Motivation

[DrivingMsDerby]

I have a goal to lose 100lbs over the next year. I am down 13lbs since the first of the year (which feels awesome!) I am wondering what tips are out there for staying motivated. I have struggled with my weight since I was given a medication that made me gain a large amount of weight when I was 12 years old. I just turned 26 and need to get my life back under control, but my relationships, work (I'm an elementary school teacher), stress and health issues have always been a crutch for me to make excuses and lose my motivation. I'm that person who tends to put themself on the backburner and put everyone else's needs ahead of my own, but this one year I am dedicating to myself to find my balance between caring for myself and the ones I love.

I want this so badly for myself, but how do I make sure I stay motivated throughout this self-maintained journey?

[Starchivore]

I have been using the "Don't Break the Chain" method attributed to Jerry Seinfeld to keep up positive habits.  Give it a Google.  I currently have several going.  You just get a one-page year calendar and put an 'X' on every day that you perform your desired habit or activity; for example, 10,000 steps.  When you get a few 'X's that form a chain you really don't want to break it.  I just use calendars I found online and printed and each positive habit has a different color.  There's even a phone app available.

[steff]

Motivation come from within.  The biggest problems staying motivated begin with:  This is good enough and This will never happen.  In other words DECIDING that you are done.   Weird thing about weight, you are never really done.   You gain, lose or maintain. 

[Inga]

Losing weight IS motivating! I now I've said this in posts before but fitbit really clicked for me.

Motivation has never been my problem, not having a a personalized monitoring sytem was my problem. I worked out, dieted, tried different plans, and little by little, year by year gained weight. here is what the fit bit was able to do! 

[DrivingMsDerby]

Thank you all who have commented so far, this FitBit community may be all the motivation I need!!! 

[Naomi94]

I think the answer is in reminding yourself why you are doing this. 

You deserve to feel beautiful. You deserve to be happy with your body. You deserve to feel completely comfortable in intimate moments. Your motivation must come from yourself - you are worth it. Motivation also must be found in ignoring deconstructive statements made by other people. 

One hundred pounds is a lot to loose, so what I am going to do is personally motivate you to loose 12 pounds next month. Today is February 18th. By March 31st (that is enough time) you must loose 12 pounds and send me a private message when you do it. If you don't do it - I will come after you. 

Finally - I just came back from LA Fitness. I did 30 minutes in the weight room and 45 minutes cardio. The best way to motivate yourself is to make your fitbit profile public. Log your foods every day, log your activities, and make your weight PUBLIC. I know, it hurts, but if the contestants on the biggest loser can do it then so can you. Do not hide from your true weight. If you know us cyber-strangers are watching you, then our millions of little eyes will give you that extra bit of motivation to push though those workouts and keep on your diet plan. 

Good Luck 

[DrivingMsDerby]

Naomi you are such an excellent motivator! Thank you so much for the extra push and encouragement!

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@Naomi94 wrote:

I think the answer is in reminding yourself why you are doing this. 

You deserve to feel beautiful. You deserve to be happy with your body. You deserve to feel completely comfortable in intimate moments. Your motivation must come from yourself - you are worth it. Motivation also must be found in ignoring deconstructive statements made by other people. 

One hundred pounds is a lot to loose, so what I am going to do is personally motivate you to loose 12 pounds next month. Today is February 18th. By March 31st (that is enough time) you must loose 12 pounds and send me a private message when you do it. If you don't do it - I will come after you. 

Finally - I just came back from LA Fitness. I did 30 minutes in the weight room and 45 minutes cardio. The best way to motivate yourself is to make your fitbit profile public. Log your foods every day, log your activities, and make your weight PUBLIC. I know, it hurts, but if the contestants on the biggest loser can do it then so can you. Do not hide from your true weight. If you know us cyber-strangers are watching you, then our millions of little eyes will give you that extra bit of motivation to push though those workouts and keep on your diet plan. 

Good Luck 

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[Jabrat]

Excellent images !!

[Jabrat]

Yes motivation does come from within but you also have to make yourself accountable - buddy systems work - think about Weight Watchers - you weigh in front of strangers - which has worked for many including myself - finding a group on this site is easy to do - try it and make yourself accountable 🙂