When the topic of weight loss motivation comes up there are really 2 different areas of weight loss motivation that we could be discussing – the motivation you need to get started with your lifestyle changes and the motivation you need to keep you going during the tough times.
It’s possible that the same motivator that gets you to act in the first place to make those healthy lifestyle changes will be the same motivator that keeps you going throughout the entire process and also keeps you motivated to maintain your weight loss. If that’s the case then you’ve got a super strong motivation and you’re in really good shape; you’ll likely have a very easy time staying the course and making your new lifestyle a natural habit for yourself.
On the other hand if you often find that you don’t have a problem “getting started” (and maybe you’ve “started” more than once) but your challenge lies in staying motivated then you do not have a strong enough core motivation to see you through the ups and downs.
So my question for you today is: Which area of weight loss motivation gives you the most trouble? Or, are you so motivated that you don’t have any challenge at all and you have continued your healthy motivation all the way to your goal and beyond, keeping that weight off and maintaining your healthy lifestyle commitment?
I’d like to hear your feedback so go on ahead and vote in the poll below. And if these answers don’t fit you then just tick “other” and leave a comment on this post, thanks!
[poll id=10]
I can stay motivated so long as I see SOME progress… it’s the plateaus that really take a toll on my self determination.
Kates last blog post..FEELING well is not the same as BEING well
I’m definitely motivated to workout regularly, but I’m not always motivated to do my best every sessions. Sometimes weeks will go by where I’m just “working out” without a strong goal in mind as to what exactly I want to do. Lately, I’ve been trying to increase my run time and lift at least twice a week. So far, so good. 🙂
Fit Bottomed Girls last blog post..Take a Hike
Hi Kate,
Yeah, that progress can be very motivating to help you continue. Do you also take your measurements every week? I’ve found that while there have been Mondays that the scale hasn’t registered a change that I do see a change in my inches and my clothes are looser, which to me is what I really want anyway.
See if that helps, otherwise as long as you’re taking all the “right” and healthy actions then just keep on going and your body will adjust. 😉
I would say that with the zillions of things going on, mental stimulation lacking, it is a challenge to stay motivated…..sometimes I want to crawl under a rock and do nothing for days! But….that isn’t going to happen! Nice post!
Mark Salinass last blog post..Music and Health by Andrea May
Watching the scale can be depressing, especially since there are so many things that can cause weight to fluctuate, even during a single day. My best motivator is how I feel–do I have the energy and stamina to get through my day? Do I just plain feel good? When I slip back into bad eating habits or don’t exercise, I FEEL it!
When I focus on other things, like completing my lazy man’s triathlon, I stay motivated better than when I just try to lose weight. So part of staying motivated has been to figure out exactly what does and doesn’t motivate me!
Alexias last blog post..Slightly less cranky today. Met exercise goal but gained weight.
Wow – I am the only person so far to vote for “getting started”.
I don’t have many problems continuiong because eating something bad or not doing a workout makes me feel like I wasted yesterday’s workout or healthy eating.
Robs last blog post..3 Health Myths You Currently Believe
My problem is both: getting motivated to start and then staying motivated. When I was younger, it was easy to get motivated. But now, it is soooo hard. I feel like I have diet burnout. I’ve been trying for years to lose weight but have not reached my goal weight. I’m looking at this website for motivation.
I find that getting motivated isn’t hard for me, but after a couple of months I start to backslide. I’ve always been good at starting things but not finishing. I am also starting to see that in addition to exercise and diet, supplements and vitamins can also help keep me on track.