"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~ Anonymous

Friday, January 27, 2012

Weigh-In ... Healing & Motivation to Stay Focused

Today's Weight: 179.0
Loss/Gain: -1.0 lb

This week has gone much better with regards to my eating. Well, the week ended up getting better anyway. I'm grateful for that. I'm also healing nicely and have had a day or two with little to no cramping. Hooray!! I'm going to start walking again next week and will take it easy if I feel any soreness afterwards.

Yesterday I listened to an older Jillian Michaels podcast and she had a caller ask her how to stay focused to reach a weight loss goal. This woman finds herself sliding back when she gets close to her goal weight. I found it interesting that I happen to pick that podcast, because I had just read a post on Prior Fat Girl about what keeps you motivated.

To generalize Jillian's reply she stated you have to have your own specific goals or reasons why you want to lose weight and it can't be to please someone else, or get back at someone else, etc. There has to be a deeper drive that comes from within, something that keeps you going when you are at the buffet with friends and need the push to stick to your plan. (I made up the circumstance).

hhmm....

That conversation kind of goes along with what I posted last Friday about having to face the reality of how much do I really want to be at a healthy weight. My thoughts lead me to the future and realizing I have to think about why I'm doing this, because if the motivation is shallow I won't stick to it when I get to goal; but if my reasons are deep and with a right conviction, then they will be a foundation on which I'll truly be able to build my healthy lifestyle on.

Again...hhmm...

Jillian suggested that this women make a specific list (not "be healthy") of what she hopes to accomplish in her weight loss and post copies of it everywhere to remind her. Now, I'm not going to burden my family with looking at my notes everywhere - LOL - sorry..that's not me, but I am going to think again about why I do this and maybe even try and remind myself of those reasons every morning.

Then I need to remind myself of it every hour... just kidding..kind of. Seriously, my problem isn't thinking of the list of reasons it's remembering them and being convicted of them enough to stick to my plan for longer than one meal. So, that is what I leave you with for the weekend.

Feel free to share your thoughts on what motivates you. What helps you stay focused?

Have a great weekend everyone!

P.S. Please know I'm not upset...just pondering. Staying motivated seemed to pop up a bit throughout my week..that's all. :)

9 comments:

  1. I find that the desire to not go backwards right now is more motivating than the desire to keep going forwards... I don't ever want to be the weight I was ever again. That is motivating! Congrats on being at 179!! You are making it hard for me to catch up with you ;) LOL -

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  2. This is a great exercise. I have found myself many times at a specific size (size 14 for me) and suddenly, hitting a brick wall of my own creation, I'm not sure what it is about this particular size, and what scares me to keep going past it, but it does. When I figure that out, I think I will be much happier.

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  3. I didn't think you were upset - just honest. I find I stick with it more when I am honest and reflective. Thinking about starting a blog to keep track of my journey - thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. I just asked a similar question on my fitness blog this week. I'm trying to remember what has motivated me before and I'm drawing a blank. I think I used to really enjoy logging my time into Daily Mile....and see the numbers add up. Maybe that will motivate me again.

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  5. What keeps me motivated? Honestly? It's not wanting to go back to where I was. When I was in the losing mode, both in the initial time and after pregnancies, what kept me motivated was that desire to feel fit, healthy, and able to physically do what I had been unable or unwilling to do when I was obese.

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