I want to talk about finding motivation and working the mind to get yourself in a place where you can want to make healthy choices and then actually carry through with doing that. There are several things you can do to try to keep yourself on track and motivated. here's a few of my strategies:
1. I collect inspirational memes, in Pinterest, and photo albums on my phone, anywhere I can, and review them when you are feeling unmotivated.
2. Watch Netflix or videos downloaded or from YouTube or something that you only watch at the gym or while exercising at home. (I don't face-time from the gym, but I'm not at all above that... just no one has time to chat with me about random things during the day.)
3. Go with a friend. (I have no friends to go with... I attempt to make friends there. ...I watch a lot of Netflix & YouTube. Thank God for wifi.)
4. Find a fun way to stay active!
5. Set goals and visualize success.
One: I collect memes on Pinterest and on my phone in "screenshots." Just the process of looking through them and reading them all is motivating in itself. I also post a meme every day on my fb and try to make it something that inspires ME, in hopes that if it inspires me, then it might inspire someone else who is looking for motivation and inspiration. I have a whole Pinterest folder full of different ones I've collected. Reward yourself with new clothes,
or maybe a bike, a gym membership, a class, a kayak, a night out dancing, a spa treatment or another fun item that will promote your new healthier life.
As I ended my walk today (last Wednesday) I was making myself a folder in my phone photos called "reminder." In it I placed 2-3 pictures of me that were unflattering because I was at my fattest, I put a picture of my mother in law with her bald, cancer-fighting head, I put a picture of the people I love who are overweight and I hope to inspire by example, and I put a few pictures of me at my healthy weight the last time I lost this blubber.
Get yourself a system that works so that see results. Counting calories and making my calories count works for me... but only as long as I keep doing it. Obviously I'm going to have to be mindful of my calories for the rest of my life.
Two: Find something to look forward to at the gym. I personally walk daily because if I plan to work too hard then I won't go and honestly walking is better than sitting on the couch. I watch a Netflix series that I only allow myself to watch at the gym. I also browse fb, Insta and YouTube... sometimes music videos and sometimes I watch athletes or "people are awesome." It distracts me from watching the timer on the treadmill. If you don't have a way to watch something like that maybe you can plug in and watch the tv's mounted at the gym and go at a time that a show you like is on. Before my tv had the ability to record and my gym had wifi, I always went at 3 to watch Ellen.
Three: See if you can find a friend to go with, you'll hold each other accountable and it makes the time pass so much faster when you are able to chat and share weight machines if you use them. If you can't find a friend to go with and you're outgoing, make a friend at the gym. I always tell the girl that works the front desk how much I weigh on weigh day and I usually get a high five. A couple of the trainers know who I am and will give me a thumbs up on their way past etc. If you do find a friend and they aren't reliable, supportive and/or they cancel on you... don't use it as an excuse not to go... go alone, after all you are doing this for you and YOU are responsible for doing it. Don't let excuses drag you out of your healthy groove.
Four: I am going to have to find fun ways to stay active like hiking, kayaking, shooting bows, bicycling, swimming, skating etc and being healthy is worth it, all I have to do is keep my mind on task! Find what works for you, make it fun and stick to it. ....make it a habit. Make yourself proud and your haters jealous.
You might set a goal that you will be noticeably thinner so you can buy a new summer wardrobe by vacation. Make sure that your goals are reasonable and not set too far out. It's hard to stick with a goal that's payoff is a year away. It's also easier to give up when you are expecting more from yourself than you are capable of, meaning if you are a woman that weighs more than 250 pounds at an average height, don't expect to be at your high school weight in 6 months. Small goals are key. Then visualize your success! Studies have shown that people that visualize success actually reach their goals significantly more than people who do not visualize their success. Think about the last time that you went bathing suit shopping. For me, it was not a pleasant experience... but I try to focus on how it will feel to go next time, when I have reached my goal. Then there are all the other amazing moments, like when you have to buy new clothes because all your old ones are falling off of you because they are too big, or when you are invited to a party and you are excited to go without wondering what you can wear. What about the moment that you see your high school reunion is coming up, or going home to visit family and having a friend you haven't seen in ages tell you that you look great and you know it's the truth.
