Motivation....that word that you
hear over and over when you're trying to lose weight or get healthy.
Why is it so easy to go strong for a few days or a few weeks, and then feel no motivation and fall back into old destructive habits? You've lost focus or used to be more motivated and seem to have lost it.
I know there are many reasons this happens, but I am going to give you the main reason why people start....and then stop and give up in their health goals completely.
And yes, it's that simple. Self-talk. Self-belief.
People say they want to get to a certain goal and then sabotage their own efforts. This is extremely frustrating as someone who has a great goal and wants to achieve it.
Here are a few things to consider when working through your weight-loss journey:
- Do you believe that you are driven by the situations around you? That your ability to change is directly influenced by people and circumstances happening around you?
- Or do you believe that you can organize your life - that you can reflect on your situation and find the solutions - that you can be proactive and change what isn't working?
Those questions all have to do with what you believe about yourself. Are you so helpless that you cannot change things around you - or are you so incredibly strong that you can pull through and even find the good in a situation, even if it's after the fact?
It's funny, because I used to have the mentality that if there's a package of those delicious Ritz crackers that have cheese in the middle - it was inevitable that I would eat the whole box.....so I just would, because I figured it would happen anyway. This is what I'm saying.
If I would take that situation and think to myself "Those are a yummy snack. I'm gonna have a small bowl and enjoy it as a treat. I'm gonna put the rest away in the cupboard and have a glass of milk with these instead. And I'm STRONG enough to not eat the rest, as this is a treat, not a meal."
Do you see what I mean? Self-talk. Self-belief.
If you've gained 50lbs over the past year, what's another 10, right?
(or)
I've gained 50lbs over the last year. I've been through a lot of crap and turned to food. I don't feel guilty as that's all the strength I had then. But now, I know that I am strong enough to deal with my emotions and will not turn to food. I'm strong. I can be proactive and turn things around.
So much self talk that goes on in our heads we don't even realize is happening. And self-talk is good! Very good! This is how we can evaluate ourselves and actually alter how we are making healthy choices and lifestyle changes.
The great thing is that these self-beliefs can be altered. It can go from believing that you aren't able to handle your life and healthy living and giving up, to looking at tasks and thinking that they are goals to be mastered and will influence your life in a positive way.
A week or two ago, I posted two quotes on Facebook from my studies that I loved:
"They are able who think they are able" - Virgil
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. They can have a powerful influence for good when they are on the positive side, and they can make you physically ill when they're on the negative side" - Peace Pilgrim, 1992.
Your self-discipline is formed out of your desire to do well.
Your success as an athlete or exerciser is directly determined by what you believe about yourself.
If you believe you can do it and push hard and make healthy choices, you will. Week after week you will. Month after month, you will because you believe you can. No matter what is going on around you, if you feel you are worth it, you will choose well in everything you do - because you BELIEVE it. Your motivation will be there and the thought of self-sabotaging will be far from your mind. You believe you deserve better.
If you start off feeling that you can do it, but after a few weeks you start doubting your success because you haven't seen any results yet, you quit. You don't believe what you are doing is effective. You start remembering all the times you had a little snack you felt guilty for. You remember that you've tried this before and didn't lose weight...... Self talk. Self belief.
Self-reflection.
There is value in remembering your faults and prior attempts. But pick yourself up. Remember all the things in your life that you are good at. Remember the tough times that you got through. Remember those around you that support you because they have faith in you. They have faith in you for a reason! You are strong, whether you think you are or not.
Be concious of what you are saying to yourself today.
What do you believe about yourself?
The most successful people in fitness and health BELIEVE they are worth all the trouble.
Lots of love from me to you,
Naomi.