What is your STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS motivation for losing weight/getting healthy?
Justin741
Posts: 249 Member
I'm thinking deeply about defining my motivation. I want it to be specific, personalized, and concrete. I'm hoping to get some inspiration from others.
My goal is to define a motivation that would literally stop me in my tracks whenever I'm practicing or about to practice bad habits.
My goal is to define a motivation that would literally stop me in my tracks whenever I'm practicing or about to practice bad habits.
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Replies
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Boy, do I ever not have one of those! Sorry.
I'm not a big believer in motivation, personally. For me, it tends to ebb and flow, not be a reliable way to progress, especially on things that are inherently long term projects. (It took me most of a year to lose 50-some pounds. I can't stay motivated for a whole year. I'm sure some people can, though.)
I like the idea of changing habits, and committing to them. It takes a little will power or "motivation" to start the change and turn it into a habit, but smart habit changes tend to be sort of self-rewarding, and easier to sustain than start, after an adaptation/learning period . . . for me, anyway.
In that sense, I'm more oriented to making good habits than breaking bad ones. That said, IME one of the best ways to break an undesired habit is to replace it with a new and better one, rather than just trying to quit by sheer will power. Example: If evening snacking while watching TV is a bad habit, take up a compatible hobby that requires clean hands, like sketching or needlework.
Best wishes!5 -
Ultimately what stops me in moments of steering toward a bad habit is remembering why I started building good ones. I know that's not a very original answer but it's so true.
I started changing my habits because I didn't like how I looked and new that I looked that way because I wasn't taking care of myself. I very much did not feel like myself. I also knew that the later I got started taking my health seriously, the harder it would be. It's never too late but it's also never too early.
I'm about 10 weeks into New Habits and a lot of my Old Habits are now wildly unappealing. I have no desire to eat an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's. In fact I keep forgetting I have a pint of Halo Top in the freezer. In my Old Habits a pint of ice cream wouldn't have made it 24 hours.
And like @AnnPT77 said, the New Habits become self-rewarding. I get psyched for myself at every mini-accomplishment I make, even things I never planned on counting as goals. For example I'm using 3lb weights for my arm strength exercises, I used to do them with 2lb. I celebrated moving up to 3, and I'll celebrate again when I move up to 4.
At the end of the day, what I'm thinking about the most is what I'm moving TOWARD rather than AWAY from. Moving toward a stronger, thinner, healthier me that feels like ME again and knowing every action I take gets me closer. I feel better already but there is more work to be done.2 -
What keeps me working towards my physical goals? I made a clear and decisive decision to age well. I know it takes work, but I won't give in or give up. I don't always feel on fire for the cause but why would that change my mind?
So.. just decide.2 -
What initially motivated me was how I felt and worrying what excessive weight was doing to me health wise. I guess you could sum it up as fear. When I finally was able to stick to a plan, trying unsuccessfully for many years, I would comment that I wish I knew what made this attempt different- why was I able to stay motivated for a long time. I do not have a straight forward answer. I do know that wherever the motivation came from, I kept stoking it. I would participate in community- such as this, read about weight loss, watch documentaries etc.... I tried to keep it in the forefront of my mind. Exercise and getting stronger is part of my everyday routine and I do it because I enjoy how I feel- pain free, flexible.1
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I just remember the Stop Me In My Tracks moment that got me started in the first place; having 2 heart attacks 5 hours apart, both getting 2 rounds of CPR and a shot of defibrillator. I don't recommend anyone acquiring this type of motivation for themselves, but it is VERY motivational!5
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Seeing old classmates that have let themselves go.0
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I looked i. The mirror one day and started to u recognize myself. I was feeling sluggish and just done with fighting my pants on so that and the fact that I had just about given up on myself0
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Wait correction I remember it vividly; after a laparoscopy and Endo diagnosis, doctors said that if I didn't change my eating habits and make some positive lifestyle changes endo was gonna get worse. I couldnt do ANYTHING I loved for 3 months and I LOATHED it. THAT was my stop in my tracks point.
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