How Do You Keep Yourself Motivated...
 

I had the same thing last week...I felt bloated and lethargic and I didn't really stick to plan like I should have. I just kept telling myself there was a rational explanation to why this was happening (not losing / retaining water) and that it was only temporary. I felt so much better Monday when it was over! I've accepted that I will probably just have to alter my plan a little during my cycle and to not be so hard on myself. Personally, just having one every month is a fairly exciting thing!

You just accept the fluctuation and keep going maybe give yourself an extra 100 calories per day if needed for cravings. I find if I don't have my snack I get really cranky, but a healthy snack. And don't dwell on the scale.




I realize I posted in a group I dont post in, but I hope my advice helps some :)

I just noticed your screen name - I love Buffy!

Once you know your cycle it is easier to deal with. I swear I am part camel because I can retain water like crazy (my father has problems with this too, so it seems to be partly genetic). Knowing that I can easily go up five pounds from overdoing it on salt makes it way easier to take when it happens. I recommend tracking it for awhile so you can see your cycles.

I think its just a case of getting to realise that hormones will do that, cause fluctuations and focus on the overall pattern (which is hopefully of weight loss) during those times.

Also, love your handle.

Hi slw,

You are right, it is just a case of getting used to my bodies ups and downs when it's that time of the month. I have to take into account that i will weigh
heavier around that time and put it down to water retention, bloating etc etc.
I will get used to it after a few months.

I'm anxious about this. When I started at 386, I was not having periods on my own. Had to take medication and that did not cause the bloating I experience now that I don't need the medication.

I've noted that I bloat twice a month - around ovulation and around menses. It definitely takes more patience when you have almost two weeks of the month that the scale is a lie. And I was a person who weighed every day. :(

I weigh every day, and if something like that happens (I take my pill packs back to back) or if I KNOW FOR 100% SURE why my weight is up, I make a note on my weight chart. If it's up because I was naughty, I put a sad face.

I struggle with insane hormonal hunger several days before and into TOM, and even if I miraculously don't fall off-plan, I still can gain up to 10 lbs overnight just with water-weight (and even more at my heaviest).

I weigh daily, and first and foremost, I focus on and celebrate "not gaining" even over and above losing. And even when I gain, I celebrate what I've kept off. I keep a health diary, and start my day with this format (I don't number the entries, I just numbered them for convenience in explaining.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
300 lbs
1. 6 lb gain from yesterday (TOM due tomorrow)
2. 94 lbs lost from highest weight
3. 50 lbs to Goal weight (When I reach 250 lbs, I'll set goal weight to 200)
4. 156 lbs to Ideal Weight (250 lbs lost)

Even if I gain, I still get to celebrate #2.
If I lose a pound tomorrow, I'll not only celebrate #2, I'll also get to celebrate #1 as well (even though I'm still "up" 5 lbs.

Setting goal weight (#3) by 50 lb increments, helps make the task seem doable. Losing 156 more pounds feels impossible, but losing 50 more (when I've lost and kept off 94) seems achievable.

Another thing I do is keep a sticker chart with a box for every pound I want to lose.When I gain a pound I don't rip off any stickers, I just don't get a new sticker until I've earned it. Each box has two numbers - the number of pounds lost, and what I have to weigh to make that loss. For example, my lowest weight since beginning the chart was 284. So the next sticker will go into the box with 283 written in one corner and 111 in the opposite, and I'll earn my next sticker when I get to 283 and I'll have lost 111 lbs from my highest weight.

I also have an inexpensive pandora (donut bead) style bracelet I wear, with each bead representing 5 lbs I've lost. When I lose 5 lbs I buy a new bead. If I gain, I give myself a month to get the weight back off before removing the bead or beads representing the weight I gained.

Motivation is a huge issue for me, so I always have to keep creating ways to make weight loss fun, interesting and positive. I lose all motivation the instant I stop feeling good about my progress. That's why I have to put "not gaining" at the top of my goals - not only because it's the hardest, most important part of successful weight loss, but also because I get to succeed a lot more often than when I define only losses as success.

