getting motivated

How do you get yourself motivated to start something new?
I would really like to get healthier this year and lose a little weight but I feel like I start for a few days and then slack off.
I can't seem to find the motivation.
Any tips from highly motivated people?

Re: getting motivated

I'd love to hear this too.
I barely have the motivation to get out of bed .

I hate to say it, but I feel it's a personality trait. You either have it or you don't.

Of course you can do things to get more motivated and you can force yourself to do things.

But I find for me, it never ever comes naturally.

And that sucks

getting motivated

I think its best to set small goals at first - don't attempt to revamp your whole diet and fitness in one fell swoop.

I don't think I am extremely motivated - but I got myself into a great workout/health place about 10 years ago and I have stuck with it, even with having 2 small kids.

I think the key is to start with small changes, and they will add up to big changes. If you want to exercise, start with 2x a week, then you will build up to 3x a week, etc.

I think you are more likely to stick with something if you make the goals easier to obtain, once you are feeling successful at those, you will be able to reach bigger goals.

Re: getting motivated

Re: getting motivated

Agree with the above poster. A few years ago after having my first baby, I had put on some weight and felt terrible about myself. I was never a terrible eater, but not a great one either. So I started just making some healthier choices at first - no real diet, just better choices. The biggest thing I did was I started walking. I would walk after I put the baby to bed or for 30 minutes on the weekend. And eventually those walks turned into jogs and then eventually runs. I started taking the walks to just get out of my house and clear my head and get some alone time lol, but it turned into something I never thought I could do which was run. Once I was on a healthier track, I was more motivated to do other types of workouts, eat even better etc.

Def start small - best advice for sure.

I see some people start things like the 21 day fix and completely change their diet and workout 7 days a week on day 1- I think that is amazing when people are able to push themselves to do that...but thats not really the best approach for everyone.

Re: getting motivated

I also have been lacking motivation, but would like to lose weight. When I've been successful in the past, I would say the keys are:

1. Just start - don't wait until the ideal time, because there isn't one. Part of it is just habit, so if you can start cooking healthier meals, or counting calories, or exercising, or whatever it is you want to do, it's easier to continue. The hard part is getting started and getting into a routine.

2. Don't expect perfection - Be realistic and if you get off track one day, keep going. It's the big picture, not any given meal or day or even couple of days that matter.

3. Do what you enjoy - A few years ago, I tried to get into running. I really hate running, so I didn't stick with it. I like more dance-based workouts (zumba) or something like yoga. But plenty of people LOVE running. I also enjoy cooking and eating out at restaurants, so I can't go with some overly restrictive diet (something that relies on shakes and packaged food). But I know some people are the opposite - they love the structure and convenience of something like that and hate to cook or have to make decisions about what to eat. I think it's just important to really know yourself and think about what you can/can't stick with. Then, devise your plans and goals around what you like, so you will be motivated to actually do it.

Re: getting motivated

I agree with the above posters for sure! Set small, attainable goals that are within fairly quick reach. Meeting those small goals makes you feel accomplished and in turn motivates you to set the next goal. It just continues from there.

I find losing weight so overwhelming but I stopped focusing on the "end goal" and started creating mini-challenges for myself instead. I like to focus on 10 pound increments. It's enough to see and feel a difference and usually get you into (or close to) a new clothing size. Buying that smaller shirt is crazy motivating and 10 lbs, to me, doesn't feel like an overwhelming task.

I'm finding it so much easier to make changes, lose weight and stick with it. I'm down 21 lbs since September and it hasn't felt like a chore. I even lost weight that day AFTER Xmas!! My next goal (since just buying a new Fitbit) is to start incorporating exercise in so that I feel better and move along the weight loss at a better clip.

Good luck!! You can totally do it!!!! Also, if you know someone else that is in the same boat who also has a Fitbit, see about getting one yourself. You can participate in challenges together or if you don't know anyone, you even compete with other Fitbit users you don't know and that really becomes super motivating.

getting motivated

Look in the mirror. Thats motivation for me both negatively and positively.

If I do not like what I see I want to change it.

If I like what I see I want to continue.

Re: getting motivated

getting motivated

I'm working on losing weight that I've been carrying around for a few years, and I'm just starting to see some results. I have tried to do it a few times before, and I'd get a week in see no results and give up. This time I started really slow and didn't expected to see instant results.

I started in November just tracking my food (general advice now is that food is most of weight loss, so I started here). I tried to keep it under the goal my FitBit set for me, which was for light weight loss, and tried not to beat myself up when I went over. I mostly tracked during the week, and then let it slide on the weekends and over the holidays, but it still got me practicing counting and logging calories.

Then on Jan. 2nd I started logging everything with the goal of staying under 1500. It's not a huge calorie deficient, but it's a start.

