Why? And how?😭

A journey alone is never easy - surround yourself with people on the same mission, and same mindset to help you and it becomes a lot easier! You're on the right track finding the community here! You got this!

IDK...everyone has their own "why". I don't log...haven't in years, and I probably couldn't go back to it at this point as it has lost it's "charm" and I also don't really need it. I started back in the fall of 2012 and logged for a good 8-9 months...my "motivation" at the time was more out of personal interest and fascination. I like learning new things and often when I get into something new where I'm learning a lot and getting a lot of new insights into things and new perspectives, I really end up immersing myself in it until I feel like I've gained whatever I'm going to gain from engaging in that thing on a regular basis...not to say that I don't continue to read and do research or whatever (depending on what the thing is), I just end up far less immersed in it and usually on to something else.

That was my "why" years ago...I was losing weight without MFP and without logging...but I became fascinated by the whole thing for awhile...until I wasn't. I was learning a lot about nutrition...my own personal habits and behaviors...it was like working some kind of big puzzle everyday and that kept me immersed in it and logging everyday...but eventually I felt like all of the pieces were in place and the puzzle was solved, so it just no longer held the same interest for me. I was also getting a little OCD with things towards the end of my logging career which was driving my wife and everyone around me crazy.

I was also very motivated at the time due to some nasty health markers...I was pretty out of shape with some really nasty blood work and I was obese class 1. My Dr. was very forthright with me in telling me that I was well on my way to being a very sick person not too far down the road and that I was already at high risk for cardiovascular disease and a heart attack...and I was only 38 with a 2 year old and an infant at the time. The thought of not being around to watch my baby boys grow into little ragamuffins and then young men and then adults with families of their own was....ummm...disconcerting to say the least. They are now 8 and 10 and it has been a beautiful thing watching them grow and mature and knowing I'm doing everything I can do to be here for them and to be able to engage with them and play with them without being some tired old man that just needs a rest.

Not that I don't have a streak of vanity in me...but physique and aesthetics give me very little motivation. I was just as happy being a fat guy as I am being a fairly lean guy, and I don't really get anything from some arbitrary number on the scale. Don't get me wrong...being now almost 47 and having a reasonably good physique out on the beach or hanging out pool side...and occasionally turning the head of a lady a decade or more younger than me is a nice "consolation prize"...but by and large, I am focused on my overall health and remaining functionally capable in middle age and beyond, and these are the things that are overwhelmingly the driver of the things that I do in my day to day life. Those "things" have evolved and changed over the years...but the overall mission remains the same.

There's many reasons that someone might want to lose weight. But these "whys" can becone weaker over time (or so I've found)

I've learnt a few things from various sources and experience...

1. I'm never going to feel like it
2. My actions bring motivation rather than my motivation bringing actions
3. Rely on discipline rather than motivation.

So the first one is important, I don't ever feel like doing the dishes. But I do them. I don't feel like eating an apple over chocolate. I'm never gonna feel like getting up early in the morning, I'd rather hit snooze.

I've found that when I start logging or exercising, that feel-good feeling helps me carry on, but I didn't feel that without doing the action first.

And discipline, well the days where I seriously can not be bothered and considering not exercising for example, my discipline and choice to do it anyway keeps me on track.

Hope this helps with a different perspective

tinkamama wrote: »

Bex953172 wrote: »

There's many reasons that someone might want to lose weight. But these "whys" can becone weaker over time (or so I've found)

I've learnt a few things from various sources and experience...

1. I'm never going to feel like it
2. My actions bring motivation rather than my motivation bringing actions
3. Rely on discipline rather than motivation.

You are amazing. This is exactly what I needed to hear (read). This puts things In perspective. I think I’m waiting for some magical force to pull me towards weight loss but there is no such thing. I have felt good after working out and exactly doing the dishes! (I have anxiety so dishes is a very hard thing for me to do) but after I’ve done it I feel so proud of myself and I try to hold on to that feeling. I think to myself oh that wasn’t so bad I can do this. But then... I don’t. Yeah I’m going to change this “motivation” outlook. I’m going to try and plan. I don’t know how I haven’t thought of this before being that I littering plan my day to the hour lol. Thank you!

Haha no worries!
There's a YouTube video that I reccomend, someone people say it's a load of rubbish but I've found it works for me!
Search in YouTube "Mel Robins - how to stop screwing yourself over"
It's a TEDTalk clip and I've not looked into many of her other videos (I plan too) but it just resonated with me