What Keeps You Motivated - Weight Loss Related

amandaf6383 · November 2013

Motivation, or lack thereof, is a bitch. It never fails that you start out gung-ho but then come the first true test, the first battle, it's so easy to reach for that cookie (or cake, or tacos, or lasagna, or whatever comfort food you love). So my question is how to do you stay motivated?

I know that the general consensus is "I want to do IF treatment" or "I want to be healthy" but I mean, what are the tricks you use that stop you from binging when that's all you want to do? One of my friends told me she will go to bed at like 7PM sometimes if she feels a binge coming on but I don't know how realistic that is for me.

I'm interested in everyone's opinion, particularly my four weight loss inspirations - @Aimothy @Xan921 @nfp147 @brij2006 - when it was the hardest for you, what did you do?

PandPMeant2B · November 2013

Lacking motivation definitely sucks! This isn't really motivation related, and I know everyone says this, but what works for me is not keeping the junk in the house. It's not "out of sight out of mind," but I'd rather be whining about wanting something I don't have than whining about how I wish I hadn't eaten it. When I want a treat, I have one. And I don't feel guilty about it. If you feel like you've "slipped up," don't beat yourself up over it. It's one meal. It's not going to negate everything you've already done. Get back on track with the next meal.

I've also changed the way I think and talk about food. I don't say, "I can't have that pasta/bread/dessert/etc." It's "I DON'T eat that." I believe strongly in the mind/body connection and changing my thought process has given me more control.

Whenever I'm really tempted, I say my mantra, "Nothing tastes as god as being healthy feels."

mrsskiz · November 2013

Honestly, I look at pictures of my self from vacation standing with my skinny, super, motivated, beautiful friend. While I know there is no way I would ever want to be/could be as small as her, I know that if she can keep in shape and eating great, while working full time and going to graduate school full time, I can do it too. But she and her DH also take time out sometimes to go to amazing icecream parlors or indulgent dinners.

I have re-done a lot of our dinners and changed certian ingredients so they arent totally different, but still better than what they were. My problem is alcohol. I like to kick back with a glass or three of wine at night or a couple Angry Orchards, both of which are around 210+ calories a pop. But I also dont snack after dinner either.

I am in the same boat as you when it comes to motivation to work out though. I would have to go to the gym at 4am in order to get workout and shower in before having to leave for work. In the afternoons Im exhuasted from work.

Im really interested in motivational ideas though.

GoodWolf · November 2013

I'm with @PandPMeant2B, I can't keep any junk food in the house because I know myself and my weaknesses. And that's ok. Some people have strong willpower, but not me! I also pack my lunch every day, with only the things I will eat. I can't, for example, bring a weeks worth of food to work on Monday because I'll just eat it all at the beginning of the week. I eat six small meals/snacks a day, and that works great for me because then my blood sugar doesn't plummet and the hunger monster never gets a chance to take over and tell me I really need that blizzard, sugary drink, pile of candy, etc.
So I think my biggest thing is forming good habits, not putting myself where I know I'll be tempted, and also not beating myself up if I do have a treat of two. It didn't come off in a day, and it won't come back on in a day either.

ljraff29 · November 2013

Oh motivation.. I lack that especially during this time of year (just in time for holiday goodies). I try to cook at home as much as possible. DH and I limit takeout to 2 meals a week (maybe 3 max). This way when I do indulge, I can forgive myself and move on a little easier.

I also agree with @PandPmeant2B with not keeping junk in the house. If we want something bad enough to go get it, then we indulge. Otherwise, junk food stays out of the pantry!

For workouts, I don't have a gym membership, so I'm all about fitting it in at home. I have a pinterest board filled with workouts and a library of at home DVDs. I have the philosophy "that something is better than nothing." So even if I only do 15 mins, it's better than nothing. I'm a big fan of HIIT workouts since they're short and effective. I also try to squeeze in extras whenever I can (squats while making dinner, jumping jacks during commercials, incline pushups).

