I am not motivated, but I know I need to change

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I have been successful with weight loss / fitness goals the biggest thing that helped me was a list of rewards. For every 5bls lost, I got a reward. Lots of them were little, but they were things I wouldn't normally do, or get for myself (a Thai massage, new Vejas, whatever) and then some of them were bigger (at goal was a big trip and new wardrobe). I typed it all out, printed it on really nice paper, and put a sticker next to each reward as I redeemed it. This works really well for weight loss, like I said, I did a reward for every 5 lbs. But you can do it for working out as well -- set a goal for the week, and when you have done all of it you get a reward from the reward list.

The last time I posted this, some nasty person came on here calling me a child because of my stickers, lol. But it worked for me.

A pox on whoever was mean to you. That sounds like a terrific idea.

[Anonymous]

Op, I’m your twin. 43, work from home, overweight. I exercise but I can’t outrun my fork. I feel the exact same as you. Can’t seem to stick to anything consistently. I’ve gone vegan these past few days just to try a more plant based diet, but I’m eating bread and my carb intake has gone up. I don’t know what’s best. 1500 calories? 1200 on Noom? Weight watchers? Personal trainer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I have been successful with weight loss / fitness goals the biggest thing that helped me was a list of rewards. For every 5bls lost, I got a reward. Lots of them were little, but they were things I wouldn't normally do, or get for myself (a Thai massage, new Vejas, whatever) and then some of them were bigger (at goal was a big trip and new wardrobe). I typed it all out, printed it on really nice paper, and put a sticker next to each reward as I redeemed it. This works really well for weight loss, like I said, I did a reward for every 5 lbs. But you can do it for working out as well -- set a goal for the week, and when you have done all of it you get a reward from the reward list.

The last time I posted this, some nasty person came on here calling me a child because of my stickers, lol. But it worked for me.

You printed out a list and used stickers? Do you live alone? Why not just use the notes app on your phone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is motivation and there is discipline. In Reality the long game here relies on discipline. If you force yourself to stick with it long enough you won’t want to go back.

It’s discipline you need. You won’t be motivated everyday. No profession athlete is motivated every day. No age group athlete is motivated everyday. They just have discipline.

I agree with this post, and especially about the long game. I feel awful mentally if I go two days without working out. By day 3, I am back at it. It becomes part of your lifestyle.

The hardest part for me is fitting in exercise when I am super busy with work and travelling. For example, right now I am thinking of fitting in a run before work since I have a meeting later today during my gym time. I hate working out in the morning but it’s the only time I can fit it in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are only 43 years old and your belly is larger than your boobs? Yikes.

Not OP but some of us are short with A cups. It's not easy to have a smaller belly after kids.

[Anonymous]

It's the food. I go to Europe and I lose the weight even when sitting around with family and eating.
My skinny girlfriend who came here for a year as an Au Pair, got chubby. She lost the weight in few months once she returned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is motivation and there is discipline. In Reality the long game here relies on discipline. If you force yourself to stick with it long enough you won’t want to go back.

It’s discipline you need. You won’t be motivated everyday. No profession athlete is motivated every day. No age group athlete is motivated everyday. They just have discipline.

I agree with this post, and especially about the long game. I feel awful mentally if I go two days without working out. By day 3, I am back at it. It becomes part of your lifestyle.

The hardest part for me is fitting in exercise when I am super busy with work and travelling. For example, right now I am thinking of fitting in a run before work since I have a meeting later today during my gym time. I hate working out in the morning but it’s the only time I can fit it in.

I’m the poster you quoted and what you describe is exactly what I was referring to. Ultimately, all of this has to become how you live. And when you get dialed in, you won’t want to live any other way. That’s applicable to real food intake (not junk) and consistent exercise (of any form).

For work, I’m fortunate to be able to mostly get everybody onto my schedule by being proactive. It has the appearance of always being proactive but truthfully it’s because I want to start at 0700 and stop at 5pm so I can do a bike and run workout and have dinner with my family.

[Anonymous]

My 2 cents. Diet to lose weight exercise to get fit. Focus on 1 of these first. Which ever is the easiest. Once you start feeling better by either dieting or exercising you can then introduce the other. For me, I was already exercising so I had to incorporate diet and I chose Weight Watchers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are only 43 years old and your belly is larger than your boobs? Yikes.

Not OP but some of us are short with A cups. It's not easy to have a smaller belly after kids.

Lol what? One does not have to resign oneself to having a belly bigger than the boobs just because you’ve had kids.

This would be enough motivation for me hahaha. I can’t imagine.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try another kind of exercise? I actually enjoy exercise so it motivates me to do it. But I was never motivated til I found barre workouts. I didn’t like the treadmill, too clumsy for zumba, didn’t like yoga…

[Anonymous]

OP, if vanity is not motivating you, what about health? Belly fat is linked to all sorts of bad metabolic outcomes.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/abdominal-fat-cognitive-decline-alzheimers-risk#

Weight loss gets harder with perimenopause and menopause and the drop in estrogen. I'd try to hit your goals now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are only 43 years old and your belly is larger than your boobs? Yikes.

Not OP but some of us are short with A cups. It's not easy to have a smaller belly after kids.

Lol what? One does not have to resign oneself to having a belly bigger than the boobs just because you’ve had kids.

This would be enough motivation for me hahaha. I can’t imagine.

Yah, that’s the weirdest comment and excuse for not taking care of oneself.