HELP! I have NO energy or motivation!

It will take time for your body to adjust. Your body has become accustomed to over eating and therefore THINKS it needs more food. Stick to healthy eating for 2-3 weeks and exercise regularly - you will be amazed.

Are you getting enough protein? I don't usually so I've made a huge effort to choose items high in protein -- tuna, chicken, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, chickpeas. I find I have more energy than I used to.

As for motivation to workout... you kinda have to find that yourself. Just think of what you want your body to look like!

Make sure you are staying hydrated - drink lots of water or water based drinks (sugar free iced tea etc). Be sure to eat some carbs but healthy carbs like fruits or whole grains. Don't forget about your protein either. As for exercise, sometimes if you can forced yourself to do 10 minutes of exercise no matter what, you will get a little boost and might be able to push yourself further.

i find that doing what u like and making it out of an execrise will help with the motivation part. I like to dance, so dance of all kinds is what i do,sometimes twice a day. I look forward to bellydance or zumbia or mj. I go between my wii, my kinect and the dvd with core rythms. everyone luvs a good dance. good luck and go shake that thing!

Hey everyone,

I need help. I have completely lost all of my motivation to work out or eat healthy. When I do eat healthy (4-5 times per week), I have noticed that I have absolutely no energy. I am eating between 1200-1400 calories a day and I never go under 1200. Am I not eating the right foods for energy or am I just lazy?!?!? Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do?

You say you've lost, so you've been eating better and exercising for a while now? If so, how long and what kind of exercise? Have you verified that your calorie goals are correct?

Bump

Slow down and ease into a new way of eating. Rome wasn't built in a day nor will a lifetime of changes. I eat a Protein/Veggie Paleo diet and it took me two weeks to start easing away from the things I use to eat. As for energy it's not just about calories. Vitamins, Minerals, Fluids, Salt, and Fats are all key to maintaining a good level of energy. Also it helps to exercise for 30minutes upon waking my exercise of preference is Yoga.

Try switching it up. Though I try to keep my food intake to around 1200 there are days that I go over to around 2000. I know that if I maintain around the 1200 mark I will see results quicker, but it will also do my head in and I would go crazy. I go through different phases with food. At the moment i'm eating Greek food but last week I was going crazy on tagines.
As for exercise, I think it's important to change what you're doing. I used to love running. I did cross-country. When I started taking my exercise seriously I ran a lot but it took the fun out of it so now I can't stand jogging. Instead I go to classes. It makes the time fly and i'm meeting people. I also hike once a fortnight. So when I do eat 2000cal I know I will make up for it by hiking for 6hours.
When it starts to feel like work, you won't be able to maintain it.
Hope this helps

I've found that taking my multi-vitamin at lunch time helped me get through the mid-afternnon slump. If I took it in the morning, I desperately wanted a nap after lunch. If I took it in the evening, I was up all night.

Absolutely....probably everyone at one time or another. That is the very reason I got connected to MFP almost 2 weeks ago. I have a good friend that introduced me to this and she has lost 30+ pounds and looks amazing! I need it more for health reasons, lack of
energy and inability to get a good nights sleep.
Welcome aboard. Your at the right place.

I have had that problem. The motivation needs to come from within. I had to put myself first. That is even before care giving for my elderly Mom in my case. I realized that if I didn't, I could not provide the kind of support she needed. So putting yourself first is really not about being selfish. What you gain will extend to all those around you in whatever you do. Now that brings me down to the "doing" part. No I didn't have any energy or at least not what I once had and I didn't like it. Assuming you are eating right when you do eat in a healthy manner, it does take some time and your body has to adjust. Most of all I found I had to push myself. I started walking. It is easy and it is free. At first it was a pain to make it around our block, but I knew from experience that if I kept it up past the initial week for me, it would become easier. Within a month I as able to walk 5 miles in the morning and found I felt completely lacking if I didn't. At that point I joined a health club - that is in walking distance, no excuses not to go. Yes I was hesistant but once I got my feet wet, now I wouldn't miss that. It is not only good for me, but I find myself with others who are doing the same thing. My story won't exactly fit your needs but you get the jist of it. Realize that you are doing it for you and those whom you love. You are doing it to have more "life". And then realize that, particularly at first, you will have to make a conscious effort but it will become second nature.