It's really about what works for you and your lifestyle. My suggestion is to find what works for you and stick to it. Starting a regimen that you can't stick to will just make you more frustrated when you fall off the wagon.

Sewilson33 · November 2013

Back in February DH and I needed to lose weight, me about 20 lbs but DH needed to lose about 50 to get back into the "healthy" range. We did it as a team and that is probably the only way either of us could have done it. We started off by cutting all carbs excepts veggies from our diets. We did this for about a week, then we slowly started introducing healthy snacks like, rice cakes, peanut butter, and jello. We now mainly stick to sugar free snacks and once in a while when we are expecting guests we will buy chips and allow ourselves to eat the chips. I try to not buy anything that I used to buy because we have control issues. So if it is in the house it will be eaten and FAST. Now we have breads but mainly wraps and carb healthy wraps or pitas. We allow ourselves to have "cheat days" when we go out to eat with family or friends or once a week we will get Chinese food.
I try and bring lunch with me to work and will have just chicken for lunch, or I buy grilled chicken, salads, or eggs. I keep lunch light and eat more dinner.
My motivation is to keep DH healthy. His Dad is obese and has a lot of blood pressure issues and heart issues and I am terrified to have DH follow his footsteps.

nfp147 · November 2013

I'm not sure I should be anyone's inspiration.

But, when I am being good, it's very helpful/motivating that DH and I are both eating healthy and going to the gym together.

When it comes to snacking, I try to keep my hands busy with crafts.

My worst time is right when I get home from work. I'm hungry/snacky, but it's too early for dinner. I try to go for a walk or find something else to keep myself busy during that time.

Aimothy · November 2013

I bribed myself. If I avoided X/didn't make the bad choice X number of days in a row, I would buy a new necklace/scarf/book.

It has really helped having my trainers have access to look at my food log for the day. I will NOT be embarrassed by someone who I consider to be "hot and skinny", so it always stopped me from eating it because I knew I would have to admit to it. Basically, I shamed myself.

I told myself that when I lost 10 pounds, I would take myself out for Chinese/Taco Bell/whatever bad food I was craving as a reward. I know you shouldn't use the bad foods as a reward, but I found if I knew I could have it once in a while, I made better choices along the way.

And really, taking pictures of myself and putting them here for you all to AW over was truly the greatest motivator. I didn't want to put up next's months picture and have everyone go "Meh. I don't really see a change, but keep it up!" Now, maybe you all lied to me and you never really noticed changes from month to month, but it really is one of the biggest motivators out there.

Oh, and hire a hot trainer. WORKS. EVERY. TIME.

I still dream of Frank.

brij2006 · November 2013

Okay, just a warning that this may get long.

My motivation honestly comes from remembering how I felt when I was larger. How I couldn't sit down without feeling my stomach push against the wire in my bra and make it uncomfortable. Or having to adjust my pants before sitting down or else they would push on my stomach and it would hurt. How H and I would have sex and I would never let him take my shirt off.

It also helped me to celebrate small victories that weren't scale related. Like buying a new pair of running shoes when I finally ran 10 minutes straight without stopping. One of my biggest goals was to be able to buy a sweater dress with leggings and flats, and look good in it. I actually ended up buying all of these items when they didn't fit. Then I tried them on each week until I felt confident enough in it to wear it out in public (that night I called H and said we're going out! I look/feel sexy in my outfit and I want you to show me off. lol). It also helped me to not step on the scale. Period. I stepped on the scale at the beginning of my journey and that was it. I didn't have a goal weight in mind, a goal size, nothing. I even stored my scale at H's apartment so I wasn't tempted. Just that I didn't want to feel uncomfortable and miserable anymore. Once my jeans started feeling really baggy, then I would go to the store and try on the smaller size. If they didn't fit yet, then I would make what I have work until that new size fit comfortably.

