Motivation that only lasts a day..
rocketpopsicles
Posts: 170
This always happens, my motivation seriously only lasts a day - two days max.
Then I say I can't do it.
Then I spend a week depressed about what I look like and how I feel.
Does anyone else have this problem ?
Then I say I can't do it.
Then I spend a week depressed about what I look like and how I feel.
Does anyone else have this problem ?
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Replies
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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.
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Then I spend a week depressed about what I look like and how I feel.
Let that be your motivation.
You don't want to be depressed and you don't want to look the way you do - you say it makes you depressed.
I have a full length mirror in my bedroom I can't get out of looking, in the morning.
I make sure I do.
Don't depreive yourself.
Do it slow.
Good Luck0 -
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?0 -
All I can say is, try to stay on here! Try to log your food and exercise every day! Try to make friends so you are able to support and motivate eachother! It'll pay off in the end. I promise.
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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
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Ah totally know what you mean! And so true about the 30 day shred.
I did the 30 day shred back in February and did a blog about it, and then I would post it on Facebook for all my close friends to see, and they would keep me motivated, because i knew that the next time I saw them at an event, they would ask me how it was going. It was great motivation, and I lost 7 lbs, and 6 inches in total of body fat from my waist, hips and thighs.
I'm not saying you specifically have to do the 30 day shred, but definitely do something that has a time a limit and that is public, so that you'll feel stupid if you don't do it. know what i mean? I want to try P90x next since i've got myself in a stump as well. Also theres a cool group on here called the 100 pushups challenge or something like that, but its fun and keeps you motivated.0 -
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!0 -
I once did have this problem. Except I wouldn´t say I get depressed about myself, just simply not happy with they way I look and feel.0
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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.0
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I had more of this problem in this beginning of the logging and weight loss than I am having at this point, but I do empathize with you. I know it's not too reassuring right now, but it'll get easier and easier to motivate the longer you stick with it.0
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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.0
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It might be tougher at the beginning to get motivated, but after a week or two and once I begin to see even the smallest amount of progress, I can't wait to go to the gym again and keep it up. It gets easy to stay motivated once you get back in gear. Just push yourself for the next couple weeks and then you'll be kicking yourself for not sticking with it sooner.0
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Dig Deeper!0
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Take that little voice in your head that tells you that you can't do it, and drop kick it out the window. Then take that voice that pushes you to strive for your best and inflate it. Amplify it. Make it so enormous that there is no room for the negativity to return. You are worth this and worth every single bit of effort that you put into it! Keep telling yourself that.
It isn't that you can't, it's that you tell yourself that you can't. Keep pushing. You can be your own worst enemy, or your own source of strength.
You CAN and WILL do this!0 -
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.0
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Motivation is a feeling....no good. It takes perseverance...Any time I have attempted weight loss, healthy life style etc. on a feeling I failed. It takes more than that and of course willingness.0
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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! 0
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Nope.
When I'm not seeing the results I want to see I only use that as my motivation to work harder. Keep pushing!!0 -
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.0 -
External motivation lasts a day if you're lucky.
Internal motivation lasts FOREVER!
We either have that drive or need to find a way to ignite it.
To light that fire, be honest, and answer for yourself:
Why do I want to be healthy and fit? Discover the real answer, and attach great pleasure to that as you set your goals.
Feel and experience that joy when you think of being healthy and fit.
And then ask yourself why do you NOT want to be fat?
Connect with that reason burning pain that you can really feel every time you think about being fat.
This is the key to internal motivation.
Few people can actually do this which is why most people fail in their efforts over and over.
Take the time to do this, and you'll touch off a powder keg of determination and drive.
Sure, you may have challenges; we all do, but you'll keep punching and reach your goals.
All Is Possible!0 -
This always happens, my motivation seriously only lasts a day - two days max.
Then I say I can't do it.
Then I spend a week depressed about what I look like and how I feel.
Does anyone else have this problem ?
My motivation can last a little longer than a couple days, but I totally get what you're saying.
I blog and journal about the way that I'm feeling, and on those days when I totally don't want to "be good" anymore I can read what I said before to hopefully remind me that when I eat well, I do feel better. Because of health issues I can't exercise often, but when I used to be able to, I felt so awesome after working-out, that on the days I didn't want to do, if I reminded myself that I would feel better once I finished it usually helped.
And there's always those days (or 2 or 3) when nothing helps and it's easier to go back to the old ways of eating, etc.
Even then, try to remind yourself that this is a journey, and a difficult one!! If it were easy, no one in the world would be overweight.
Don't give up on yourself!!
Take it one day at a time, and hopefully before you know it, you'll be able to go a whole week being motivated. : )
Good luck!!0 -
You could start with easier goals and easier exercise/diet "targets". I mean, if you were eating 3000 cals a day, just knocking off 500 calories would make some difference. And if you were doing zero exercise, walking 30 minutes a day (eg getting off the bus 3 stops early for each journey), then that'd make a difference.
When you plateau, then adjust things again as you'll be used to the calorie deficit and exercise demands by then.
Also, try joining a class of some sort whether it's at the gym or something more fun like a sport eg tennis or activity such as dancing.
