Have no willpower and no motivation to stop overeating

irejb
irejb Posts: 64 Member
edited November 25 in Introduce Yourself
I'm in a bad slump. I need to lose weight but have no motivation too. I'm doing a lot of emotional eating and just don't have it in me to curb my appetite and start eating.

I need to get back on an exercise routine but have absolutely NO motivation; it's like I just give up.

I don't know what to do anymore.

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1
  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    I would start with logging if you don't do that already.

    I came back to MFP mid-slump, just logging, and found that process alone helped me improve my diet. I continued to eat at maintenance for a couple weeks, and when I started feeling better I added in some exercise. Then I dropped calories down to have a small deficit. Whenever ANYTHING has given me problems (illness, stress, special occasions) I up my calories to maintenance again without blinking an eye. I just haven't had it in me to go hungry and exercise till exhaustion. Luckily this way works too.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

    Read this again.
  • amberlyda1
    amberlyda1 Posts: 154 Member
    If i can do it; so can you. Over the last 2 years I gained about 80 pounds. I was in an accident and had major life trauma etc....really bad time for me. I stopped exercising and ate soo many carbs. It took "motivation" for me to get off the couch. It even hurt for me to go for walks. Motivation is actually the wrong word...I made it a job. I made it a goal to just get up and move; that was my first step. Every day it was a goal to do something; eat a little better, move a little more. I slipped so many times, in fact I still do. Thankfully the depression has passed, but it took work.
    It was my job to get my son from school and save money, so i walked to get him. It was my job to take the dog potty, so i walked. It was my job to get off my new blood pressure meds, So i went back to the gym. Then it was my job to eat better, so i told the husband to get the chips out of the house............then my motivation kicked in. I was feeling better and then I wanted to be better. I have only lost about 20 pounds (like i said i developed some really bad habits and i still slip, but its less and less); but for the first time in a few years I CARE. Im excited about food in a healthy way, im excited to work out, im excited to get on the scale and beat last months weight loss. Im excited to be a better me.
    I have found that sometimes I have to fake it until i make it.
  • ozgurvh
    ozgurvh Posts: 182 Member
    İt seems you need to define whats is your barrier. What happened recently in your life, that's important.
  • SpecialKH
    SpecialKH Posts: 70 Member
    Have you talked with your doctor? Do you have a sense of defeat or not caring about other areas of your life?
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    Thank you both for sharing that post. I'd not seen it before and it makes a good point.
  • irejb
    irejb Posts: 64 Member
    A few years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I feel it has come back despite taking meds, and my therapist thinks it's contributing to my lack of 'motivation' or 'willpower'.

    Oddly enough he strongly believe that exercise will help with my depression although I was thinking about it in terms of weight lose.
    SpecialKH wrote: »
    Have you talked with your doctor? Do you have a sense of defeat or not caring about other areas of your life?

  • irejb
    irejb Posts: 64 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

    Thank you for sharing that post. I really needed to see that.
  • kissedbythesunshine
    kissedbythesunshine Posts: 416 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1


    Thanks for posting this
  • irejb
    irejb Posts: 64 Member
    Thanks for sharing your story. You're absolutely right; I should view it more like a job instead of waiting to get motivated. Motivation can only go so far.

    Congratulations on your weight loss.

    quote="SpecialKH;34332276"]Have you talked with your doctor? Do you have a sense of defeat or not caring about other areas of your life?[/quote]
    amberlyda1 wrote: »
    If i can do it; so can you. Over the last 2 years I gained about 80 pounds. I was in an accident and had major life trauma etc....really bad time for me. I stopped exercising and ate soo many carbs. It took "motivation" for me to get off the couch. It even hurt for me to go for walks. Motivation is actually the wrong word...I made it a job. I made it a goal to just get up and move; that was my first step. Every day it was a goal to do something; eat a little better, move a little more. I slipped so many times, in fact I still do. Thankfully the depression has passed, but it took work.
    It was my job to get my son from school and save money, so i walked to get him. It was my job to take the dog potty, so i walked. It was my job to get off my new blood pressure meds, So i went back to the gym. Then it was my job to eat better, so i told the husband to get the chips out of the house............then my motivation kicked in. I was feeling better and then I wanted to be better. I have only lost about 20 pounds (like i said i developed some really bad habits and i still slip, but its less and less); but for the first time in a few years I CARE. Im excited about food in a healthy way, im excited to work out, im excited to get on the scale and beat last months weight loss. Im excited to be a better me.
    I have found that sometimes I have to fake it until i make it.

  • Montepulciano
    Montepulciano Posts: 845 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

    Great thread.

    Logging food is not about wanting or not wanting to, it is a choice to be made even if it the only choice you make today that leads to being more healthy, it is still the beginning. It is not physically painful, it is simply facts. And in my opinion, you can't fix what you don't know. Logging is empowering. Changing your lifestyle may feel overwhelming, but committing to logging your food today is something you can accomplish.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I see a lot of "all or nothing" thinking in your writing. What small thing can you do today to make a difference? You obviously want to lose weight otherwise you wouldn't be so unhappy about it. It might pay to ask yourself why your desire to be thinner is divorced from your eating and moving?
  • nade0069
    nade0069 Posts: 109 Member
    For me, setting small attainable goals is key. Those goals need to be realistic.

    For example:

    During the summer I have been mostly biking to and from work. Unless there was a health reason, weather, or a family thing were I was getting picked up, I biked. I did very well a this and am now sad that starting next month I will be back to busing.

    For the winter, I have decided to try 1 new recipe a week. I can easily pick y two recipes ahead to plan my groceries accordingly and make whatever during the weekend when I have more energy for cooking. I have pre-picked enough recipes to get be through the winter and can pick them at random. Some are full blown meals, some are small like a smoothie or broccoli mash.

    You can do it!
  • fireball1970
    fireball1970 Posts: 38 Member
    I'm not sure if you are following a particular plan, but if it's not working for you don't be afraid to try something else. Not every plan works for every person. Also, I agree with the baby steps approach. Change one thing a day or one thing a week until you are fully back on track. You can't give up. I'm 50lbs overweight. This is the most I've ever weighed, but I'm not giving up. TOUGH TIMES DON'T LAST. TOUGH PEOPE DO !!
  • ncfitbit
    ncfitbit Posts: 1,058 Member
    There's absolutely a link between depression and exercise. Duke University has done a lot of research on it. Here's on article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3674785/

    The section about exercise dosing is especially interesting IMO and also check out Table 5, which gives tips for exercising.

    I also think if it's possible to be outside for exercise, getting a few minutes of sunshine, besides helping with Vitamin D, makes a big difference in my mood, even though for some reason I never believe it will do that before I head out.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Give up. It's easy. Get motivated, eat healthy and exercise. It's hard. You pick.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    You say you are lacking motivation to get up and exercise - Can I suggest taking walks to start with?
    I've recently started taking a daily walk after work exploring new places near where I live. It really refreshes me and I'm exercising without really having to think about it! Ease yourself into it like this and you can gradually up the intensity of your exercises :)
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