Hey there!

I'm not sure what my motivation is for posting this - kick in the butt, helpful advice, people who can sympathize. But here goes...

I don't seem to be able to motivate myself to eat healthily and exercise at the same time. Let me explain ..... I can change my diet and eat clean for a few months. It seems whenever I do this, I have no desire to exercise.

The first week in May, I joined a gym and have been going diligently. I've seen amazing changes in terms of muscle growth and my cardio ability has been improving steadily. But wouldn't you know, since then, I've been eating everything in sight!!

The end result is that I just can't seem to lose weight. I definitely need to - I'm female and weigh over 200 pounds - not sure how much over, I don't want to get on the scale. I feel pretty good, to be honest. Working out is no problem and I really enjoy it. But I just can't get my butt in gear with the eating program I know I need.

From January to March, I cleaned up my eating habits and lost a few pounds. But without the exercise, I didn't really get anywhere.

Not sure what I'm looking for here. Just wondering I guess if this has happened to anyone else and anyone here that would like to kick me around so that I can get with the program!!

For what it's worth - I feel much better with the exercise/eating bad than I did with the eating well/no exercise. Not sure why...

Thanks for letting me share!

I definitely need to - I'm female and weigh over 200 pounds - not sure how much over, I don't want to get on the scale.

Sounds like you need more structure. It's one of those corny sayings, but it's so damned true - If you fail to plan, then you already plan to fail. The trainers' office at my gym has that taped on the door window. How true that is.

Want motivation? This is one of the toughest things you'll do. Take pictures of yourself - put on a swimsuit and take pictures. I take four pictures every couple of days - front, sides, and back. This should help wake you up.

There's so much good information on here on JSF about motivation, staying motivated, why we're motivated to do what we do, and even more motivating - we have amassed a very successful collection of transformations among the many forum participants. We can lead you to the water, in fact, you've done that for yourself already - but we can't make you drink from the well of knowledge.

I can no longer simply regurgitate the keys to success; you have to discover them for yourself. You have to find a reason deep within yourself to change - a reason so powerful, you can't forget, ignore or slack because that motivation will always be there, reminding you, if not nagging you to stay on the path and change yourself for the better. I can't stress how important this facet is. It's a form of intensity that can't be taught, it can't be given, it has to come from you. We can help you kindle it once you find it, but you have to discover it for yourself. I found that - very recently - and all I can say about it is "wow". Nothing like it once you find it. Nothing is an obstacle anymore to me; it's just one more thing I have to go around to get to my goal(s). So far, I'm down almost 50-lbs. (on a guy 66-inches tall, that's saying something) and I'm well on my way to chiseling off the last of the fat. And it will come off.

Best of luck to you.

-R

Just a guess... When you exercise, you need more calories than you do if you don't exercise at all. Maybe when you're "eating right", your caloric intake is appropriate for not exercising. And when you start exercising, you get hungry and have to eat more. So I think it's OK to eat a bit more when you are exercising, as long you don't start eating junk. If you also start eating crappy foods when you start exercising, I don't know what could help... But it's definitely good that you have started moving! :tu:

You need to sit down and really decide what your motivation is for losing weight. When you are truly unhapy and ready for change, nothing will stand in your way. Bluestreak is so right about taking pictures. Most people don't have a bad image of themselves, but after seeing pictures that all changes. You can lie to yourself in the mirror, but that picture will open your eyes. You have no shortage of support around here so that isn't the problem. Look within. In any case, good luck. :gl:


I like that motto Bluestreak!
If you fail to plan, then you already plan to fail.

Wow! Your replies have blown me away! And they've definitely hit the nail on the hand. I certainly don't lack the tools in terms of knowing what I need to do to succeed. I've read lots of posts on this forum - have researched on the internet. But so true about the motivation. And yes, it has to come from within. I suppose there's something that's holding me back - I don't necessarily mean something concrete physically or even mentally. I think the key is that I haven't really been able to commit to this. And that truly makes me sad and angry.

I also agree that I need to eat more now that I work out a lot. But I choose the wrong foods. No question about it. And I lack portion control. So once again, no truer words said than that I need a plan and I need to have it in front of my face. Something written down that I can and will follow. Instead of winging it, which obviously doesn't work.

I've calculated how many calories I should be consuming each day based on my age, weight, activity, in order to maintain, and how many I need to shave off if I want to lose. And I know that Fitday is there, as well as John's spreadsheet. I really have to admit that I can't do this unless I start using the tools at my disposal.

You're scaring the hell out of me with the pictures idea - LOL!! I've thought about that. Maybe it's time to borrow the school's digital camera (I'm a teacher/principal) and get going. And start posting here more often than once every 5 months!!

