Finding Motivation... working the mind (somewhat a continuation from last post)

This blog won't always be about health and fitness, but that's a big part of my life and how I care for the people I love, so often, there will be some talk of my weekly goals and objectives in regard to that.  Hoping that somehow it may have a positive effect on someones life, therefore this is a bit of a continuation from my last post. 

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.

Five:  Set goals for yourself... maybe a fun run (most of them have "walkers" as well.)  They start around $25 entrance fee and can be found easily in your area on the internet.  They are always fun to do with a friend!  My daughter knew I was needing something to work for and signed me up for a 5K...  It was just the push I needed and she doesn't understand what a beautiful gift she gave me by doing that. 

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.

After today I won't be posting a blog until after June 23rd because I'm heading out on vacation.  My next blog won't be about finding the motivation to work out, I promise.  I'll make it about my diet and after that I'll talk more about other issues in my life.  Thanks for reading. 

Your mind is your most powerful weapon in your arsenal.

     So today (Wednesday)  I talked with a trainer at the gym.  I know that different trainers have different philosophies, and the conversation started when I asked which is "correct," muscles before cardio, or cardio before muscles? (short answer was mix it up and keep your body guessing.)  Anyway we got to talking about a few of my friends and myself and how we all operate differently when it comes to taking care of ourselves.  People are raised differently, we are different people and therefore we are, for lack of a better term "wired" differently.  Some of  my friends make excuses and accept their health like victims of life, some of them seek professional training and take what their trainers tell them as gospel.  I myself, work on my own program (mostly I follow my fitbit.)  Today I hit the 20 lbs lost mark.

(...for the third time.) I have two goals right now: to get healthy and to stay healthy, the latter of the two being my real struggle in the future.  Right now I'm motivated because I'm working toward doing a 5K with my daughter.  Over the years I have learned a lot about myself, I've learned that I have a strong mind (meaning strength of will and determination) and the adage "Train the mind and the body will follow" is true to a T. That being said, I know I can do it and I know that I will do it.  Also I've learned that I won't stick with anything I don't like doing.  This is why I walk instead of run (also running hurts my knees.)  I like to walk, I'm lapping everyone on the couch, and when I walk at the gym I can set the pace and watch Netflix which makes it more enjoyable and less of a chore.  I have "gym" series' that I only watch there and I remind myself it's time to see what happens next.  This trainer I spoke to today, seemed pleased that I understood that it comes from the mind... if your mind is in the right place you will succeed, and a lot of people don't get that.

 It all begins in the mind.  During my "walk" on the treadmill a friend walked up and I told him I'd lost 20 lbs, he replied, "again?" (with a smile.) I said yes, and this time I'm not gaining it back.  He smiled.  The lady on the treadmill next to me said that she didn't think he was as supportive as he should have been... I didn't notice, what he said, made me smile, motivated me and I didn't give it a single negative thought.  Why didn't I see it the way she was seeing it?  Because it truly didn't matter to me  if he was proud of me or not, I'm not trying to impress him.  I am extremely proud of myself, I know how hard I work and what I have accomplished.  He said nothing untrue, but ultimately it is our own mind and the perspective we choose that determines weather or not we succeed.  In a recent commercial with Steph Curry he says, (paraphrasing) "the mind is where every challenge has been won or lost."  I love that because it's so true.

 Peoples minds can overcome their bodies.  All of us have bad days, all of us are self critical... but if you are mentally strong, if you have the will you overcome that.  Look at the positive, don't dwell on past bad habits, focus on future good habits.  Don't dwell on how far you have to go, focus on how far you have come... and just making a good decision that wasn't an easy decision is coming quite a ways.  Sometimes I watch "People are Awesome" videos on fb or YouTube while I walk, and it's always amazing what people choose to do with themselves, but the fact that they can do what they do shouldn't be a surprise.  We can accomplish anything we set our mind to. 

Worked on this quite a while last night and this morning, my changes are missing.  I'm going to post it as is, bear with me as I'm am new to this.  

What this new blog is for, and a little about me...

This (hopefully) weekly blog is intended to be a mix of help, entertainment and information on my perspective.  If you are just curious about what other people think or how they handle daily issues; this is how I deal with mine.  Feel free to join me on my journey.  If it helps you then I'm glad, if it makes you laugh, then I'm glad, if you think it's stupid, then move on... best wishes.  Any suggestions on weekly topics or reasonable questions are welcome, however, (disclaimer) I have no qualifications to give any advice other than my membership in the human race.  I'm 48, divorced once, married now for 20 years, I've raised 4 kids (girls are now 30 & 25; boys are now 19 & almost 16,) I currently clean houses as my only employment and I enjoy my life. My latest challenge is to get back in shape, (lose weight) and make friends who do active/healthy things without drama or negativity.  I already do crafts and spend time with my husband when I can hiking, camping etc. I also like to cook. I accept diversity and although I try not to condemn others I do have my opinions as is human nature. I am new to blogging so bear with me, I'm trying to figure it out as I go along.  If I can share a hack or cheer someone up, or leave a positive impression on someones day... it will make mine.