What do you use as motivation?

jonesemary1995
jonesemary1995 Posts: 18 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I want to reach my goal so bad but I always think so negatively. Looking at pictures of bodies that I want isn't doing it. I need fresh ideas and motivation. I'd love to follow some people who are starting out in their weight loss journey as well.

Replies

  • VitaSh
    VitaSh Posts: 113 Member
    I love following amazing transparently real fit females on instagram
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    My own body

    The bits I love

    Focus there

    Gradually over time the bits you love can change ...

    Good luck
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    For most people it has to go beyond aesthetics.

    Beyond that, motivation is a highly overrated emotion...nobody is motivated all of the time to do what they do...but they do it because they are disciplined and discipline leads to consistency, and consistency leads to crushing your goals and then some.
  • Valrotha
    Valrotha Posts: 294 Member
    Negative thinking definitely works against you. I know it's hard for some of us, but try to stay positive in how you treat yourself. Don't give up. Don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon. For me, I have to watch my thinking and tell myself that if it's not okay to say what I'm thinking to someone else, it's not okay for me to say/think that about myself.

    One thing that worked well for me was to have a pair of jeans that were one size too small for me. Having an attainable goal not just written down on paper but sitting on the chair for me to see every day helped keep me focused.

    Best of luck on your journey. And feel free to add me if you need more friends. :)
  • jonesemary1995
    jonesemary1995 Posts: 18 Member
    Valrotha wrote: »
    Negative thinking definitely works against you. I know it's hard for some of us, but try to stay positive in how you treat yourself. Don't give up. Don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon. For me, I have to watch my thinking and tell myself that if it's not okay to say what I'm thinking to someone else, it's not okay for me to say/think that about myself.

    One thing that worked well for me was to have a pair of jeans that were one size too small for me. Having an attainable goal not just written down on paper but sitting on the chair for me to see every day helped keep me focused.

    Best of luck on your journey. And feel free to add me if you need more friends. :)

    That is a fantastic idea! Buying a pair of jeans a size smaller. Thank you! I will definitely add you.
  • erinc5
    erinc5 Posts: 329 Member
    I've stopped focusing just on weight and looks. Try to have other goals for inspiration so that you can be motivated that way. Right now, my next goals aside from just losing weight are being able to do 10 real pushups (not the knee ones) and also being able to do a pull up. Having fitness/strength goals means you will be able to notice the results on the scale and with your body - not just what size it is, but what it can do.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    My motivation is my parents, because I don't want to have to deal with the health problems they're facing now in their early 60s because they did nothing about their weight.
  • VitaSh
    VitaSh Posts: 113 Member
    Goals. Set your personal goals..not anyone elses, not what others want you to have as your goals..but whatever you want to accomplish. It is valid, important, and motivating for you :)
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    The mirror.
  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
    I have a bunch of clothes that used to fit. They will fit me again if it takes every ounce of my strength and will power. I look at my favorite jeans that used to be loose on me and they keep me going. I know I can get them to fit me again.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Pure stubbornness. I decided to do it. So I am doing it.

  • bologna111
    bologna111 Posts: 57 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    My motivation is my parents, because I don't want to have to deal with the health problems they're facing now in their early 60s because they did nothing about their weight.

    My motivation is similar. I want to be healthy, strong, and happy as I age. Hopefully I will live until a very old age and I want to be strong and mobile when I get there.
    And to set a good example for my kids. I put all the focus on fitness and what strong body's are capable of. I want to run, jump, climb mountains, etc.
  • katyjay2014
    katyjay2014 Posts: 54 Member
    I wrote a loooong list of every reason why I want to lose the weight. It has everything: from no thigh chafing to wall climbing to a healthy heart rate to proving others wrong etc etc. Aesthetics is a reason why people want to lose weight, but it can't be the only one or your changes won't stick. If it was that easy, everyone would do it ☺ Now every time I want to give up, I read my list and keep going!
  • soufauxgirl
    soufauxgirl Posts: 392 Member
    My children are my motivation - I don't want them to go through the same weight-related issues I have.
  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    edited February 2016
    I looked in the mirror and said oh I have to change that. And I have. And I have a long way to go still. But I've made a lot of good, noticeable changes/progress. Started negative and now mixed with positive.

