Day 85: Motivation

Getting motivated to lose weight is important.  As we start the new year, lots of people will make resolutions to lose weight.  Many of those people will not succeed.  Year after year I have been part of both groups. I've had big plans and very little follow through.

I can't really define what changed for me in the past few months.  I have been surprised, heck, more than surprise really, but my willpower and determination.  So what changed in the past few months?  I can't really answer that definitively.  Part of it had to do with looking at my parents' health as they get older.  I want to be healthier as I age with fewer weight related issues.  Part of it has to do with the desire to finally settle down.  As I get older, it seems like I am getting further and further away from a long-term relationship.  I figure my weight was holding me back from pursuing relationships and a healthy lifestyle.

None of these were really new issues for me, but something shifted last October.  I heard about the Optifast program at Kaiser and was so disappointed when the dates didn't work out for me.  I was determined to go on a similar diet plan and looked until I found one that fit into my schedule.  At that point I was steadfast in my plans to lose weight and I haven't looked back since.

Weight loss is a long process.  It didn't take weeks to gain those (ahem) 75 extra pounds, so what can be done to keep the motivation going?   It all depends on you and your personality.  Are you an action = rewards kind of person?  Are you dependent on the reactions of others?  Are you an addictive personality?

Here are some ideas that can help:

• For many food is an addiction.  I have an uncle who says to get over an addiction you must trade it for another.  Trade that food addiction for something positive like exercise.  Lots of endorphins and good feelings there.  It works for some, but not for everyone.  Give it a shot.
• Tell everyone you are going on a diet.  You'll force yourself to stick to it.  This has worked well for me.  Almost everyone I know is aware I am on this diet plan.  Many check in with me constantly for a status update.  This keeps me on track because I don't want all those people to know I failed to stick to the diet.  Truly a great motivator!
• Give yourself rewards.  Not food!  This is important, find something you love and reward yourself when you reach those goals.  I set mini-goals for myself and if I meet them I treat myself.  For instance, if I reach my goal next week, I am going to buy myself a planner from my new favorite website, Erin Condren.  If I don't reach the goal, I set a new one and wait until I reach it.  My goal this week is to get to yoga class three times!

Erin Condren

• Make sure your goals are reachable.  Keep them small and manageable.  A goal of losing 75 pounds, for instance, is great, but set smaller goals to reach along the way.
• Find your inspiration.  What gets you going?  Read blogs (like this one!), find people who can inspire you and help you on your way.
• Get support.  This is a big one.  As I mentioned, I told everyone I know about my weight loss plan. Not only that, I made a special effort to tell people I believed would offer me support and inspiration along the way.  Some of my friends are athletes and they are some of my biggest cheerleaders. Family is also important.  My family keeps track of my weight loss and give me motivation to keep going.
• Make your plan so easy that it's hard to fail.  For me, this was going on a diet where most of the choices were taken away.  As long as I eat only the food given to me, I will lose weight.  Taking away that choice has helped me stick to the diet plan.  It's obvious when I cheat.  Plans like Weight Watchers work for a lot of people, for me, there were too many options and it was too easy to eat too much of the wrong foods.
• Schedule.  Put your exercise routine on a calendar.  Plan your eating.  I am to the point where I eat pretty much the same thing every day.  Is it boring? Sure, but who cares?  I am losing weight and it's simple.  Do whatever works for you to make it so easy you can't quit.
• Don't give up!  If you get off track, get right back on.  I have made mistakes, but I owned up to those mistakes and went right back on the diet.  Don't let those minor (or even major) setbacks keep you from reaching your goals.
• Remember, you can do it!   Everyone has it in them.  Everyone can lose weight, or exercise more, or do whatever it is you want to do.  No matter how long it takes, all you need to do is head in the right direction and you'll eventually get there.