Losing weight/getting fit doesn't have to be a struggle.0 -
Envision the future and the benefits you will receive from your persistence of trying to improve your persona and lifestyle, you need to ask yourself do I really want this and the hardships that will come with it? You'll probably answer yes and feel a genuine want to do it, but deep inside something within you will not be prepared to take that extra step towards the unknown and difficult. You need to understand that nothing worthwhile is ever going to happen instantly it will require input.
Personally each day I set myself challenges to do things I've never done before , the challenges are often not that major and may only stretch my abilities a little but it keeps me in the mind-set of trying to improve myself daily.
Mentality is one of the hardest parts: you can ruin a whole days’ worth of calorie counting with a time frame of less than 10 minutes.
Do you want your hard work to be thrown away just like that or are going take control? Fortunately the choice is yours.0 -
:flowerforyou: Here are good tips that I follow. Remember, life is more involved than just losing weight, you have to look at the big picture. You have to be ready to organize your WHOLE LIFE. When I view your posts you have spent a lot of time on the negative side. Vocalizing negativity only confirms its existence.
Your first step is to design a healthy program for yourself. GO OUT AND BUY A BEAUTIFUL JOURNAL WITH A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN AND SAY "THIS IS MY HEALTH JOURNAL". Write absolutely everything in it, keep it with you at all times like you do your cell phone.
1. Big muscled women are not walking the streets in droves. Looking good in a dress with a little toning looks so much better than a flabby skinny person. Lifting weights increases bone mass and calcium production, which we women need throughout all of our lives, and keeps our joints flexible. Dont think of it as weight lifting, think of it as strength training. It takes a very long time to get "bulky" and this wont happen to you unless you are a compettitve bodybuilder.
2. Doing high impact cardio for an obese person can be next to impossible if you are in a lot of pain. Think about beginners pilates or yoga or something similar. Learn these positions and do them while you are watching a movie to pass the time. Then pick up the pace. This helps to increase your flexibility until you are ready to do high impact.
3. As far as money is concerned don't buy another exercise video. Use what you already have!! All of them are good because each one of them has the goal of getting your body in motion. And don't be ashamed to cut those coupons girl. Planning your shopping trips will help you to meal plan and not over eat. After you grocery shop, prepare a menu for breakfast lunch and dinner for the week and stick it on your refrigerator.
4. Finally, I know that you have friends. Pick one or two people who dont mind your texting them everyday or two about your weightloss. Whenever you drop a pound send that proud text and let them be your local support. Maybe they will get motivated and drop a few pounds themselves.
Good Luck and Stay positive 0 -
This always happens, my motivation seriously only lasts a day - two days max.
You only need to be motivated for one day: today!
Actually, I have "cycles of motivation", too. I'm just starting back after losing track for a couple of weeks. One thing I've learned to do is to stop being hard on myself, or depressed about it when it does happen, because that only makes things worse and I end up eating even more because I feel bad about it !! I think it's really important to remember that we're not perfect and accept that things don't go absolutely perfectly absolutely every time!
I've also noticed that, even when I'm not logging and keeping track, because I'm not beating myself up about it, I'm actually not doing as badly as I think. I guess that keeping track online trains your brain to do it automatically and so you learn to readjust.
Anyway, keep at it, you'll get there. Stick to it just for today!0 -
This might sound weird but I have to make sure I cut myself slack in some other areas so that I stay strong with my motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, if I have eaten really healthily that day, am starting to get mentally worn out, and know I should clean my kitchen but don't want to, then I ignore the kitchen and go read a book. When I try to push myself hard in all areas of my life, it never works. I have to save my best efforts for my highest priorities.0
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You can do it! We'll be your cheerleaders.0
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I'm the same way... mine lasts about a week or two though. I recently just made it through my first dip in motivation though. If you have skinny pictures or fat pictures, find some that will motivate you and maybe write out a letter to yourself about how you're feeling. Being reflective really helps me. I'm still kind of a newbie, but here are some tips:
1. Make MFP your home page- someone posted this on here before and it helps me tremendously.
2. Get a routine with your food so that even if you're not motivated to work out, you can still eat the same thing and stay within your calories (this helps me, but some people hate eating the same thing every day).
3. Find someone to check in with you.
4. Motivational quotes or songs?
Not much, but hope it helps 0 -
This might sound weird but I have to make sure I cut myself slack in some other areas so that I stay strong with my motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, if I have eaten really healthily that day, am starting to get mentally worn out, and know I should clean my kitchen but don't want to, then I ignore the kitchen and go read a book. When I try to push myself hard in all areas of my life, it never works. I have to save my best efforts for my highest priorities.
Excellent advice I'll be sure to use it. 0 -
Take that little voice in your head that tells you that you can't do it, and drop kick it out the window. Then take that voice that pushes you to strive for your best and inflate it. Amplify it. Make it so enormous that there is no room for the negativity to return. You are worth this and worth every single bit of effort that you put into it! Keep telling yourself that.
It isn't that you can't, it's that you tell yourself that you can't. Keep pushing. You can be your own worst enemy, or your own source of strength.
You CAN and WILL do this!
OH MY GOSH. This. This is exactly how I approach it. After many attempts and fails with consistent working out, there comes a point where you have no choice but to say, "do it, there is NO reason not to". On the days where I'm real tired, I try to do as much as I can, it's always better than nothing. Also, it helps when if you do fall of the horse, don't dwell on it, just get right back on, because the more you skip days the easier it becomes.0
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