Here are a few things that I used when trying to lose weight though. I don't know if you're doing a program or anything, or what. But this is what worked for me the first time around.

The Biggest Loser Cookbook. It has tips and tricks in the front, and has a good explanation of what to eat and what not to eat.
http://www.amazon.com/Biggest-Loser-Cookbook-Healthy-Delicious-ebook/dp/B000QXCZV8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1384359090&sr=8-4&keywords=biggest+loser+book

I also used the Biggest Loser Weightloss book. This gave some good tips too, along with some exercises. But I felt that the cookbook was more of what I needed, because I grew up in a house where healthy eating was having meat, potatoes, and veggies and not frying the meat this time. So I really didn't know what was or wasn't good for me. Sounds sad, but it's true.
http://www.amazon.com/Biggest-Loser-Weight-Program-Transform-ebook/dp/B00CPRVOWY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384359090&sr=8-2&keywords=biggest+loser+book

Now I also have their Quick and Easy cookbook and the Family cookbook, but I seem to still resort to their regular cookbook for a lot of meals.
It also helps me to meal plan and prep my meals. I will go through the cookbook and tab ones we want to make that week, and I make a grocery list accordingly. If I have healthy meals prepped for the week, then we're less likely to eat out or have something unhealthy after work. I do the same with my lunch. I prep 5 salads for the week, and put the dressing in a separate container. Then I pack soup, a wrap, etc to go with the salad. This keeps me from going out for lunch or grabbing something quick and unhealthy when I walk out the door.

Also like others have said. Don't have stuff in the house you shouldn't eat. H and I are both "out of sight, out of mind" people. If we have to drive 15 minutes to get ice cream, then we will think twice about going and getting it. If it's in the freezer, then we'll eat it.

As far as keeping motivated with the exercise part. It helps to really switch things up. Of course I run, and that's the main thing I do and that's what helped me to lose a lot of the weight. But 2 years ago when we got engaged I had gained 15lbs back from my lowest weight, and I knew I wanted to lose 20-25 before the wedding and tone a lot. So I signed up for a half marathon. The furthest I had ever ran was 5 miles. So I had no clue how to train for this or what to do, but I went to Google and told myself that I could do this. I trained for the half marathon and had lost about 15lbs in that 5 month timeframe. Then I went to the local gym and worked with a trainer for 6 sessions so I could learn some ways to tone. I only ended up losing 5 more pounds and never got to my final goal weight, but I felt beyond amazing! Now I switch things up mostly with videos. I run 3-4 days a week, then do a yoga video on Friday mornings, and a Biggest Loser tone video on the other day I don't run. Then Sundays are either rest or I do a long run if I didn't fit it in on Saturday.

One of my favorite motivation tools is purely mental. I tell myself that I can do this. I can eat things that I want to eat, but in moderation and not as often as I used to. You can still drink booze, go out to eat, have pizza, have french fries. But it just needs to be in moderation. Or I tell myself that if I eat these things, then I need to burn the calories BEFORE I eat them.

Weight loss is a very difficult thing to do. It's an emotional roller coaster, but you have to be strong for yourself. That's the only way you will get results and the only way to be happy with what decisions you are making.

And this got much longer than I anticipated. Sorry for the book.

BruinsBabe33 · November 2013

@Aimothy Even I still dream of Frank.

DangerMuffin23 · November 2013

Immediate results. That's what motivates me. Lol. But seriously, my mother is and was extremely obese. (And maybe this sounds mean) but I keep a picture of us on my treadmill from when I was a kid and totally embarrassed by her size, it motivates to not be like her, and be healthy.

callitcompulsive · November 2013

I really want to contribute to this, but I have NO IDEA what to say. I have no idea how I've been able to lose weight and keep it off (so far, anyway) by that I mean, I don't exercise like I should and I certainly don't eat like I should ... and really, just like everything else, what works for one person won't work for everyone. You have to find what works for you.

