Image by Rick Harris
Back during some of my less successful weight-loss attempts, I used to beat myself up for not feeling motivated. I would wake up, not feel like eating right or exercising, proceed to berate myself internally for not feeling like doing these things, and then (surprise?) not do them.
But it turned out I was misguided. And we’re all in luck. Because guess what? Motivation is not required 24-7 to lose weight.
What is required is that you take the actions you have outlined for yourself, and that you continue to take those actions—day in, day out. There may be some people out there who wake up every day excited to count calories or work out, but I’m the first to admit that I’m not one of them.
I remember back in September and early October, when I had only been working at my weight loss for a few weeks, thinking there must be something wrong with my plan and that I must be doomed to fail at it because I didn’t feel all excited and gung-ho. Wasn’t I supposed to get a special tingly feeling when I found The One? (The right weight-loss plan, that is.)
Evidently not. But I kept doing what I said I would do, and now I am 35 lbs lighter.
I don’t have any special virtues. I have failed at this game-which-isn’t-a-game many, many times. But I am learning as I accrue success, week after week. And I thought it might help someone to know that motivated feelings come and go, but action trumps all. Sometimes this is hard work; but most things worth having are.
Extra-credit reading: “Why positive thinking is overrated”
20. January 2010 at 9:06 AM
The highly enthusiastic motivation you mention is difficult for a lot of people to keep up on a long term basis. So long as there is willingness in the mind and a desire to achieve, then the motivation is still there just in a different way.
20. January 2010 at 10:01 AM
I guess you’re right, in that what I typically think of as “motivation” and what motivation actually consists of may sometimes be two separate things. On some level I *must* be motivated, because I keep doing what I’m doing! It’s weird.
20. January 2010 at 9:39 AM
I find that my best motivation comes from the online community, blogs like yours and mine and the wonderful people who comment on them, sharing experiences and offering support, and great weight-loss forums.
Today my motivation to exercise seems to have left the building:(
20. January 2010 at 10:03 AM
. . . but you’re still going to exercise anyway, right? Right? ;)
I get a lot of encouragement and support from the online weight-loss/fitness community as well!
20. January 2010 at 10:54 AM
I think you have to get on auto pilot with this thing, just as you are. Some days for me are still a struggle, but as long as you stay consistent it’s all good. I agree with you, you don’t have to be happy go lucky to stay consistent. I think you are doing a great job and I’m very impressed with your loss and determination.
20. January 2010 at 11:53 AM
AFG: Yeah, the autopilot thing has saved me more than once. I have most of my current weight-loss plan’s components on autopilot now, but I am wanting to make some healthy changes to my diet, which will require me going back into the place that requires a little more mental effort. Eeeks?
20. January 2010 at 11:00 AM
You brush your teeth every morning because that’s what you do, it’s the right thing to do and you know what the benefits are. No one is going to congratulate you or remark on your sparkling smile or minty breath. You don’t need motivation or a positive attitude to go scrub up, do you? You just do it because the other option is not really an option at all.
Same with eating right and getting some exercise. If you’re having to teach yourself the new way then at the beginning it does require a lot of thought and mental energy. But as you go on, your body and brain just know that it’s just the way it is. Because the other option is not really an option at all.
20. January 2010 at 12:07 PM
Shanny: For me, it definitely required a lot of mental effort for the first several weeks. To keep myself feeling energized about the process, I hit up lots of relevant websites and was on SparkPeople tons. Then, as you’ve said here, things become very automatic and matter of fact. The start-up costs, so to speak, were definitely worth it :). That being said, it’s really time for me to improve my nutrition a bit, so I may be investing a bit more energy/time in the process again soon.
20. January 2010 at 12:50 PM
Now that you have your foundation though, you can afford the mental energy to start to alter certain facets of it. It’s when people decide to make a FULL STOP CHANGE from Day One and then get bogged down and too overwhelmed to even know what to do from one moment to the next….so they don’t do anything.
You really did find the key. Starting small with a plan that you could conceivably do for the rest of your life and then as you grow into your new life, you will notice places where you want or need to make small changes. Overhaul isn’t the answer, what you’re doing is the answer. And if you decide to start eating things with a redeeming nutritional value more often than not, you’ll find it’s not nearly as hard as when you were first starting out. You just work it into your current foundation.
I know I said it before but I’m really jazzed for you, you’ve seen the light!
20. January 2010 at 3:28 PM
Shanny: It’s so fun have you “back”! Thanks for all the support!
20. January 2010 at 2:45 PM
Have you bought your new, svelt workout clothes yet. I’d vote for a different color for each new outfit that is another symbol of another success.
Do you remember the Nike slogan: JUST DO IT! Always made sense to me!
Do you write a daily food plan or just eat what you feel like that day until you run out of allotted calorie?
Whatever you’re doing–WOW!
20. January 2010 at 3:31 PM
Shanna: Actually, I’m getting some new clothes for work, not new workout clothes—but it’s certainly an easy thing to switch in your mind ;). I haven’t purchased the new office outfit yet, but I will be heading out to shop over the coming weekend. Wish me luck!
As far as food goes, I do plan out my food for the whole day in advance. I usually enter my plan for the day into SparkPeople in the morning, or at least most of it. I have pretty predictable eating habits, which makes this fairly easy.
20. January 2010 at 4:21 PM
Hi, Hilary! Congratualations on the great progress! I remember when you first started–I was attracted to your blog by the name. I wish I were producing the kind of numbers you are–I’ve fallen way behind. Although, I know, it’snot a contest… Your before and after pictures are amazing!! II’m happy for you. I’d stop in and read your blog more often, but the wordpress layout of having the words tight up against the edge makes it very hard for me to see. I have to pick a ‘good eye’ day. Catch you again. So pleased that you’re gettin it done! jDeb
20. January 2010 at 4:39 PM
I had these SAME THOUGHTS a few months in. I mean, I was celebrating my successes and all, but it just became *that thing I do* and was no longer a huge deal. For a while that bothered me, but then I realized it was a great thing.
I still have trouble incorporating the new stuff. It really does take some effort to make changes even if you’ve been at it for a while, but the nice thing is I know the effort is worthwhile due to past successes.
And we are all waiting (im) patiently to see your new work clothes! :)
20. January 2010 at 7:23 PM
What a fantastic post! You are so right. You have put into words exactly what I’ve been feeling these last few days!
21. January 2010 at 12:27 AM
Oh, I’m like Deb. I tend to compare myself to people if we’re at the same stage (more or less) along the weight loss path. It’s really not helpful, but I still do it.
Had a horrible time in a Weight Watchers meeting, beating myself up because a women who started a week before me has lost twice as much weight as I have. This week, I found out that she never exercises. So while she may be losing twice as much, I’m afraid she’s losing muscle as well as fat. (And if you can think of a good, tactful way to share that with her, please let me know. She’s quite a nice person, despite losing more weight than I have :)
And congratulations on passing another milestone!!!
21. January 2010 at 12:50 PM
Absolutely treasured this post. You’re simply one of the best my friend.
Thank you
Sean
22. January 2010 at 12:39 PM
Great post, Hilary. And I love your new layout.