Okay, So I think around mid August I joined 3FC and fell in love with it. I was going strong for a while counting my calories and working out. Well, school started and I've been under some stress and I have not been tracking calories or working out at all. Now, I'm proud of myself that I recognize I need to get back on track. But right now I don't feel motivated at all! I feel like not worrying about my calories/working out will be much easier while I am dealing with school. But I know on the long run I will just be unhappy. AHHH I don't know why I don't feel motivated, I felt SO great in the first few weeks I began this. Any advice about getting back on track? What motivates you? ANYTHING is appreciated.
I'm pretty much where you are, so I'm not much help. I know I'm happier when I'm working out and eating well, but I haven't been able to get back. I've been off plan most of 2011...so I guess my best advice is to get back sooner rather than later. I keep saying "oh next week..." Don't be like me!
You know, I dealt with this for a few weeks myself. And I was posting on here giving advice to people about what they could try or should think about.
But now that I am back on track I know what it took for me... and it's the most cliche lesson out there:
Just DO it!
Really, stop talking to yourself about what you want and don't want. Just grab your stuff and do it. And then when you feel great about it, you will probably keep going. Or not, but then you just do it again. I know this sounds lame, but looking back, that's really all it takes.
What really motivates me, when you get down to it, is obesity. I've got a lot to lose before I'm a "normal" sized person (that is, not just another fat person in the crowd), and that's what really motivates me. I want the chains of obesity off of me- obesity stops me from totally enjoying social situations, taking advantage of opportunities, doing physical activities, and, basically, living my life. So there's a lot of negative reinforcement that comes with morbid obesity that can be motivation in itself.
Last time I was dieting, I had a similar situation to you- I was just a bit overweight, had ~20lbs to lose (which, for me at that point, I can honestly say were vanity pounds), and I just didn't feel the motivation either. I didn't have all that much to gain from losing the weight, and I didn't have anything to lose really by staying the way I was.
And I think that's the crux of the issue. What do you have to gain by losing weight, and what do you have to lose by not? If you have good, honest answers to these two questions, then they can act as your motivation. If you don't have answers, then why lose weight? So I guess I'm recommending looking for those answers.
Really, stop talking to yourself about what you want and don't want. Just grab your stuff and do it.
This.
I'm not a big talker about motivation or inspiration.
There is only one quote that I enjoy about motivation by Zig Ziglar "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
Motivation is a feeling, and it's fleeting. I love it when I have it, but the show must go on even when I don't have it. Heck, ESPECIALLY when I don't have it.
Sometimes I want to take my daily walk. Sometimes I have to drag myself up onto the treadmill kicking and screaming.
Sometimes I want to eat my healthy dinner. Sometimes I want to roll my face into a giant cake.
It doesn't matter what I want in the short-term, because if I commit to what I want in the long-term then I will get to my goal.
Another 3FC member posted this a while ago, and I think it's very sound:
It will never work out if you wait to do something until you FEEL like doing it.
Feelings come FROM actions, not the other way around. Do the thing to get the feeling.
Then remind yourself how it feels for the next time, but never rely on how you feel at the moment.
I think that the "just do it" part is important... my juicing/veggie thing was a last minute decision. I watched the video with my granddaddy and my mom in the evening, started in the morning. The first few days were HORRID... but I just kept doing it... and now I feel awesome.
Honestly... maybe think a little about what method you'll use... but when it really comes down to it... don't think too much. I got into the trouble of thinking TOO much... and ended up not doing anything at all.
I feel like not worrying about my calories/working out will be much easier while I am dealing with school.
I have gotten myself in this trap SO many times before (haha, trying to get out of it right now, in fact). "Oh, when I can really focus on it, I'll diet. After this paper. After this exam. After this project." Sometimes it feels like losing weight is a full time job, and you have to wait until the stars are aligned for it to be feasible.
The good news is just reading over this thread was a total help to me. I put on my walking shoes, told myself "Eh, twenty minutes and then you can come home and be lazy again." Ended up enjoying myself and taking an hour and a half long walk on this gorgeous night. *Self high-five*
I don't know if this really helps, or if this is good advice, but maybe focus on going to the gym rather than obsessing over calorie counting. Going to the gym is great for so many obvious reasons, stress release, health maintenance, weight loss, etc. Rather than making yourself feel bad or obsess over calories just worry about being healthy rather than perfect. Try to eat healthy of course but try to keep yourself going to the gym when you have time. You might find this will help you de-stress with all your school work. Focus on positive healthy goals rather than feeling bad when you don't do something. I don't know if this helps but I think if you try to go to the gym when you can it will pay off and you will feel good about yourself!
If the thought of calorie counting/working out creates a stress or worry while you are in school then just focus on school! Obviously try to make healthy decisions in between classes but don't beat yourself up! And when you can't study any more or need some Me-Time, go to the gym if you feel like it and be healthy for yourself because you WANT to, not out of some pressure you've created for yourself. I hope this helps, I don't know if it does, but don't let this stress you of all things! Let the gym or being healthy be an escape for you when school gets hectic and stressful!
Wow, thank you everyone for your comments and advice. They have really helped. I am happy to report that today I convinced my boyfriend to go to the gym with me when its usually the other way around and I have had a great day eating/calorie wise. My motivation for the gym was stress-relief related, as steinanwine talked about. My beloved cat Jack has been missing for the past 3 days now and my boyfriend and I have spent those three days trying everything we can to find him and being very sad and stressed. I suggested we go to the gym to let off a little steam, we did and I felt great afterwards. That then motivated me to eat better during the day, it was awesome.
And I can't tell you how much I appreciate the advice, "JUST DO IT". Short and sweet but extremely effective. I will definitely think of this next time I'm parked on the couch watching Law & Order SVU, being to lazy to drive myself to the gym. Thank you so much everyone! I am back on track! <3
I'm in the same boat as you, but I can't really stand the idea of waking up and going "ugh is that me?" in the mirror another day. Not every good day has to be a perfect day - but it's such a great payoff to go to bed and wake up not feeling bloated and guilty.
Went MIA, now I'm back and need HELP!
Thank you so much everyone! I am back on track! <3