I also wanted to start getting exercise with the idea of gaining strength and endurance, not weight loss because I didn't want to think about or focus on how many calories I was burning because then I could use it to justify eating extra. I spent a lot of time thinking about what exercise I enjoy and what exercise I would do. I thought about joining a gym, but I have social anxiety and I knew I'd be overwhelmed and either never go or stop going quickly. I thought about a class. I love spinning, but there is no where close that has it. And again I'd probably look for reasons not to go. I needed something at home that I could do when I have 30 minutes or an hour. So I asked my husband to get me a bike for Christmas. You can get a cheap one for around $300 and it takes up minimal space in the house. I find you tube videos of spin classes, and do it at home when I have time, which I love. Spending the money might seem like a lot, but I could easily spend that in a few months on classes or a gym. Also, I feel like I need to use it now that we've bought it.

Obviously, I'm just getting started, but I'm down 3.6lbs this week, so I'm feeling pretty good, and I'm feeling motivated to keep it up now that I have some progress.

getting motivated

I've never been one to diet or exercise and I was mostly happy with my body. After my second kid though I was hanging onto an extra 10-15 pounds and 3 years later nothing had helped but I hadn't exactly changed anything. The last few months I started cutting way back on animal products and eating more plant based and that has actually helped. I'm not ready or willing to go 100% vegan but it still feels good to make some change. Having a slice of pizza now and then makes it very doable lol. Like others said, gradual changes are way easier.

Also, a friend of mine recently made a fb group for a handful of our friends and we share what we're having for dinner and recipes. It's interesting to see how everyone eats and also gives a little motivation to make good choices.

Re: getting motivated

Support
A plan
Visualization of what you want
Goals - look up SMART goals

In addition its habit change that matters more than goals themselves

Re: getting motivated

Set small goals.

Find something that enriches your mind and body. It's important for the soul and the heart to have a passion in life.

Don't think of any food as being off-limits. You set yourself up for failure and self-loathing if GOD FORBID YOU HAVE THAT SLICE OF CAKE.

Don't beat yourself up if you derail. Just get back on track when you can.

Remind yourself that you are human and so is everyone else. We make mistakes. We screw up. We get back up again.

Reward yourself with things you love.

Re: getting motivated

I think a bunch of things listed here are great motivators. What did it for me was thinking about how I felt in the moment and knowing unless I made a change, even a small one, I would feel that same way tomorrow, the day after the next, next year, and on and on and on. That pushed me to make some sort of change.

Re: getting motivated

I think a bunch of things listed here are great motivators. What did it for me was thinking about how I felt in the moment and knowing unless I made a change, even a small one, I would feel that same way tomorrow, the day after the next, next year, and on and on and on. That pushed me to make some sort of change.

Re: getting motivated

I've had high lipids for a while. Dr kept telling me to lose weight or I need to go on meds. I'd diet Monday - Wednesday and then fall off. Every monday, same story.

I hurt my back and my chiropractor told me the best thing to keep the muscles loose would be to walk for 20 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week. It was winter, so she said use the treadmill at 3.5 tops. So I did. I did just that for about a month. My back felt great and I lost some weight. So I decided to cut out a little bit here and there from my diet. Nothing major - but the extra sweet here or that second serving of rice. And I lost a little more. Started to feel really good. Went to Dr, lost 10 lbs and my #'s were going down! That motivated me even more. Started working with a trainer, joined weight watchers and after 1.5 years - I lost about 25 lbs and I feel better than I have in YEARS. I still have about 10-15 lbs. to lose, but I'll do it at my pace, whatever that may be.

You need to find that one thing and start there. Saying I have to go to the gym 5x a week, eat only This or that, can't do this, etc, etc - you're setting yourself up for failure. Buddy system helps a lot. Whether IRL or on here. Being held accountable goes a long way.

getting motivated

For me, the keys to getting and staying motivated are accountability and support. I could have a goal, either small or large, but if I don't have some kind of accountability or someone to push me a little and encourage me, it's really hard for me to get started and stick with it.

Re: getting motivated

ITA with the above posters - small goals.

I saw this guy on IG talking about the importance of making small changes to your diet and exercise routine. Everyone thinks - I am going on a diet and I am only going to eat clean. If that is not your nature, it is NEVER going to work. You will fail. He suggested just reducing portion size. You want McDonalds - great, get a small burger and fries instead of a supersized Big Mac. You want a cookie - great - get them in individual bags and eat one instead of an entire sleeve. You want to workout, start by increasing your everyday movement. Park farther away from the store, use the stairs instead of the elevator.

In terms of health and eating, I have been an athlete since 7th grade (1995). I can not imagine not going to the gym consistently. It is part of my everyday routine. When I do not go, it feels weird.