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Need encouragement
| Wed, 09-10-2003 - 2:45pm |
Hi everyone,
I have a question for all of you. When you're about to reach for that piece of chocolate cake or when you feel too lazy or lack motivation to exercise (when all week you made a personal goal to exercise), what do you think about to give you a jumpstart and inspire you to say no or to take action? I need some encouragement. What positive or motivating factors work for you? Is it a quote or an image? Please share!
Thanks,
menuette

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Oh, I understand you PERFECTLY well! :) I lost 13 kilos recently, although I never thought I would be actually able to do that! It was, and it still is very hard for me not to overeat. Here are some things that work for me, I hope that they might help you as well!
First, I didn't set myself a goal of actually losing all that weight. I jus thought: "Let's see if I can lose just a pair of kilos", and then when I did it I thought: "Hm-m-m, well, I wonder if I can lose some more", and so it went on and on. You see, if you have a goal of shrinking to the size of Kate Moss right from the very start, you experience a great deal of psychological pressure and it's very hard for you not to lose control.
I also found the following techniquerather useful. I read about it in a magazine, "Fit for Fun", I guess, it was. Define special days on which you allow yourself to eat chocolate or any other thing that you're particularly fond of. You'd better choose the days on which you exercise, and eat that nice something right after the gym, because for a few hours after the gym your metabolism speeds up and you're much less likely to gain weight, whatever you eat.
As for feeling too lazy to exercise, I sometimes have this problem too. :) The two things that save me are my friend and the money I pay each month for the membership in the fitness centre. My friend would just come and kick me all the way down to the gym and make me exercise, and, if she feels lazy too, the thought of the money lost will make me start moving. :) So, if possible, take a friend to work out with you, or find a gym where you have to pay for a month ahead, so that this would motivate you. :)))
And the last thing: as for quotations, my favorite is: "A skinny cow is not yet a gazelle". I remind myself of it every time I feel like staying at home and not going to the gym, and the fear of becoming just a skinny cow fills me with new energy.
Hope I was of some help,
Good luck! :)))))
xxx
Miss_Vanilla
I hear you on this one. I have almost zero willpower when it comes to sweets and chocolate. I guess lately what I think about when I get tempted, is how my favorite pair of jeans don't fit anymore and how eating a candy bar is just going to set me back further from wearing those jeans again. I also think about how much more comfortable I would be in front of my SO if I lost those few extra pounds that I have gained since we met.
I know it's hard, but luckily there are a lot of understanding, supportive ladies on this board to help us!
-Hillary
"Mel on Wheels"
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I've come along far enough now, in my fitness journey, to even use myself as my own inspiration. What motivates me to get to the gym? I don't want to let *myself* down, because now I'm expecting me to meet a goal, and if I bail out tonight, I'm going to disappoint *me*. If I eat whatever this is, I'm going to have to burn it off, and is it worth the later effort to eat it now--that makes more conscious food choices happen! I know how good I'm going to feel when I get done working out, and sometimes that's enough. Occasionally I need some vanity to get me going (new workout clothes have helped on tough days), or recognizing that I'll have great-looking muscles if I go, but not if I don't, and how badly do I want those great-looking muscles? Because they are achievable...
And then another thing I have is a goal. By XX date I need to be able to do: If you have something to train for, it will give you purpose and a mission.
Start with today. Don't worry about tomorrow, say to yourself "Today I am going to the gym" and then give it your best effort to get there. If you can honestly say that you did your best and didn't get there, you can try again tomorrow and not feel bad about it.
Good luck, this is a great group to check in with if you don't have anybody around that will hold you accountable!
Judie
Hi menuette and welcome. :)
>>what do you think about to give you a jumpstart and inspire you to say no or to take action? What positive or motivating factors work for you?
**Good question and I see you've received some great responses. :) I think we all go through those times when we just don't want to and need some sort of encouragement to get us going.
For me that's been reading and posting here. I'll read how someone did it even though they didn't feel like it or how someone else might be feeling badly because they didn't, and somehow it reaffirms my committment to go ahead and do it. Keeping an outfit that I hope to again fit into visible also seems to help a little.
Thanks for asking your thoughtful question and hope to see you here again. :)
~Golly
Hi miss vanilla :)
Good to see you! Thanks for the great suggestions. I really like the one on taking our goals in small steps. Hope to see you again soon. :)
~Golly
>>I guess lately what I think about when I get tempted, is how my favorite pair of jeans don't fit anymore and how eating a candy bar is just going to set me back further from wearing those jeans again. I also think about how much more comfortable I would be in front of my SO if I lost those few extra pounds that I have gained since we met
**Thanks Hill. Those sound good. :) I try not to have things like chocolate in the house or where I could easily reach it. Sometimes, when I'm hungry I find I'll reach for stuff like that even though it's not what I really want/need if that makes sense.
As to passing it by before it gets to the house, I try not to shop when I'm hungry lol.
~Golly
>>I just have to get started..THAT is the hardest part--once I get onto a regime I find out I really do have THE TIME..Its taking that first step that is hard..but once you see results you are even MORE motivated to work -out!
**Thanks Mel. :) Yay on the gym tomorrow...enjoy!
~Golly
Thanks for your great suggestions judie! :) I love it that now you yourself are your motivation. And to just keep the focus on today-just today.
Thanks again for your shares hon. :)
~Golly
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