Will Power WILL fail you.

Mackenna77
Mackenna77 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 22 in Motivation and Support
At some point somewhere, I read something that went along the lines of, "If you rely on motivation to get you through a workout, or to help you make good food choices, you WILL fail. The only long term solution to committing to a new lifestyle is to train your self-control along with your body." I found it super helpful, and I am so proud to say that I almost never rely on motivation any more. When I reach a wall in a workout, or when I have a strong craving, I think of it like a mental challenge. I AM strong enough to finish the set, I CAN say no to the junk food. The adversity is all self-produced. It's not easy, but will-power is just a muscle that we all forget to train along with our quads, pecs, and biceps. So when you hit that wall or when you are standing in front of your cupboard looking at all the food that you know you don't need, take a second to flex that muscle, or it will atrophy.

Replies

  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    Routine is key to a healthy lifestyle. You should not need motivation to get out of bed every morning and exercise. When you make it a habit, it's works better than any motivation.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    Agree. I just wanted to say that @Mackenna77 - your picture is the sweetest thing. :)
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    Absolutely. That's why making sustainable changes and creating new habits is so important. Sometimes I wish they'd change the title of this board to something other than "motivation" because motivation is not a constant. Creating new habits and stopping old ones is where the focus should be.
  • Mackenna77
    Mackenna77 Posts: 6 Member
    I completely agree with the idea that making new, healthy habits is one of the best ways to maintain a lifestyle, but I also think that it is possible to become so entrenched in habits that it makes it almost impossible to make changes when they are needed. Our bodies and lives are changing all the time, and we need to be flexible enough to change with them without completely falling off the wagon.

    And thank you @cmriverside it's one of my favorites.
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