I just got back from a great vacation in Jamaica where the weather was warm and all the trees were green.
Now I’m back in Iowa where we have tons of snow and the trees are all brown. The past few days, I’ve just wanted to sit in an easy chair and eat cinnamon rolls!
It appears that I’ve lost my motivation. It’s around here somewhere! I just have to find it back. But I don’t seem to be having much luck with that. Instead, I keep eating too much, skipping my exercise, and worst of all, not really caring about managing my weight.
Motivation is funny. For one thing, it always seems to leave right in the middle of a good weight-loss program. Maybe you started a new weight-loss plan in January and were doing great with it. Then one day, you lose your motivation and you just didn’t feel like working on it anymore.
Soon you start noticing your tighter pants or shortness of breath, and you desperately want to get back to your diet. But day after day, your good intentions slip away, and you can’t figure out how to get motivated again.
It’s interesting how when motivation is high, you feel energized, driven, focused and determined. Nothing gets in your way, and you always have the ability to push yourself and get things done.
But once you lose motivation, inertia takes over. You keep saying you want to change, but you can’t seem to get yourself out the door. And grabbing a bag of chips seems so much easier than planning, measuring and cooking. So how do you get back to that wonderful place where motivation is strong and you easily stick with your program?
Create some buzz
First of all, we all know that motivation isn’t permanent. You don’t “get it,” then never have to worry about it again. That’s why being able to build your own motivation is so important.
Instead of depending on an external crisis to get you started, you can create your own wake-up call. Figure out ways to generate your own excitement and energy for your goals. Look at motivation as an opportunity, not a burden or a nuisance, then develop the resources you need to sustain it.
Here’s a couple of ideas that will help you get back on track.
• Think about WHY
Write a list of at least ten reasons WHY you want to lose or maintain your weight. If you’ve done this before, write a new list. Then pull out the previous one and compare the two. Any time you start to lose motivation, read your list and use it as an incentive to stick with your efforts.
Here’s a link to my list:
10 reasons to lose weight
• Give it attention
Saying “one of these days, I’ll get going” doesn’t usually work. Whether you’re starting a new diet plan or returning to the gym, you have to stick with it, day after day, to see results. So lay out a solid plan, give it focus and attention, then follow through with it.
My renewed motivation is in place and I’m determined to keep it going. Today I’ll be playing tennis with a senior-age group who are amazing and always challenge me. I’ve also planned out my meals and made sure I have fruit on the menu.
• Do it when you don’t feel like it
When you don’t feel like working on a diet or exercise program, that’s usually when you need it the most. So unless you’re physically ill, don’t let your feelings determine your actions. Invent new tricks, create new methods, and stay on your program, even when you don’t feel like it.
This one is always a challenge for me, but it’s the only way to stay successful long-term. I finally decided to stop looking for my lost motivation and instead, push myself to work hard, stay focused, and get back on track. With renewed motivation, I know that my efforts will pay off and I’ll see the results in my mirror as well as my lifestyle.