Something I'm having a really hard time with is staying motivated. I'm really motivated at work (which I'm usually so busy that I forget to eat), and then after work I'm just so tired that I go home and crash. And then I get so hungry that I just go with whatever's easiest, which usually means going out. Also, sometimes I just get stuck trying to decide what to eat for so long that I just get nauseous.
Does anyone have any good motivation tips that they use that help them throughout the day/night?
Eat, eat, eat!! It will help you stay balanced. I know stopping work to eat can be tough -- I face daily deadlines when I'm working (knocked down to PT work lately) -- and sometimes I have to force myself. It can be especially hard to calm down enough to eat properly, but you have to.
You just have to fuel your body during the day so you don't crash and become more easily swayed at night.
It sounds like your head in is the right place -- but by the time night hits your body is crashing and it's just too hard to fight that and the emotions that caused us to overeat in the first place.
Also, if time is an issue -- plan ahead, freeze some quick easy meals and have a bevy of on plan snacks available. Hopefully that can get you through the rougher nights.
I agree with Chickie; make sure you're eating during the day so in the evening you're not so hungry that you just binge-attack the cupboards!
Also, I think planning tomorrow's dinner TODAY is the best way to keep on track. When there's no second-guessing, when there's no stressing about what's on-plan, and when there's no nausea creeping up on you, it's a lot easier to make the right decisions. I plan out my entire eating schedule a day in advance, because it's the only way I can keep myself from grabbing random garbage that I don't need when my stomach starts to really growl. I just had lunch an hour ago, and I can kinda feel my tummy starting to growl again. And I KNOW that my planned snack for the afternoon is a banana, or 3 crackers with 95% fat free cream cheese.
Also, I'm a bored eater, and if you're like that as well... the kind of person that just eats for something to do... find something to do with your hands. Knitting, drawing, making hemp bracelets/necklaces, whatever... it keeps your hands doing something so you don't feel tempted to be snacky if you're not hungry.
In terms of actual motivation... go through the 3FC Goal Photo Album. It aaaalways makes me want to do better. I love seeing peoples' before-after success stories. It just reminds you that you can do it too. I also watch back episodes of the biggest loser.
These are awesome tips! Thanks guys. Does anyone know of any mantras? Things you can say to yourself when you're trying to fight urges of not going to the gym, or grabbing an unhealthy snack?
I always liked "If I can gain control, I will lose the weight", but I want more!
I agree with Jelbb- i have a weekly eating plan so when im hungry i just look at that and go "ok, my snack today is fruit" and then i go eat that, or "ok today my dinner is x, y and z" and i go make that. Stay flexible as well, so if i dont have something, i dunno maybe brown rice or something like that, replace it with something else on the plan. Its easy, you dont have to think about it, and so it reduces temptations
As for unhealthy snacks, i think about what i really want- snacks or weight loss? Ultimately weight loss gives me more pleasure. I hate doing things twice too, so i remind myself that eating bad snacks makes my gym workouts void and will have to be done over to get the same results again.
My only "mantra' really is "Love the results? Learn to like the process".
I keep numerous different foods that are at hands reach at home. This way if I get home and feel the need to eat right away, I have something healthy to tide me over until dinner is ready. Or like tonight, I opted for cereal. At the moment, quick foods I have are: bananas, peaches, corn, toast, pickles (weird, I know.. but I love them), lunch meats, cheese that I sliced into strips the day I bought it, small carrot sticks... the list goes on and on. It's hard to eat unhealthy at home when most everything I see is healthy!!!
This may seem silly, but everytime I start and stop the process of losing weight, several months later I think, " If only I stuck with it, think of how I would look/feel now". I just got sick thinking that. So I tell myself "No more "If onlys" you can change if you start TODAY" It has worked for me. As far as being motivated, instead of looking at my weight loss, I have decided to become a runner. I am much fitter than I was 1.5 months ago when I started this, I have lost 8 pounds, and I am going to start to run 5ks. I signed up for my first one, and looking forward to that keeps me motivated.I also plan on running a half marathon next March, and have posted a sign on my bedroom door telling me I WILL be part of it. I have never felt so positive before in my attempts to lost weight, and I credit it to my new way of thinking.
I found a great new mantra! My plan is to repeat it to myself over and over any time I am deciding what to eat or am trying to get out of going to the gym:
I have a very busy schedule as well and us to have the same problem. I started going to the grocery store on my way to work and stocking up on fruits and vegetable which i snack on though out the day, when i get home i am not starving and dont overeat a dinner time, its also helped me save a lot of money
Motivators
