How do you stay motivated?

For me, I remind myself that I am worth caring for meticulously and wholesomely (i.e., both mentally and physically, and spiritually if that's your thing) no matter where I am in my weight/health journey. Then a deep breath ("Breathing will get you through this."—a gym trainer I had). Then the tender application of science. Am I tracking as best I can/weighing as much as I can accurately? If so, you should be able to get through this rest time with your injury ok.

As for other areas of your life, it sounds like you need goals for activity outside of weight loss. Those are important, too, especially if you have a tendency towards depressive episodes. Does your injury allow you to volunteer somewhere? That'd be a great way to have a commitment to get outside the house and around new people and make new friends. People who volunteer are usually good stock, in my experience.

On a more practical note, pre-logging food before I eat it seems very helpful for me (rather than doing it at the end of the day from memory, say). It helps put me in the right mindset for the day first thing in the morning and gives me a time to recommit to my reasons for weight loss (your profile says a long life and future kids, which are great reasons to meditate on) before I take a bite. Also, even if you overeat, track it, and be proud you tracked it so you can stop the ~shame spiral~ in its tracks. Then commit to do better, not tomorrow (unless you're done for the day) but at your next bite.

Someone else also recommended dividing your food in half before you eat it and checking in on your satiety levels at the halfway point. I've done this and occasionally been surprised at how full I was before finishing my plate (I'm a clean-your-plate kind of girl).

I also wonder (and this may be projecting since it's something I struggle with) if maybe your identity is wrapped up a bit too much in your job, since it seems like when it's not active in your life in the summer you don't have much else to do that you enjoy? You could try blogging on your MFP blog every day as a hobby if you enjoy writing, or trying a new hobby that will give you a sense of accomplishment outside of your work (something you can do while you heal like drawing/painting, even playing computer/video games, or better yet something that gets you outside like gardening).

Hope one of these is helpful to you. I'm rooting for you. Depression sucks. But you can do this. You got this.

Just on the injury front, I work in physical therapy and a month is often not long for a bad sprain to heal. If walking at a gentle pace is giving you that much pain the next day, then I'm not surprised that you don't want to do it! If you're in pain you're going to build up an aversion to the activity- something I've gone through myself after multiple surgeries. With injuries it's not about pushing through pain, it's about treating and caring for your body and finding alternative activities that you also enjoy. So stop forcing your ankle to walk if it's not ready or you will never heal! Instead, try a lower impact exercise like swimming or biking. The decrease in weight bearing might help reduce discomfort and they are great cardiovascular exercises. Maybe getting out of an exercise rut and into something a bit different will help shake things up!! Also, physical therapy or personal training can give you a lot of great ideas for how to work out around an injury and that might be helpful. Good luck!!

I know you said you love being off for the summer...but what about devoting a few hours a week to tutor kids in the neighborhood or kids of family and friends (for a small fee

I try to find a friend and sign up for various activities which you cannot do without training. Whether it's a 5k, mud run, or this fall's new adventure - bike ride.

Losses in my waist, gainz everywhere else.

Hello from a teacher in training!(I start my 5th and final year as a music education major in August) As a college student, I'm incredibly used to having a schedule. While I hate it with a passion at the time, over the summers I realize how great it was. I'm not talking about having trouble working out though. I'm talking about my overall happiness. At the start of the summer I felt worthless, unmotivated, and like I wasn't actually getting anything done this summer. An acquaintance suggested that I make a schedule for each day depending on factors that I can't change (like work). I made one for everyday of the week but it gives me time to sit and do nothing throughout the day while still getting things done. I also made a list of "things to do when bored" that I think are fun or productive, example: work on my portfolio. This all has helped me to have more of a purpose over the summer. I added in working out this week which has made me feel more productive (and sore) than ever.

Basically, if you're used to having a set schedule each day, you need to create one for summer when you have all this free time.

Lol my motivation is knowing i cant fit into my small cute stuff anymore

evinston wrote: »

I talk to myself (out loud). "No, you are NOT going to eat that! Get OUT of the kitchen." "Oh yes you ARE going to ride that bike! Put your shoes on and get moving. You don't have to go far." Once I'm actually in motion, I tend to stay in motion. It's the start that's hard part.

I do the same thing! This morning I lectured myself on how I was going to be upset with me later in the day if I didn't get up and go running.

evinston wrote: »

I talk to myself (out loud). "No, you are NOT going to eat that! Get OUT of the kitchen." "Oh yes you ARE going to ride that bike! Put your shoes on and get moving. You don't have to go far." Once I'm actually in motion, I tend to stay in motion. It's the start that's hard part.

motivation is a fleeting emotion...there are *kitten* loads of things that I do every day that I'm not motivated to do...but they need doing...they're just another part of the day...so I do them.

beyond that, find something you like doing and do it. If it were me, I'd be spending a ton of time on my bike, in the pool, and hiking in the mountains.