How to keep the motivation? I really need help with that

Everyone has their good and bad days or weeks but if you've got the right mind set you'll be fine I find taking before and after pictures really help seeing your body change that makes me motivated to see even more results..

MarvinsAMartian wrote: »

I'm with @genpopadopolous, WHY is always my motivator, I could care less about the numbers on a scale. If that's your motivation that's cool too but I find always being mindful, or reminding yourself of your reasons WHY you're putting yourself thru tough workouts and logging food tediously even when it gets annoying sometimes, is easier to maintain long term.

For me personally, my WHY is my family. Having a mother and grandfather that are type 2 diabetics, and a brother who's type 1 is a huge reminder of WHY choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is important. Seeing them poke needles daily just to live is enough to motivate me to want to do everything I can to avoid being in a position like that myself.

My suggestion is to find that WHY in your life and make that the goal.

I can totally relate. My dad's side of the family have always been and had tendencies of being grossly obese. My dad, now 60, is on dialysis 3 x a week, diabetic, has had a stroke due to diabetic coma, and is on the verge of amputation of his right foot. My WHY is right in front of me. My brothers (I have 5 and I'm the eldest and only girl) all are overweight and one is 28 with the health rate of a 60 year old bc of his obesity all his life (pushing 400lbs.) I don't nor will I allow myself to be that way at 60. I will do whatever I can to help me in this Dept. I don't want my children to care for me bc of a self-induced condition, and I want to be an example for my children, as well.

So can these emotions and witnessing of these dilapidating illnesses be considered motivation? I guess it is all a matter of perspective ✌

Things that help me:

• Remembering why I want to be healthier. I recommend actually writing out by hand (not typing) a detailed, lengthy list of all the things that make you want to be healthy, that you could do/do more easily if you were healthy, that make it worth the effort, etc. My list has everything from "Lower my risk of diabetes, which runs in the family" to "I want to be able to backpack across Europe" to "I want to live long enough to see my nephew get married" to "I will like shopping for clothes more" to "My back won't hurt so much."
• Remembering that motivation follows a behavior rather than proceeds it. We're only motivated to do thing X because we did it once before and it was good. Things have to be rewarded before they feel rewarding. If you wait until you feel ready/motivated, you wait forever.
• Trying not to prioritize how I feel and instead focus on what I know/think. I never feel like going to the gym. Never ever. Not once in my entire life, even when I was a student athlete. If that was the deciding factor, I wouldn't go. But I think I should go and I know I will benefit if I do. So I go.
• Company. My sister is also working to get healthier, and we check in with each other and cheer each other on and mourn the lost progress and push through the plateaus and all of that.
• Keep things interesting. I get bored with the same workouts especially. I need to try and do new things, and it helps me to mix up the days/times I work out.
• Take breaks. Forgive myself for them. And then make corrections to stay on track.

Here's an MFP classic: "The Myth of Motivation (and what you need instead)"

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

You're reason for doing something different needs to be stronger than your reason to keep doing things as you have been. For me, finally going keto full time became about how I felt overall, not just the weight loss.

Continue to log no matter what. Once the feeling of giving up hurts more than the undying hunger for comfort food, you're succeeding.

really silly but looking at new clothes online. I want too look GOOD in them! Not yucky!

For me it is doing a great variety of exercise - I walk, do different classes at the gym - kettlebells, body balance, cross training etc. Occasionally will go a long cycle, have started burlesque and pole dancing classes.......doing what I enjoy, and allowing myself a day off and a wee red wine at weekends helps too!

I find that as my body shape changes, I become more motivated, and I have loads more energy than I used to! I am paying attention to what I eat but it is all about the exercise for me :-)