This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

[SkaPaladin]

Alright guys, I know it's been a while, and with the constant influx of new members, and older members leaving the board, or just losing touch, I should reintroduce myself first...

SkaPaladin, Defender of the Defenseless.

Now that we are done with introductions, here is my dilemma.

I followed this WOE a while back, and had moderate success... I say moderate, because things fell apart for me at around the time when I was closest to my goal, and I went astray. I've been trying to do it again, and hopefully this time I'd hit goal, and I have every reason to do so, but once again, things fell apart again.

Recently got laid off. That's always fun.

So anyways, I've always known that I've never been the type of person to do anything for myself. As a matter of fact, the last time I went on the diet, was so I could make myself a mega-hottie, and throw it in the face of someone that had hurt me. (I'm sure the post is still on the board somewhere, locked away for lack of interest)

Well, now, every time I start the diet, somehow, I always manage to lose the will to stay on. I figured that I need motivation, and I can't seem to find a good source.

So, I need a new type of motivation. I don't like the idea of using people as my motivation (well, unless it's for revenge), and I need something that'll help me, something that'll be easy enough to think about and keep me on track.

So yeah, any suggestions?

[quotidianlight]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

I am the same way. One thing that's working for me in visualizing the things and activities I've always wanted to but couldn't because of my weight and being out of shape. For me it was backpacking with the kids, taking motorcycle racing classes at sears point and learing all that high fat gourmet cooking. So instead of focusing on, "I need to look good to shove it in my ex's face" or "I need to lose weight so I don't get diabetes like my mom." I think of fun things that losing weight will mean for me. You would think fear of diabetes or losing for my kids would be motivational, but for me it's not. In fact, it makes this a chore or punishment instead of a WOL. When I lose motivation I look at race class listings, find new recipes or do research at REI. The other thing is presents for myself. I used to love cooking but stopped because as I got bigger cooking and eating became a private shameful act. So I am breaking open old cook books, buying new pans as I hit mini goals and finding ways to make this a fun, interesting enjoyable WOL. The minute I forget and think about weight is the minute I get depressed and lose motivation.

[spazzyhilo]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

My motivation has never been to get revenge on someone else. Thats just an added bonus

It has however always been looking good for my honey. My bf has always found me attractive no matter what I weighed and has always made me feel sexy. Now that I've been losing weight and working out and what not he is all over me

This just makes me want to lose even more weight to see what happens and what he will do!

Part of my motivation is myself. I like seeing how my clothes fit better now, and getting "angry" at the pants that are too big. Shopping is a lot more fun now. It's also nice to see the reaction of people who haven't seen me in a while

[Brook]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

Pictures. Take pictures of yourself in your undies and post them where you can.

It's REAL motivation, I assure you.

Feel like snacking? Looking at a pic of myself in my undies is guaranteed to send me to the sink for some more water instead.

Feel like burying my sorrows in food? Opening the cupboard where I keep the kids snacks and seeing a picture of myself from behind taped to the back wall will do the trick so far as goading me into closing the cupboard empty handed, I assure you.

Can't put the pics of you in your undies inside your cupboards or on your fridge door? Then post-it notes work wonders. I used to have post it notes on the inside of the snack cupboard that said, "The answer to your problems is NOT in here.", "Remember the 7 P's. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.", and "Want a big @ss? Eat something in here." , "Want to be able to button those skinny jeans? Close this cupboard door." - and also stuff like, "You deserve to feel fantastic about the choices you made today. Will you when you finish reading this?"

Motivation is in the eye of the picture/post-it note holder

[quotidianlight]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

Pictures. Take pictures of yourself in your undies and post them where you can.

It's REAL motivation, I assure you.

Feel like snacking? Looking at a pic of myself in my undies is guaranteed to send me to the sink for some more water instead.

Feel like burying my sorrows in food? Opening the cupboard where I keep the kids snacks and seeing a picture of myself from behind taped to the back wall will do the trick so far as goading me into closing the cupboard empty handed, I assure you.

Can't put the pics of you in your undies inside your cupboards or on your fridge door? Then post-it notes work wonders. I used to have post it notes on the inside of the snack cupboard that said, "The answer to your problems is NOT in here.", "Remember the 7 P's. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.", and "Want a big @ss? Eat something in here." , "Want to be able to button those skinny jeans? Close this cupboard door." - and also stuff like, "You deserve to feel fantastic about the choices you made today. Will you when you finish reading this?"

Motivation is in the eye of the picture/post-it note holder

OMG!!!! When I am done laughing I am taking those pictures!

[Hudson]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

Gary Taubes book is probably the biggest motivator for me in the last couple of years. Knowledge can do a lot to motivate.

[DigitalMocking]

Re: This post is about motivation... or lack thereof.

I don't think this is about motivation for you as it is understanding why you repeat these patterns. Arm yourself with knowledge. The Taubes book is a good read, so is Tom Venuto's book, Burn the Fat, Keep the Muscle at ww.fitren.com. While he's not a low carb person, he talks a lot about motivation, goal setting and how to retrain our way of thinking.