Fellow bloggers, let me ask you this: When do you lose motivation? I recently discovered my motivation wanes after I experience weight loss success. When I lose big, a cocky attitude emerges, and I say to myself, "T, you got this!"
So what happens? I start relaxing new behaviors associated with my new lifestyle changes and I slowly begin to revert back to the negative behaviors that contributed to my obesity. Food begins to distract me, and I start eating more and moving away from all things healthy (i.e. exercise, appropriate food choice, portion control, etc.)
Now what? I must determine what needs to happen NOW and what I really want! I know for sure that I want to MOVE FORWARD, and like the post title states, I need a plan. Without a plan I continue wasting my time with wishful thinking. My next plan of action involves going back to the beginning and revisiting the successful periods of my weight loss journey.
To move forward I asked myself the following questions: How did or do I feel when motivated? Answer: Empowered.
For example, During the height of one of my all time motivated moments, I met a few friends at Pappadeaux's for dinner. Prior to my arrival, I ate sushi and drank water. My friends ordered dinner and I sat there content with a belly full of spicy tuna rolls. They gobbled their stroke inducing dinner, we parted ways, and I scurried away to pick up my son from a dance at school. I done good...I done real good (intentional bad grammar)!
Example #2, for Valentine's Day 2009, the students made ice cream sundaes: waffle cones, ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate), syrup ( caramel, chocolate, strawberry), nuts, and sprinkles. So, faced with the sugary temptation of ice cream sundaes I decided to bring a WW cup of ice cream. I added a few nuts, a squirt of chocolate syrup, and a dollop of whipped cream. I controlled the situation...thus eliciting a feeling of pure empowerment!!!!!!!!
Next question: What did I do in the beginning of my weight loss journey to ensure success? Answer: Experienced new and different things.
Each week I purchased a food or beverage item new to me (e.g. veggie Italian sausage, vegan cheese, kale, soy milk...yuck, etc.). I attempted new recipes, and at times created recipes myself. I shopped at new grocery stores, like Whole Foods and Central Market. In regards to exercise, I downloaded unusual and exotic music to spice up my workouts: The Teenagers, Vitamin String Quartet, Interpol, Calvin Harris, The Postal Service, Enur, just to name a few.
So...in moving forward, I determined that I must revert back to the behaviors and habits associated with the beginning of my journey. My plan includes the following:
- Making appropriate food choices
- Controlling portions
- Consistently exercising
- Maintaining a daily food journal
- Taking care of me
- Experiencing new foods, beverages, and activity
From previous experience, when I work the plan, the plan works for me. So, from this point I move forward with purpose. The "freestyle-take-a-chance-winging it" plan is no longer acceptable! I must keep in mind...a goal without a plan is just a wish. Fellow bloggers I leave you with this...
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!"
I do the same thing! I get excited, over-confident and then.......stall. Somehow, someway, we've got to keep our eye on the prize and to do what we have to remember why we're doing this in the first place!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! We know what to do. We know what to eat. We know we need to exercise, but for some reason there is a disconnect. If I could get all of those things to work in concert with one another I would look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how a few pounds can throw us off? I have been playing with the same 2 to 3 pounds since May 15th, and it has really taken a toll on my motivation.
ReplyDeleteI need to start paying more attention to the other changes in my life, too, and I also need to mix it up a bit as you have suggested.
Great post!
My mom says muscle confusion is great too. So definitely switch up your exercise. Some days I'll start with weights instead of starting with cardio.
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