I am motivated - at this moment. I fear it is fleeting. Suggestions

[Bertha Venation]

for staying motivated to the point of action?

Several people were very helpful in this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=9566183

How now to stay motivated long enough to pack a gym bag tonight and use the gym at work tomorrow?

How to stay motivated enough not to eat the frozen yogurt in the cafeteria today?

DU is a font of information and advice that I rely on from time to time. I appreciate everyone's input, although I may not reply individually.

[tigereye]

1. I really think that one just has to do it - and doing it provides the motivation

and then some kind of non-food reward afterwards? I also think that sometimes exercise can reduce appetite.


good luck Bertha!

[siligut]

2. Focus on how good you will feel when all your clothes fit again.

Know that you can change and it will be good for you. Make an effort everyday to take care of yourself, you are worth it.

[HopeHoops]

3. Get a big-ass icecream sundae and relax - the feeling will pass.

[suninvited]

4. what about a natural mood enhancer

like SAM-e?

If you feel good, it is soooo much easier to be motivated. Then the endorphines from the exercise will kick in as well and you will feel double good. That is, of course, if you are not currently taking any antidepressants. If you are, you would need to contact your doctor and he/she would probably say not to combine the two since they duplicate actions.

This has worked for me brilliantly in the past ! You can get SAM-e at any health food store, or some drug stores.

here is a brief article you might be interested in reading:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200103/sam-e-the-natural-mood-enhancer

[snooper2]

5. You can get in your car, drive to Texas...

And when you get to our house, go to the master bedroom bathroom. I'm in the process of demo which will have to be done to the studs...

Tools are on the floor, I already pulled the toilet and a bunch of shelving. You can start busting up the tile and everything behind it clean to the studs. Don't worry about the shower pan, it is being replaced as well. So if you get all the tile done, you can start ripping that piece of shit out to. Don't mess with the piece of plywood on the ceiling where the 35 year old vent fan and light are. Insulation will fall all over you, I'll take care of that piece. The idiot that did that work should be shot.

When done my wife makes a great fresh fruit salad to munch on :hi:

[applegrove]

6. Tell yourself that if you don't go to the gym you will walk for an hour at night. Do one or the

other and the poundage will fall away.

[kimi]

7. Don't think about the motivation being fleeting

It could easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just take the present motivation and keep it going, and move, move, move!! Pack the gym bag and put it right by the door and feel satisfied every time you look at it, knowing that you're doing something good and healthy for yourself tomorrow, and you've already started!

Congratulations!! :hi:

[pinboy3niner]

8. You're asking me?

:rofl:

I'm cooking a standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding tonight. If I were you, I wouldn't take any advice from me. :)

(But good luck in your quest. Mind over matter. :thumbsup:)

[Bertha Venation]

9. thank you, all, and an update

Thanks to you,

tigereye
siligut
HopeHoops (although you were goofy)
suninvited
snooper2 (sounds like, uh, fun? :))
applegrove
kimi
pinboy3niner (how was the Yorkshire pudding?)

Here's the update: I didn't pack a gym bag, but I did eat pretty well yesterday and the day before. My token downfall has been eating the frozen yogurt in the cafeteria at work. If I avoid it, it's a big win. I've gone two days now without it. I'm told that success breeds success, so I think I can keep going with avoiding it. I just hope they don't switch to chocolate.

I'm trying to keep the motivation going!

[pinboy3niner]

11. Baby steps...

Little things build up and reinforce you. Every little thing you do for yourself is something positive that you should be proud of, and use to keep the motivation going. We're pulling for you! :thumbsup:

(The pudding was great. I put some diced green chiles in it, so I'm counting it as a vegetable. :) )

[mopinko]

10. write it down?

my therapist "made" me make a schedule for myself. time to work, time to exercise, time to hang around du and not feel guilty. it has worked ok, with the help of mac freedom.
but, short term change is easy. keeping things changed is the hard part.