motivate me. Or not, but no matter, I'm there so I'm getting my workout on.

    If it was an important business appointment you'd make it no matter what mindset you were in. If it was your kid's doctor appointment you wouldn't blow it off. Treat your workout like any other important thing in your schedule and get it done.

    All of this.
  • sarainiowa
    sarainiowa Posts: 287 Member
    Start with 2 days this week. Three days next week. Four days the week after that. So on and so forth.

    Find your "WHY" and focus on that. Why do you want to lose weight? Think about that, as you work out. Think about your why as your planning your meals.

    Make the commitment to your body.

    You are worth it.

    Little by little. Day by day. Step by step. Soon this will be a new lifestyle that you'll just do and enjoy, not think about.
  • 17ChargerGirl17
    17ChargerGirl17 Posts: 441 Member
    Set short term, attainable goals. Success breeds success. Blend weight loss goals with fitness goals. Cross train. Try new recipes. Weigh-in every day but expect big fluctuations and deal with it maturely.
    [/quote






    Agree!!!! Set small goals. When I first started I would guy myself a new blouse every time I lost so much weight.
    When I lost 50 I started tanning. I gave myself a reward for every little goal I obtained that wasn't food LOL..
    You can do this.
  • KellySue67
    KellySue67 Posts: 1,006 Member
    Quoting this from a previous motivation thread from DavPul. It's perfectly said.
    People have it backwards. It's not the motivation that gets you going; it's the going that gets you motivated

    I don't have the right mindset. I don't have any motivation. I just have a set time to go workout and when it's that time....I go workout. And then when I'm there, sometimes the right mindset will materialize and motivate me. Or not, but no matter, I'm there so I'm getting my workout on.

    If it was an important business appointment you'd make it no matter what mindset you were in. If it was your kid's doctor appointment you wouldn't blow it off. Treat your workout like any other important thing in your schedule and get it done.

    This is it right here! Just continue to do what you need to do. We all have set backs at times. It's up to you whether they become permanent or not. I have this quote pinned to my bulletin board, "Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marilyn VasSavant.
    This is probably not the answer you want to hear, but it honestly is the best advice I can give. I work out first thing in the morning because I work until 6:00pm and I can tell you that regularly I lay in bed and think about how nice it would be to just stay in bed for an extra hour or so, but I don't. I work with a couple of people who eat candy and junk every day. Some days I could just join them in their little binge, but know that I will kick myself later and honestly, some days I do indulge and do kick myself, but I just keep going and get back on track. Good luck!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Sorry, you aren't going to want to hear this, but reading your post I see excuses after excuses. I'm failing because
    . You have to want to be better very much--for yourself. You're spinning your wheels. No one can give you motivation, it comes from within, so time for a little soulsearching. Do you want results? Yes or no. I wish you good luck with whatever you decide. :smile:
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