    I realized I had been avoiding REALLY looking at how I look.
  • ear1011
    ear1011 Posts: 50 Member
    VitaSh wrote: »
    Goals. Set your personal goals..not anyone elses, not what others want you to have as your goals..but whatever you want to accomplish. It is valid, important, and motivating for you :)

    This! I have a daily weigh in day, and all week I think of how happy I will be to see a lower number. When I have the urge to eat something that will slow my progress, I think of the joy I get when I see myself closer to my goal. I am having my first baby in May and I am so excited to start losing weight again. I will definitely be using this technique! Also have carrots, cucumbers and fresh fruit near by for weak moments. After awhile your body will be trained to want that more than sugar :) Have confidence... it is a process but can be so rewarding along the way.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    I found I lack this "motivation". I don't WANT to do anything. I don't want to work for my income, I don't want to shop or cook for my food, I don't want to watch what I eat or count calories, I don't want to exercise. Ever. Most days I dont even want to get out of bed.

    So why do I cook? Why do I clean? Why do I go to work? Why bother getting out of bed? Because I don't want to die. If I don't want to die, I want to live. If I want to live then I want to be happy. If I want to be happy then I have to take basic care of myself.

    Somedays I only manage to get out of the bed and shower (clinical depression), but on those days I remember the things humans do to take care of themselves and I do those things. I move my body. I look at my options for meals and put together something nutritious as well as filling. Honestly when I realized how non existent my "motivation" was, the more I realized I don't need it. I sat around feeling like there was this outside motivation I just didn't have. I put too much importance on it. I know what I have to do, I just do it.

    You have a goal, and you have the knowledge to get it done. You don't need a picture to make you do it, you just have to do it.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Looking at myself naked in the mirror. Just seeing how my body has changed and how much better my body looks is more than enough motivation for me. I'm just in it for the aesthetics :D
  • JenniK614
    JenniK614 Posts: 22 Member
    I joined a DietBet for motivation. I made my goal weight for the first month. I only won $2.28 more than I put in for the first round, but I didn't lose any money. I really like it!
  • CherylG1983
    CherylG1983 Posts: 294 Member
    Food motivates me, believe it or not. I'm a believer in 80/20 eating, meaning I eat great 80% of the time, but there's 20% that some could consider treats. I know that if I want a 1/4 cup (one serving) of ice cream after dinner, I absolutely HAVE to burn the calories in order to have it and still be under my calorie goal in MFP.

    I don't eat ice cream every day, so don't get the wrong idea! Just saying that in order to have the foods I love on occasion, I have to work for it.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    the fact i dont want to be fat.

    my ex, who at the age of 41 had a massive stroke and now next week (at age 45?) is having heart surgery.
  • jame0529
    jame0529 Posts: 30 Member
    darlswife wrote: »
    I have a bunch of clothes that used to fit. They will fit me again if it takes every ounce of my strength and will power. I look at my favorite jeans that used to be loose on me and they keep me going. I know I can get them to fit me again.

    I will have a whole "new" wardrobe once I can fit back into my clothes!!
  • Kelceybyers
    Kelceybyers Posts: 56 Member
    Valrotha wrote: »
    Negative thinking definitely works against you. I know it's hard for some of us, but try to stay positive in how you treat yourself. Don't give up. Don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon. For me, I have to watch my thinking and tell myself that if it's not okay to say what I'm thinking to someone else, it's not okay for me to say/think that about myself.

    One thing that worked well for me was to have a pair of jeans that were one size too small for me. Having an attainable goal not just written down on paper but sitting on the chair for me to see every day helped keep me focused.

    Best of luck on your journey. And feel free to add me if you need more friends. :)

    Love these thoughts!!! Good luck on your journey and you can add me if you would like. The more friends you have encouraging your way through always helps the lonely road sometimes. :)

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