Lost: Motivation
This week, I lost my motivation. I reverted to old, unhealthy eating habits because they were easier. I got tired of planning and tired of thinking about food all the time. I forgot why I was doing it all.
One of the things WW teaches is to use positive visualization. Picture yourself thinner and more energetic…. that sort of thing. The problem for me is that I’ve been fat for so long, I don’t know what skinny looks like or feels like for me. It’s really hard to visualize something you’ve only ever seen from afar. I get so discouraged sometimes with the amount of weight I have to lose. It seems like such an insurmountable goal. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t a race. I’ve been fat for 16 years and it’s not going to melt off in a matter of months. I’m in this for the long haul and I’m not going to stop eating well once I reach my goal weight. So why am I thinking in terms of a temporary situation? This is for LIFE.
I also have a tendency to beat myself up for bad days. I get depressed and upset and then eat more. I need to learn that one bad choice does not need to mean a bad day or that I’m a bad person.
So, *brisk hand clap* this is a new day and a new week. I’m ready to get back on track and keep losing. I’m going to go to my meeting tonight and get fresh motivation.
**Update - I gained .6 lbs this week. My motivation is back and I’m ready to see a lower number next week.
First of all, yay for health kick talk.
Second of all, I am a major waxer/waner when it comes to all things health related. I can’t think “for life”, that shit depresses me. I like to think instead of the hills and valleys on a graph, and how when you insert the “trend line”, it still goes UP over time(or DOWN, as the case may be).
Ok, I’ve been trying to diet / exercise seriously for most of my adult life. I’ve fell in a few deep ditches because of illness or depression, but have always managed to claw my way back out, usually screaming, kicking minimal… Here’s a few of my tricks for what they are worth.
1. Remember it’s a process, and it’s always going to be a process. There are goals, ya, but even when they are met, the process continues, usually in a slightly altered form. Not only that, when you reach your current goal, you will feel equally strong about your next one, and the next one and the… you get it. Point is, there’s always going to be that process there. Don’t stress out about it. Be buddies with it, it’s helping you!
2. CHEAT DAY IS INTEGRAL!!
Not only for peace of mind, which IS HUGE. Like everything else with the body (muscular development comes to mind first) keeping the body surprised keeps the body changing. If I stick on my diet perfect every single day for a month, I won’t lose as much fat as if I had taken one day each week and taken in more calories (read: eat whatever the heck you want). I’ve proven this to myself time and time again. I didn’t believe it early on. It also REALLY prevents binging. When you know you can eat junk once a week, it really makes you not care about having it the rest of the week, and also, when that day DOES come, you find yourself taking it easy, because you’ve lost that stress of “I CAN’T HAVE THIS AND I WANT IT!!!”
3. Lets say that right now your favorite garbage food is a Snickers bar. When you eat it, it gives you a 10 satisfaction level. When you eat, say, (one of my favorite healthy “junk” food concoctions) A whole grain muffin with some all natural no sugar added applesauce, a tablespoon of fat free ricotta cheese, and a dash of cinnamon on top, you think it’s ok, maybe a satisfaction level of 5 or 6. If you don’t eat that Snickers bar or any of his nasty pals like 3 Musketeers or Milky Ways for 6 months, (or any other total body-trash) your tastes will change DRAMATICALLY, and all of a sudden you will crave the super-muffin, and when you have it, it will feel like a supah 10, just like the Snickers used to. Not only that, but if you have a Snickers at this point, it will seem overwhelming and almost make you sick, and you won’t even be able to finish one. I swear to you this is true!
4. One of the best Jazz teachers I ever had taught me this thing called “Instant Forgiveness”. If you’re playing in front of a crowd, and you goof something up, it’s your job to instantly forgive yourself and move on, because dwelling on it is only going to take more of your attention and energy away from the rest of the piece, and increase your chances of botching again by a LOT. Use this little piece of wisdom with your dieting as well! If ya goof, just let it go, don’t let it turn into another one!
Hope this helps someone out there! Sorry this got so long!!
In runner’s circles, the pattern is called something like a “Hill training” regimen. You push, push, push yourself up a hill, doing better and better each week, and then you’ll have a week in there where you fall back.
I do this with both running and diet.
Glad you’re back on the horse. Don’t sweat the motivation stuff, I think everyone waxes and wanes a bit.
You will find the motivation. It sounds like you already have, so that’s a great thing. Keep up the good work.
I really liked Skippy McLizard’s comment! And Tessie’s trend line!
I have that same problem with “I blew it, so who cares now?” It is a struggle to make my brain believe that “Entire year of eating badly” is worse than “Mostly good, with occasional slip.”
the visualization thing has always been hard for me too - so instead I like to think of things that wear me out or places where I’m uncomfortable and then what it will be like to not feel that way. I can’t “picture” it though. it does get hard and sometimes just boring but you’ll do it. I know everyone says this but set small goals for yourself to celebrate - it gets exhausting when the only goal you’re looking at seems really far away
oh and the cheat day? awesome idea. I used to pick one day every week (usually when something special was planned) to eat whatever I wanted. It never hurt my loss and usually made the rest of the week easier
That is exactly how I feel. If healthy food was easy, I’d do it! I don’t even care about the junk anymore. All I care about is something fast into my empty stomach.
Huggs
Theresa
Erica,Skippy McLizard is one wise lady, seems she knows what she’s talking about.
My advice makes life easier, live one day at a time, it’s not hard to eat healthy for one day, is it. Have a break day and for yours and Maddie’s sake don’t beat yourself up for mistakes.
Warm hugs
Paul.
You can DOOOOOOO it!
Just go back to what you were doing before. 
I feel your pain!! I tend to binge when I screw up too, or I come up with ways to convince myself that what I’m eating is not that bad…..like the pumpkin muffin at Starbuck’s….I mean it’s pumpkin right? True, but it’s also stuffed with cream cheese.
Good for you for jumping back in.