Motivation has been a hot topic in my inbox recently. Everyone has been asking how I stay motivated so I thought it was time to answer this seriously on the site.
Getting and staying motivated is a state of mind, an attitude if you will. Being at my goal weight has, of course helped this state of mind but it took 2 years to get to this point and I had more then 10 years of practice before that!
I can only share with you what has worked for me. I am by no means a professional. This has just been my experience.
First, I can tell you in the past what did NOT keep me motivated. Trying to be as thin as my friends, wanting to lose weight for my boyfriend, losing weight for an event or to fit into an outfit all seem like good ideas but in reality they are desires not necessarily motivators. Most of my teens and 20’s I spent longing to be thinner and this, apparently, did NOT keep me motivated. I yo-yo’ed my way through this time losing and gaining the same 40lbs.
Then two things happened, I turned 29 and had a new baby boy on my hands. I realized time was moving on. I spent my entire adult life wanting something that was attainable with a little bit of determination and hard work. What was wrong with me? If I wanted this so bad, why haven’t I done it yet? I was getting older and now I have another life to think about. What would I be teaching my son if he had an unhealthy, overweight mom?
So I joined Weight Watchers and changed my attitude. I took it day by day and tried not to think of my long term goals. I started to think about how healthy I wanted to be, not how thin I wanted to be. It was more about confidence then looks, long-term goals instead of fast fixes.
I started to make a conscious effort to eat natural whole foods, I started eating more fruit and vegetables, drinking all my water and planning my meals. It was hard in the beginning but after a few weeks, my habits and tastes started to change. It was a process, a long process. Looking back, I came up with this list.
- Own your Accomplishments. I see this all the time. “I only lost 1.2 pounds”. WHAT?!? ONLY? Own it. Don’t undermine yourself like that. Own every good choice you make. This is a journey and you have to recognize when you are doing well, moving in the right direction.
- Stop thinking about your ultimate goal. If it does not seem possible you are going to give up. I didn’t set out to lose 70lbs. If I tried, I think I would have failed. I took it small goal by small goal at a time.
- Dive in headfirst. I chose Weight Watchers but I’m convinced most reputable diets work IF you follow them. Chose your plan and follow it. Have faith in it. If you don’t trust your plan you are setting yourself up to fail.
- Experiment. If you are anything like me, you get bored. Experiment with new food, new workouts. It will keep you interested. This is how I discovered spaghetti and butternut squash. Now I cannot live without them and I enjoy coming up with new ways to eat them!
- Get Active. Not everyone is into working out. I’m not but I make an effort to get outside, walk, hike, dance around the house like an idiot, anything to keep moving.
- Take it one choice at a time. I always say one goal, one day, one choice at a time. All of those good choices add up! If you happen to make the wrong decision then admit it and move on. You will learn from that bad choice. As long as you are making more good choices then bad, you are on your way! Every new choice is just that, new, it has nothing to do with what you ate for lunch.
- Be accountable. Whether it is to you significant other, your leader at Weight Watchers or your online friends, it doesn’t matter. Report your weigh-ins, share your experience, admit your mistakes and celebrate you accomplishments. This is why I started BlogToLose This site has been my sounding bored, my place to experiment, and to get and give advice. I’m not sure if I would have stayed motivated without it.
There you have it. My take on motivation and how I got it. I need to add that I am, by no means perfect. This past weekend was quit a disaster but today I am back on plan. Keep trucking along. Time keeps moving if you are on plan or not, you might as well be on plan!
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Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.Like the new look of Roni’s Weigh?
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Wow, that was a great post…thanks for sharing. I think motivation is probably the biggest factor in losing weight for most people…I know it is for me. And just like you, I’ve tried to be motivated by ‘wanted to be as thin as so-n-so, or thin enough to wear a bathing suit without feeling like I should stay at the bottom of the pool’…and I as bad as I think I want to be thin, I’m still fat! Just like you said, I keep saying “what’s wrong with me?” Your post about ‘own your choice’ and ‘time is marching on, you might as well be on plan’ are right on and have really motivated me to get a fresh start today. THANK YOU for this site!
that was an inspirational post, on an inspirational site. I found your site about 3 months ago, and have been checking it everyday since. Like a lot of people, your story is similar to mine, but i started 4 years ago at 230lbs, and am down to 169lbs. I’ve been at this weight for 2 years now, and am looking for motivation to keep going. I’m 5’9″ and would like to lose 20lbs by my wedding next spring. Your site has helped me stay motivated and has given me great ideas for cooking, exercise and making good choices. Thank you so much for doing all this, it means more to all of us than you’ll ever realize.
Thanks for making such an awesome site that I’m know helps so many people. I’m addicted to brownies. Your site is the first place I go when I need the motivation to NOT reach for that big fattening industrial size box. Thank you for sharing!!!
Bulaela
I needed this site. I am 189 lbs and I am just beginning the weight loss journey. I have struggled ever since I had my daughter 9 years ago and I am 40 now. I have spent my whole 30s overweight and disappointed at myself. Today I believe I am strong enought to take it one day at a time and never give up on myself. Thanks!
Eight days before I turned 40 I joined WWs. I, too, have a nine year old daughter (and a seven year old daughter AND a four year old son!) I spent my 30′s being a great wife and mom but 25# overweight and out of shape. I refused to buy clothes in “that size” so went around with a wardrobe of which I could pack all in an overnight bag. I hated to go places and hated seeing people I knew. Embarrassed I guess! Now at goal for five weeks-will make lifetime next week. I’m 40 and I feel great! You CAN make your 40s better than your 30s. Go for it!
Super Post… gave me lots to think about.
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Roni,
Thanks so much for your website. I have been trying to go to Blog to Lose daily to help motivate myself and others. I just had my 26th birthday and it was just one of those moments when I finally realized, I’ve been telling myself my whole life that I wasn’t going to be an unhealthy adult. I finally realized, HEY! I already AM an ADULT! What have I been waiting for? I have to change my lifestyle NOW before it’s too late. I am trying hard with diet and exercise and have quit smoking (one cigarette this week and going strong. .) Thanks again!
Check out LadyBOT (Sophia)s last blog post..Caitlin
Been wanting to email you about the Balto. Running Fest. I ran the 5K for the first time in my 41 yrs. I told my hubby I am an athlete at 41 and never before! How did you do? But now I am running out of steam and find it boring on the treadmill, and time goes by so SLOWLY. I need to get my butt in gear but I also did not see the “lbs. fall off” like you hear so many people who go from walking to running, which is a little psychologically draining. Since you are working so hard and doing so much and have the dedication but the scale doesnt show it???
I have emailed you before and cant expect you to remember me but I am a “neighbor” so to speak , right in White Marsh. Thanks for all you do in inspire us!
Sally
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