Howdy,

I think that motivation to stay on target for goals can easily be lost in the face of a minute defeat or set back. I feel that a secondary motivation might come in handy here - another reason to keep on fighting to move forward no matter what stands in your way.

I've heard my entire life that changes (in whatever) should be made for oneself and no one else. I do believe, whole-heartedly, that someone shouldn't change for the sole benefit of someone else; as the change may not be what you particularly desire. With that being said, I started this journey because someone helped me find faith and belief in myself that I can do anything I want to do; anything I set my mind to do.

This man is the reason I moved from FL to MN. He is my secondary motivation to continue forward no matter the set backs. He is the love of my life. He's also not a big guy at all. He's 5'7" and he is toned and well defined. He loves me, as I am and accepts me as I am. He hasn't, ever, asked me to change. But I want to be the good looking woman he has on his arm and at his side. Whenever I feel like I'm loosing sight or slipping from my goals, I just have to look at him.. see his smile.. and know that I won't fail.

It might seem a bit sappy or sentimental. Or in the worst case scenario - what if he and I didn't work out? Would I slip backwards? We took a break before I moved out here and the only thing it did was prove to motivate me more into the changes I want to make - because of how he changed my life.

If you have a hard time staying focused for your own #1 reason; then find another that gives you strength when you need it most - whatever it may be. It will keep you on your path, lift you when you're down and it will remind you every day - there is a great goal you're striving for and the end result *will* be worth it.

Jessie :hug:

Good morning Buffy,

Believe me, I know all too well where you're coming from. I think we're very alike in that aspect of things. I don't like myself, at all. I strive to be a good person and do all the "right" things. But like myself? It's an impossibility at this conjecture. It's something I'm working on rectifying, but I think it'll be more difficult than loosing this weight.

Meeting the man I did, changed a lot of things and motivated me. He didn't tell me to do things, specifically. He just always supported me in his own ways and was there for me. People would tell me [good] things about myself and I'd think "yeah, that's great", but I wouldn't believe them. It wasn't until I met him that I started believing someone, he has this way about him that screams out even though he's a [really!] quiet person.

I think it's good to have another motivation because we are our own worst judge, jury and jailer. If we mess up, we have that voice in the back of our minds that beats us up worse than the monkies we all carry. But something/someone else reminds us that we're human and it's okay to mess up.. because as humans, we *are* resilient. We can *and* will get back up. And with someone beside us (figuratively or literally) we will fight even harder than before.

Sorry if that didn't make much sense.. I went from having a cold to a flu and my mind is mush! D-:

I hope you're having a great day!

Jessie :hug:

Howdy Buffy,

Yeah, it sucks. I've been here three weeks and oh lordy! I've been sick for two of them! lol. I have an extremely weak immune system, so when I get sick.. I stay sick for awhile. And god help me if anyone else gets sick around me; I get what they have, too! I have to laugh about it or I'd cry >.< It really does suck sometimes!

I am hoping that the weight loss will bring back a lot of the positive things in myself that I used to see and feel.

Thank you :-) he does have a good side.. even if he is being a punk right now! D-: ..lol.

If there is anything I can do to help you change the way you see yourself, I'd love to help. You are an awesome person.. and you should see yourself that way! always!

Jessie :hug:

Sometimes I use my cycle as an excuse. Today is the first day I didn't. I just took some pain relievers, waited for my cramps to subside, and did it. Everytime I am on my period I'm usually like "ohhh, I feel so crappy today.. guess I can't work out." or something similar.
Between that excuse and every other excuse I use, I realized, everyone around me (on youtube, sparkpeople, and 3fc) is going to change their bodies... but not me. So I told myself just suck it up unless you're crying from the menstrual pain (which I will then take meds) or feel like you could use a hospital right about then (like being light headed/dizzy, nauseous, etc.).

Ultimately what keeps me motivated, on my period especially, is the thought of backsliding and everyone around me succeeding without me. Just knowing that if I stay committed, that I will continue to do as well as everyone else is. That keeps my head in the game. I'm a competitive person. I have a twin sister and a mother who are also on weight loss journeys. No way will I allow myself to become unmotivated during period week. A couple days of slacking can quickly snowball into months of slacking for me.