Motivation

bashley927
bashley927 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I’m having trouble staying motivated, and want to know – what do you all do when you need motivation? What do you do when you feel you’ve been working hard, but haven’t seen results in a couple weeks? I’m not asking about tips to see results, I’ve read the tips, I know what to do... I’m talking about motivation not to eat the cupcake! I find it’s hard to stay motivated to do what I’m supposed to do, when I feel I’ve been doing those things and not seeing the payoff.

Replies

  • BoutThatBass
    BoutThatBass Posts: 19
    I set my sights on setting a personal record in a workout, because that tends to keep me away from the cupcakes, since I can't exactly fuel myself on cupcakes and expect to hit a personal best in my weightlifting class or to run my fastest mile.

    If my only reason for not eating the cupcake is "get skinnier," I tend to fail pretty quickly, because it feels like punishment, and the reward (that I'll eventually at some point in the future be thinner) doesn't feel immediate enough to me. But if my reason for avoiding the cupcake is training-related, I do a lot better, because I can see the impact of my diet on my training at my very next workout.
  • LeslieB042812
    LeslieB042812 Posts: 1,799 Member
    I find it helps to not "disallow" anything, but to commit to tracking everything. That way, I make a choice on what's worth it (the cupcake may be worth it) and what's not (usually it isn't). I also plan for splurges like a dinner out and it helps me stay in check to have something to look forward to, that will be better than the cupcake that just happens to be sitting in front of me.
  • F1tnessCh1ck
    F1tnessCh1ck Posts: 39 Member
    It wasn't and easy task, but I learned to bake 'healthier' treats. Example, I made quinoa cookies this weekend. Mind you, it's the first time I splurged in over a month. I had 4 of them. And I had some dark chocolate. Something else I absolutely love and can't get enough of, so I had 1/2 bar. Then, I stopped myself because my stomach was killing me because I'm REALLY not use to eating that much crap!

    I know that if I don't keep going, I'm going to fail and failure is not an option. I know what it's like to heavier than I'd like and I get depressed. I also know what it's like to be in peek physical condition (I was and got sick and gained 15lbs or so). I like the feeling of being in peek physical condition and won't settle for anything less!

    I deserve to be happy and I deserve to be in the best health I can provide to myself... so, I do what I can to get myself back there. I'm close now and I am a much happier person now :)
  • lpendleton58
    lpendleton58 Posts: 285 Member
    I have learned that for me, motivation is what gets me started but cannot be relied upon long term because there are days that I do not feel like getting up to workout or prepping my meals for the day or week. What has kept me going is a persistence to live a healthier lifestyle by making it a habit in my daily routine. Like brushing my teeth every morning, if I do not workout or bring my meals to work, it dawns on me all day.

    IMO, it bests to find those healthy life choices you are excited about and can incorporate into your daily routine. I hope this helps and stay positive.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited November 2014
    When I don't see results and get frustrated, I remind myself that I have no choice but to be patient, so I may as well stop feeling frustrated and just wait.

    The junk food thing, I just remind myself that it's off limits. I know how many calories it gives me that I will have to work off and that it will do me no good. That's all deep in the brain. I don't have to remind myself of that. I just have to think, "Yeah, it would taste good. But I cannot eat that." I try to just forget about it and think about something else.

    For me...I'm always motivated and committed. I really do want to be healthier and thinner and do the work that gets me there. I don't need to be motivated, just dedicated. :)
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Everyone has slumps and gets off-track. It's important to recognize you're human, and making mistakes is what we do. Don't beat yourself up to the point that you want to give up entirely.

    Go back to why you started this in the first place. Is that reason still there? If not, is there something else on the horizon you can look to and work towards?
  • jillmarie125
    jillmarie125 Posts: 418 Member
    BeanByDesign wrote: »
    I set my sights on setting a personal record in a workout, because that tends to keep me away from the cupcakes, since I can't exactly fuel myself on cupcakes and expect to hit a personal best in my weightlifting class or to run my fastest mile.

    If my only reason for not eating the cupcake is "get skinnier," I tend to fail pretty quickly, because it feels like punishment, and the reward (that I'll eventually at some point in the future be thinner) doesn't feel immediate enough to me. But if my reason for avoiding the cupcake is training-related, I do a lot better, because I can see the impact of my diet on my training at my very next workout.

    this. and if you are not in to training... think of what you want more. to stay within your calorie goals or the cupcake.
  • bashley927
    bashley927 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks for the tips!
    I'm still in a slump, but I am armed and ready, and tomorrow is a new day.
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
    I take a day off, because it is usually a sign I have crossed into overtraining. I then come back and hit it hard, again.
  • DiabolicalColossus
    DiabolicalColossus Posts: 219 Member
    If I have the calories, I eat the cupcake.

    If I have some but not enough to eat the entire cupcake, I split it with Mr. Colossus.

    If I don't have the calories, I have a cup of tea and get over it.

    Sometimes it's tough, sometimes it's easy.

    Motivation is irrelevant to me, because it cannot be relied upon for a long time.

    I prefer to make choices that are dependent upon the circumstances.
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