In Need Of Motivation :)

Hi Jennie, thanks for sharing your story and being vulnerable. It sounds like you are self-aware of your current state and the reasons behind your lethargy and depression.

When you first started logging in MFP, what was your primary motive behind it? Basically, have you tried asking yourself - Why do I must track my food and workout?

When we switch from the state of 'want' to 'must', commitment shows up. In addition to this, when you remember or answer your motivations to start tracking, come up with emotional reasons versus logical reasons.

For ex - When I tried saying 'I want to burn belly fat because I want to look good', this reason would take me for a week or two.. until motivation fades away. However when I switched my statement to 'I must burn my belly fat because I've had enough of feeling miserable and frustrated by my current body. I am committed to building a physique that inspires me every day and gives me the energy to pursue my bigger goals in life. I will not give in to the food companies and if I do fall down some time, I will get back up to keep moving forward on my fat-loss journey."

One thing that has helped me is to switch from the diet and workout mindset to a habits mindset i.e. these changes (eating nutritious food and being active) are for the rest of my life and I sure want to make it fun. Workouts are 'Playouts' in my dictionary.

And all of this is indeed biology. The part of the brain where motivation lies (the limbic system) is the same area where human emotions lie and where habits/memories reside. So when you start with why i.e. give yourself a strong compelling (emotional) reasons for your task (in this case - logging your food and exercise), you will see your inertia of rest switch to inertia of motion.

I've been through manic depression and know it can be hard to find that 'motivation'. What worked for me was having a positive vision for my future and that kept me going every day.

See if you have at least 3-5 people in your inner circle whom you trust with all your secrets. Get one of these friends to ask you about your daily meals every day.

"Get in your head and you're dead." I love this quote by Tony Robbins. So anytime you see yourself talking to your head, step outside and start feeling grateful for the things you have in your life.

Combining a strong Why i.e. a sense of purpose for health goals with the habit of daily gratitude helped me to come out of the darkest days of my life while getting stronger, healthier, and energized.

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Action Steps -

1. Answer your Why. Why do you need to commit to tracking your food and exercise? Emotions over logic.
2. List 3-5 friends whom you trust with your life. Ask them to be your accountability buddy.
3. Build the Gratitude Journaling habit. You may write 3 things you're grateful for on a ruled journal or use 'The 5-Minute Journal' that has an inbuilt template with Qs.
4. Assess your current happiness levels and then reassess it after 12 weeks.
Here's the link - authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
Check out the Authentic Happiness Inventory Quiz. It's based on scientific research done by Dr. Martin Seligman from Univ of Penn who also wrote a book titled 'Authentic Happiness'.

Hope this helps. Feel free to reply back to this thread with any questions you have.

- Ankur

P.S. If you're reading this, did you smile today?

You are stronger than this and will overcome it! If you need some motivation or support add me (: