i just want to know what motivates other ppl to strive for better things, and how they go about keeping that desire alive.
Thanks in advance
I think you're confusing motivation with habit.
Prof Ben Fletcher at Hertford Uni (UK) said "We are asleep with our eyes open" by which he means we have automated, pre-conditioned patterns of behaviour which dictate our lifestyles.
Fore example, I recently finished work, got in my car, drove home, pulled up on my drive, got out my keys and went to push it in the door before I reslised "Oops... I don't live here any more!"
I moved house a week before! However, my automated behaviour made me drive the old faithful route home.
From which drawer you keep your underwear to using a QWERTY keyboard, our behaviour is often subconciously habitual and is not conciously reasoned.
In order to break your habits you need a good enough reason to make your CONCIOUS thought overrule your SUBCONCIOUS habits. Your new habit needs to be important enough to you to be in the front of your mind. Once you have practiced a new habit for some time (usually 12 weeks with exercise) will you have formed a new habit to rely on.
In order to focus your attention try these tricks.
1. The Dickens Process.
Scrooge was resolved to change his behaviour when confronted with the consequences by the Ghost of Christmas Future.
What's your Christmas Future like?What will you be like in 10 years time?
How fat are you?
How single are you?
How unhealthy are you?
How unhappy are you?
How are your children affected by your poor health?
Do they eat the same crap you do and so perpetuate the problem?
I could go on but thta is a job for you.
No. Don't ignore the concequences because they are not here right now. Switch off your computer and don't be distracted by the TV. Sit down and write 1 side of A4 on the consequences of your current lifestyle. Do you really want to become that? Don't allow yourself to be distracted. Is that helping to focus your mind at all?
When I did this process I cried for some time. I never smoked a cigarette again.
2. Get a reminder.
Each time you are distracted from your new resolution you lapse back into old habits. You need snapping out of it and reminding of your new commitment.
How are you gonna do this?
Change your screensaver to something which will get you exercising?
Buy a poster?
Read mags on exercise?
Buy a workout book and read it?
I made a client wear her trainers all day at the office! (OK so she was the MD and coule get away with it.)
I made another client park his car at the gym and get a bus to work.
Another client left her contraceptive pill taped to her membership card.
Anything which acts as a reminder will do.
3. Tell all of your friends.
Commitment and consistency is a strong behavioural consideration in our culture. Write all of your friends and family a letter tellin them how unhappy you are with your level of fitness. Tell them that you intend to change and ask for their support. Tell them that to let them down, these people that you love would make you feel terrible and so you PROMISE to deliver.
Do you really want to let these people down?
Do you want to be seen as a waster?
Can you not be relied upon to keep your word?
Look mate, you know what you should be doing. Just get some weight behind you and you can do it. But these few words on a notice board ain't worth a damn unless you DO something. Thinking about things achieves sod all. Only DOING stuff brings results.
It's taken me years of research to get this info and my dinner is cold because I replied to your post. You asked and I put myself out. Now it's your turn.
Keep us posted.
Good luck.
TR