Thank you so much for the input. It was exactly what I was looking for (I realize that now after posting).

M

That would be 'nail on the head'. On the hand would hurt!!

:D

Here are three little magic words that have done a lot for me in keeping me motivated, helping me stay focused, and generally raising my quality of life. And I've dropped 40 lbs since last May.

GET

MORE

SLEEP

Maybe that isn't an issue for you, but it sure was for me. And you'd be amazed at the difference it makes.

Here's another suggestion. A lot of times when people start out they think its got to be an everyday thing to eat right and excersize (and to some degree it is) but a cheat day could go a long ways toward helping you succeed. Its really hard to say "Ok, no more candy/pizza/whatever for 3 months!" and if you said that its not really a lifestyle change its a "diet." So heres what I suggest: excersize daily. Find a healthy menu that you can have 6 days of the week, and then on the 7th day have whatever it is you were missing. Its totally appropriate, it'll give you something to work toward, and its goign to be much easier to stay on a plan if you enjoy it...keep us posted, and let us know what you'er eating and we can give you some suggestions. Hope this helps,
-Andrew

Here, here!!!! Well said ... focus on progress, not perfection. You take on one thing at a time, master it, and move on.

Perhaps your focus is temporary. You mention focusing on eating clean and exercising as being daunting. How difficult is it for you to maintain your focus on brushing your teeth everyday or taking a shower? It's probably fairly simple. As a child you may not have wanted to do those "chores" but then you mastered them as a habit, made the connection between health and hygeine, and now it comes easily.

If you are focused on your eating as a diet, then you are right - once you take your focus away, you'll fall into your old eating patterns. However, WHAT IF you decided that, like brushing your teeth or taking a shower or even breathing, that healthy eating was a PART of your life? And instead of worrying about taking it all on at once, you focused on transforming your eating habits so instead of going on a DIET you could be happy because "this is the new way that I eat." And it doesn't have to be chicken and broccoli .. have fun, spice it up, enjoy it - this is what you will be eating not for several weeks until you reach some magic goal weight, but for the rest of your life because your body DESERVES to be healthy.

If you take that approach, then once you master the healthy eating, it shoudl be as easy as brushing your teeth or taking a shower, and then you can focus on making exercise a habit, too.

And don't fall into extremes. As LemonSong said ... you want pizza? Enjoy it. Just not every day. Have it once in awhile, savor it, don't stuff yourself, and embrace healthy living.

Best of health and success to you,

Jeremy Likness

Here's another suggestion. A lot of times when people start out they think its got to be an everyday thing to eat right and excersize (and to some degree it is) but a cheat day could go a long ways toward helping you succeed. Its really hard to say "Ok, no more candy/pizza/whatever for 3 months!" and if you said that its not really a lifestyle change its a "diet." So heres what I suggest: excersize daily. Find a healthy menu that you can have 6 days of the week, and then on the 7th day have whatever it is you were missing. Its totally appropriate, it'll give you something to work toward, and its goign to be much easier to stay on a plan if you enjoy it...keep us posted, and let us know what you'er eating and we can give you some suggestions. Hope this helps,
-Andrew

You're all such incredible people and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

I appreciate all the comments here and really do see the truth in what's being said. I know I have to change my lifestyle, not diet. And to deny yourself everything - well, for me, that's just a recipe for disaster. I think I've definitely been thinking "okay, today I'm changing" and then expect some kind of strange perfection - whatever that is (yes, I'm a perfectionist, a huge problem). I constantly evaluate everything I put in my mouth - it's too much pressure. And then, if I eat one cookie, I figure I blew it and then eat whatever - and then the eating is because I'm bummed. It's a vicious cycle. And EVIL!! :mad:

Anyway..........the good news is that there are lots of yummy things in my garden. Fresh green beans, zucchini and broccoli. So good. Tons of apples on the trees. I like food that's good for me. Another mental thing is thinking of eating healthy as something negative - oh darn, I have to eat well. This will suck. Actually, that isn't true at all. Ah, the wonders of the human brain...

I'll start posting the things that I've been eating and find out what you all think. I would really appreciate the feedback.

Thanks so much everyone!!!

M

That would be 'nail on the head'. On the hand would hurt!!

:D

I can't see how hitting a nail on the head would be less painfull than a nail on the hand :p

Velkommen forresten...alltid kjekt å se flere skandinavere her;)

Tack så mycket, Duckman!!

Min hemlighet...........jag är amerikansk!! Jag har bott här i Sverige sedan 1997. Och jag trivs!! Jag har semestrat i Norge 3 gånger - det vackraste landet jag har någonsin varit till...