Staying Motivated

This question came in from a young woman recently.

“I am 21 years old and 5’0. I am currently 165 lbs. I used to be 127 until after I graduated high school. Now I would really like to lose the weight just to feel better and be HEALTHY!! I have serious issues staying motivated. I lost about 10 lbs a couple months ago but then just lost interest in the diet. I don’t know what I could do to keep myself motivated.

“Somehow the thought of being unhealthy just isn’t working…do you have any suggestions? I would LOVE to look like that again! Also, should I be watching my calories or my fat intake? or both?”

Great question and the answer is YES, YES and YES!

Yes! Suggestions abound. Yes! Paying attention to calories, i.e., you total calorie food intake as well as those from saturated fats is very important. Yes! All of it is important.

I share the question as it mirrors, in my mind, the thoughts and issues of so many others I have met and/or will meet. It is why Fitness Professionals keep writing, keep talking and keep doing our work.

No matter how many times or many different ways we tell the story and provide the formula, no matter how many articles, videos, books are written or produced, there is yet another person that didn’t “get the memo” and still needs support, encouragement and motivation on their journey.

Anita Foley of WealthHappens.com asks a few questions in her article, “The Power of “PERHAPS,” that can be useful for many trying to stay motivated on what seems like a long hard journey in fitness and weight loss.

“Do you find that every time you think about making a change in your life you sabotage yourself by thinking it is unlikely that you’ll be able to do it? Do all the negative, self-limiting thoughts come to the forefront and stop you in your tracks? You must learn to change these self-imposed limitations that are preventing you from reaching your potential. Then you can transform your life and achieve your dreams. (or goals).

She goes on to suggest the use of the the word PERHAPS in place of the words I CAN’T and I WON’T. Let’s say, for example, you have a belief that you can’t continue staying on the diet, sticking with the training program. Either you didn’t fair as well as you would have liked the first time (internal belief from past experience) or didn’t see the results you desired (external belief). What would happen if you simply changed “I can’t lose weight” to “PERHAPS I can do this better”? Anita offers, “the word PERHAPS opens up the belief to other possibilities. It allows for some action to be taken that could result in a change in the belief. “PERHAPS I can do it if I . . .”

- get a personal trainer
- take a fitness class
- work harder and smarter at my goal
- focus a little more
- download a guided program
- read a fitness training article or book

It would be easy to give into not achieving your goal on the first, second or maybe even the third attempt. Instead of just giving into a negative belief, you are open to taking some ACTION that will help you change the belief. “I CAN’T” can become “PERHAPS I can if I take some action” and then become “I CAN probably do this.”

Likewise, “I WON’T lose weight” becomes “PERHAPS I can lose weight if I start again TODAY on eating (differently) better and walking 3-4x a week and work at it” to “I CAN probably lose 10 pounds this month.” Do you see how changing that one word will change the whole feeling of the belief?

Use of the the word PERHAPS to change negative beliefs to possibilities that invite ACTION and, ultimately, to positive beliefs and real probabilities.

For more detailed suggestions, ideas and specific planned approaches to staying motivated, starting and/or staying in the process, check out the myriads of articles at TheStrengthClub.Net, TheCardioClub.Net and Prescription4Fitness.com. Share this with a friend via email: eMail