There are things in each of the previous replies that I've found helpful in my situation. Like @Brij2006, every time I'm tempted to swing through the drivethrough on my way home, I remember how I felt when I was 50 lbs heavier. Likewise, I remember how it felt to buy and fit into a size 12 for the first time in 10 years. (It was awesome, FTR.)

@mrs.skiz has a good point about tweaking recipes, too. It's daunting to go from eating whatever you want to celery stalks and acting like it's a delicious steak. I also like what @goodwolf said about recovering after a binge. "It didn't come off in a day--it won't come back on in a day." same can be said about the initial loss. When I'd get down about only losing a pound in a week or something, I'd remind myself, I didn't just wake up obese one day, after going to bed at a "normal" weight. My gain was gradual. Weight loss in a gradual thing too.

so anyway, tl;dr I don't have anything constructive to add. For me, it was portion sizes and knowing the amount of calories my body actually needs... And realizing I was WAAAAYYY exceeding that number for far too long. It's fucking hard. If it were easy, everyone would be thin and healthy.

lindsayandjamie · November 2013

Motivation... I find it easy during weightloss and difficult during maintenance. I set my own boundaries to stay on track with food, namely not eating or drinking sugar (except a bit of dark chocolate if I'm dying), and limiting my starches to early in the day. I am generally a really healthy eater and if I can stick to these two guidelines I'm on track. Exercise motivation comes from remembering how good it feels when I move and setting a date with myself to make it happen. I need to exercise 5x a week to see changes on the scale but only 3x a week to maintain. My biggest challenge is getting back on the wagon when I've fallen off. I use clothes and clothing rewards when I meet a goal to help me get going. I also read oxygen magazine to use as inspirations to get my ass in gear. Seeing fit women makes me want to work to be fit too.

Xan921 · November 2013

Sorry I'm late on this. The one main thing that has kept me on track for the last 20-ish months is the saying "Tomorrow will be better". I had tried dieting so many times in the past and I'd do awesome for the first 2 weeks, sometimes the first month, a couple times it lasted 3-4 months, but then I'd always slowly make my way back to my old habits and just throw in the towel. What I realized was that as soon as I'd slip up, I'd give up. I thought one bad weekend or a week of eating like crap meant it was over, and then I heard or read or saw somewhere (no clue where it came from but it has stuck in my head all of this time) that tomorrow will be better.

So now if I eat like crap on Saturday I immediately tell myself "Tomorrow will be better" and then Sunday I typically get right back on track. Sometimes though my "tomorrow" turns into "Next week will be better" because let's be real, dieting for 20 months straight is hard and I need a break from constantly counting my points and going to the gym, but as long as I never let myself forget that slipping up doesn't mean I get to give up, it just means tomorrow needs to be better than today was, then I'm ok.

You'll get there @amandaf6383, I know you will. It's a hard journey to go on but something will just click for you, one day it'll all start making sense and your motivation, drive and determination to lose weight will just learn to stick around and you're going to be so successful at weight loss when it does.

ILoveRedVino · November 2013

Xan, I always see pictures of your AMAZING cookies and wonder how you can keep it up when you bake like that.

Me=jealous. I would eat every last crumb.

Xan921 · November 2013

ILoveRedVino said:

Xan, I always see pictures of your AMAZING cookies and wonder how you can keep it up when you bake like that. Me=jealous. I would eat every last crumb.

Thank you so much, that is very sweet

lol trust me, I eat my fair share when I make them but if I do splurge on that then I will only eat half of what I normally would for dinner etc.

The more I make them though the less I eat them because it's such a long process now that I'm doing more detailed decorating (it takes me on average 3 days to bake and decorate 5 dozen cookies) I view it as more of a craft/hobby than as something yummy. By the time I finish now the thought of eating one doesn't appeal to me at all because I'm annoyed with them and sick of doing them.

What Keeps You Motivated - Weight Loss Related

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