Motivationally challenged

[writergal]

Hi, all.

I'm new to the site but not to trying to lose weight!! I just read Steve's "rant" and he has some very common sense thoughts in there, if you haven't read it yet.

My biggest problem is motivation. I know what I have to do and how to do it, but I have absolutely no motivation whatsoever. I always seem to talk myself out of exercising, but not eating that bowl of chips! I don't remember ever having this problem before. I have always liked to exercise but suddenly it's like I just can't get myself going. I did recently quit my desk job to start my own housecleaning business so I am physically active with that for 4-6 hrs a day but I know that's not enough because I'm not showing any change on the scale. Then too, it's not a cardio workout like I used to do.

Anyone have any ideas? I eat fairly healthy and am learning to cut back on my portions but I really need some help with getting off my butt and motivated to exercise. Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

writergal

 

[KaraCooks]

Well, I have a pretty different philosophy on the whole eating healthy/exercising thing.

There are things that we do every day - as adults - that we don't do because we're "motivated" but because they are just facts of life. We get up in the morning. We go to work. We wash the dishes. We do laundry. We pay bills.

I don't know about you but I'm not necessarily "motivated" to do those things. I don't hate them (well, maybe the paying the bills bit! ), but they're not things that make me go "Whooo ... I am so motivated to wash the dishes!" I do them because I'm an adult and I have a life that has to be lived and this is all part of it.

Don't get me wrong, some mornings I'm looking forward to going to work, but some mornings maybe I didn't sleep well or I'm crabby or it's raining or whatever ... and I really don't want to go. But I go anyway. Because that's life.

It's all about the things you do as a reasonable, responsible grown-up to live your life.

When I realized that exercise and eating healthy was one of those things - I don't have to like it, I don't have to be "motivated", I just have to get off my ass and do it - it made a big difference in actually doing it.

Sure there are still days that I slack off. And every once in a while I call in to work and take a "mental health" day. But 99% of the time ... I just do it.

I dunno. Maybe that doesn't help you ... but it's something that has made a difference to me.

 

[geesjourney]

I've found my motivation in speaking to others about weight loss and by starting a video blog.

 

[writergal]

Thanks!!!

Well, I have a pretty different philosophy on the whole eating healthy/exercising thing.

There are things that we do every day - as adults - that we don't do because we're "motivated" but because they are just facts of life. We get up in the morning. We go to work. We wash the dishes. We do laundry. We pay bills.

I don't know about you but I'm not necessarily "motivated" to do those things. I don't hate them (well, maybe the paying the bills bit! ), but they're not things that make me go "Whooo ... I am so motivated to wash the dishes!" I do them because I'm an adult and I have a life that has to be lived and this is all part of it.

Don't get me wrong, some mornings I'm looking forward to going to work, but some mornings maybe I didn't sleep well or I'm crabby or it's raining or whatever ... and I really don't want to go. But I go anyway. Because that's life.

It's all about the things you do as a reasonable, responsible grown-up to live your life.

When I realized that exercise and eating healthy was one of those things - I don't have to like it, I don't have to be "motivated", I just have to get off my ass and do it - it made a big difference in actually doing it.

Sure there are still days that I slack off. And every once in a while I call in to work and take a "mental health" day. But 99% of the time ... I just do it.

I dunno. Maybe that doesn't help you ... but it's something that has made a difference to me.

Thanks, Kara. What you say makes a lot of sense and has made me think about exercise in a different way. I did get up and exercise this morning so that's a start!!! Thanks again!!!!
writergal