Need to stay Motivated!!!

Forget about motivation. It comes and goes so no sense relying on it. Rely on habit. Plan your meals as best you can, plan your workouts and just do it. Don't stop and ask yourself if you feel like working out or if you feel like eating this when you'd rather have that. I'm not talking about deprivation. I mean these things should become automatic just like when you got back from vacation you went back to your usual schedule with work, kids, family, whatever.

It takes time and trial and error, so good for you for making the recent changes and just work on being as consistent as you can and finding a method that works for you long-term.

I hate to say it, but you need to be your own energizer, and work out even when you don't feel like it, and log your calories, even when you don't feel "motivated" to do so, because you said you would.

You've done a great job losing weight in spite of all of your travels. I lose 3# a month but over time that adds up. After 6 months I've lost 18 pounds. I've lost that amount in 3 months, but gained it all back. This time I want to build the habits for long term success and maintenance. Especially when I stumble and when I binge and when I'm tired of my work out program. It sounds like you need to just keep doing what you're doing, and ignore the little voice in your head telling you it's boring, or hard, or whatever. Even if you cut your loss to 1# a week and eat a little more, you'll still be doing great.

noreenhendershot69 wrote: »

After a lifetime if eating wrong and not exercising enough, in July I finally decided to try some meal prepping and start exercising. I started lifting weights and cutting out more sugar and sweets and feeling good. I have only lost 20 pounds which is not how much I had wanted to, but I struggle often. My husband and I go away for weekends here and there and when I get back it takes me a bit to get motivated again. Recently we went to Dominican and did pretty good; had 3 workouts (I wanted to), two bicycle trips and didn't gorge at the buffet. In a week I only gained 1.5 lbs. Came back, busy as heck and fell into a funk; no motivation...again! With Christmas coming, its getting harder too. Any suggestions?

You're doing awesome, and don't let anyone (including yourself!) tell you otherwise.

Here's my best advice on motivation ...

Our brains are all conditioned to flood us with a barrage of thoughts all the time. Some useful, but a great majority are unproductive. And it can be tough to tell the difference.

Life is a series of moments and choices. To pick up that dumbbell or not. Or to pick up that cupcake or walk away. In that moment your brain is going to flood with thoughts, and you get to decide which of them are useful, and which are not.

The real magic is getting to a point where you realize that thought in that moment that says "don't exercise," is really just a thought. That's all it is, and it's ok to let it go and get over that barrier.

You've come here for support and that's an amazing step in itself! Rock on!