Motivation that only lasts a day..

Yes. When I first started trying to lose weight, I was really good about getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day. Did it 5 times that week. Then the following week, I allowed myself a day off and that day turned into a week, and then I didn't work out at all for a few weeks.

Now I'm doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and I've only missed one day since I started due to my joints in my legs hurting really badly. I think I can stay motivated because it's a pre-determined length of time workout and there are "circuits" that you go through so you're not just doing the same thing for a long span of time. It keeps me a lot more motivated than just killing time on the treadmill.

Hi

I barely make a day and it's totally getting me down which of course leads to ....... Yep, more eating.

Maybe we can motivate each other a little?

I'm doing the 30 day shred too and I think my favourite thing about it is that I literally have no excuse not to do it. Even today when I was out visiting uni friends and stuff I still came home and nagged myself into doing it despite being tired/sore from the last few days of doing it.

I'm usually the worst for motivation, have you tried finding something you find more fun instead of more 'boring' things? Me and a few of my friends go to cheap classes at the gym and stuff cause it's more of a laugh and it's way more fun than just running or reps, it's really helped me stick to it

I have had that problem before as well. Right now, I'm two weeks in and going strong. For some reason I just feel ready this time, and there were other times where the motivation wasn't there and I was forcing myself through every moment. That never ended up well. One thing I did this time, when I first joined MFP, was to just log what I ate no matter what it was, with no pressure to fit within any parameters. I wasn't trying specifically to control my calories, just getting a real, true idea of what I was choosing was adding up to. Seeing the totals helped to educate me and motivate me, because I could see what things needed to change and what things weren't as bad as I thought. And if I feel I really understand my choices and knowing what would be a better choice really helped me feel like I was in control, as opposed to just following a random plan that I didn't understand.

Maybe if you just start with one small change at a time? Something that you think you can stick with, such as eating so many servings of veggies a day or walking a certain time amount. Then just keep adding things as you feel you can. You are more likely to stick with it if you find success and encouragement instead of pushing yourself into a place where you might fail.

Good luck!

I had that problem in the beginning. And I'm not saying that the feeling goes away forever, either. I found that when I went on restrictive "diets" (slim-fast, atkins, you know the deal) it was harder to stay motivated. Honestly, what did it for me is the fact that I wasn't ovulating due to a medical issue that I could help treat by losing weight. I want to have a baby sometime, and I think I deserve the chance. I need to get my body right for that. Find that one thing that you can't/won't do without the weight loss and remember it every day. Also, I make a conscious effort to measure regularly, weigh regularly. I have my weight posted in my kitchen for anyone to see. Is it embarrassing? Yes. But sometimes I see my beginning weight (269) and then I see where I am (232) and it helps me stay motivated. It also shows my family how committed I am to change.

I took a glance at your diary, cause I'm nosy like that. Other than today, you've been under eating a good bit. Maybe that's why you're having a hard time staying motivated. Don't make it harder than it has to be.

Dig Deeper!

Yes that is me to the "T". I do really good for a week or two and then something happens in life, everytime, and I fall off the wagon and seem to not get back on for months. It is such a mind battle. If we could get our mind under control then we would be set.

I do the same thing unless I have a really big "carrot" to work for. The last time I was able to maintain my healthy weight (150-155) was before my wedding. I walked every day and it was easy to keep it up. This time it was because I tried to make a big hike to the river and just about died coming back... I decided it was not o.k. for my 21-year-old self to be so crippled by my lack of fitness, and that if I continued on this trajectory it would just get harder to start and harder to do anything. That was about a month ago. I also have the versalette to look forward to as a reward!

I haven't read the other replies so skip me if someone's said this already!! You only need to be motivated a day at a time - try to only worry about today and forget about tomorrow and yesterday, if you are successful most of the time then you will get there!! I can't think about more than a day without getting overwhelmed and freaking out at the size of the task I've set myself to do, I found that even a week was too much for me to think about - but waking up each morning and only having today to worry about has led me to trying for almost a year and to losing 18kg or almost 40lbs!!
Make small goals and if that doesn't work make smaller ones.