Developing Will Power with Motivation
Everyone is motivated and excited about losing weight in January. The promise of a new year ignites motivation and will power, but it can quickly wane after the challenges of life wear us down. The time to intensify motivation is NOW. Awhile back I discussed the varying components of will power which directly overlap with motivation. Today I will intensify your will power by tapping into your personal motivators.
So today your "homework" is to write out (really think and feel) your desires around weight loss. List twelve intense, deep, and meaningful reasons why you want to lose weight and review them often. Henry Ford said, "I do not believe a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by night." Do not drop your dreams of weight loss for one second. That's when motivation and will power drop!
If you truly want to keep your weight loss going for the long haul get out that pen and start writing out your motivators and then commit to thinking about them every single day.
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Posted by: Alex | Jan 3, 2009 10:53:48 AM
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Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Dec 8, 2008 6:26:44 PM
Hi new mom, I really encourage you to reread the above blog and all the links. Then spend some time implementing the suggestions. Motivation is a FEELING that propels you forward. You need to go within yourself and find those reasons. Once you do nothing will stop you. But you have to find them for yourself. And sometimes, motivation comes just when you start taking some real action, even if you don't feel like it right away. Keep us posted. We are all hoping the best for you.
Posted by: Mala | Dec 7, 2008 7:33:21 PM
Just read your post. I'm a new mom, and I think I lost my motivation somewhere. It's gone. I just can't seem to find it! I've even been looking into self hypnosis as an option, following the blog on www.discoverselfhypnosis.com, and thinking about giving it a bash - any thoughts?
Posted by: Elaine | Jan 28, 2008 12:51:40 PM
You have some very valid points which many people could certainly learn from.
It really shouldn't matter what weight a person is at to function at their best. I've seen many overweight people do just fine but I've also seen people whose weight has inhibited them. I used to be overweight too and I know I was much more confident handling things after I lost my weight, although I'm sure it's not that way for everyone. Many certainly could follow your lead!
Posted by: keri marion | Jan 27, 2008 12:56:15 PM
I think you make some interesting observations. I agree with the need for balance, and I also agree with feeling good about the way a person looks, however I disagree with your last statement.
A person's outlook has everything to do with the flow and ease of one's life. It has nothing at all to do with one's weight, in fact, if someone could be comfortable with their weight regardless of what other people thought of them, or what they think the media says they should be, then it might be easier, in fact, to simply change your entire outlook and lose weight for good and for real for the right reasons.
Our weight is a by-product of our lifestyle. Our bodies reflect all that we consume - not just food but media too.
Anyone can do it any way they please.. makes no difference to me; I'm just making my own observation from my own experiences.
Posted by: Elaine | Jan 24, 2008 8:57:24 PM
Hi Keri,
You have made some excellent points. I also think though, a little vanity is fine too if it's not taken too far. Once Erica starts losing weight and feels so much healthier, hopefully the idea of health will impact her more. It starts with vanity for many of us.(It did with me at one time.)
Sometimes people do have to reflect more on the health aspect so they don't get too obsessed with appearances alone (and where it could potentially turn into an eating disorder of some kind). Some clients have to make that shift in fact, to actually be successful.
Yes the media does make too much of looks and it influences us. It's all about balance.
And no, life won't be perfect when we lose weight but it sure makes dealing with it easier.
Posted by: keri marion | Jan 23, 2008 12:07:31 AM
I worry about reasons like several of Erica's because most of them are rooted in vanity as opposed to health, and those that aren't related to vanity are far-fetched and unrealistic, for example:
"my life will be easier for me when I am thin," is absolutely not true. Your life will always be as difficult as you make it. Your life could be easier now if you were on the right balance.
The best reasons on Erica's list are: "I want to be able to run nonstop for 20 (minutes?) without walking intervals and .. actually, that's the only one.
It seems to me that possibly Erica might be too influenced by the people around her and/or media such as magazines (which is driven by advertising).
I wish Erica the best of luck, but suggest looking inward as to the reasons WHY she feels these ways and then work from there.
Posted by: Elaine | Jan 17, 2008 12:20:22 PM
Hi Erica. I applaud your efforts to publicly announce your motivation to lose weight and to really spell out sooo specifically what you want! You might consider reframing your last two motivators so they sound just a bit more positive. (Always focus on what you DO want rather than on what you DON'T want.) Check in once in awhile and let us know how you are doing. We'll keep cheering you on!
Posted by: Erica | Jan 16, 2008 3:05:24 PM
I am posting my 12 reasons because it will motivate me more if I list them publically.
1. I want to be able to shop at any clothing store and not be limited by my size.
2. I want to have a toned and flat stomach.
3. I want my arms to be thinner so I won’t be uncomfortable wearing short sleeved shirts.
4. I want to feel confident in a bikini.
5. I want to be able to run nonstop for 20 without walking intervals.
6. I want to have thinner thighs that don’t rub together and have a space between them.
7. I want to weigh less than Paul.
8. Life will be easier for me when I am thin.
9. I want to look great in photographs, from any angle.
10. I want my stomach to remain flat, even when I sit down.
11. I want to get rid of my love-handles.
12. I don’t want to be the fat girl around a bunch of image conscious people.
Posted by: Elaine | Jan 10, 2008 11:58:11 AM
Hi Jo. You are definitely on the right track! This is exactly what I have been talking about the last week on "Blog Posts by Elaine" on "SMART" goals. At this rate you will definitely get to your goal! Keep up the great work and let me know how you are doing now and then.
Posted by: Jo Hindriks | Jan 9, 2008 1:35:34 PM
for me what works is to set a number of small goals for each day, for instance, drinking 64 oz of water, exercising for 30 minutes, eating 3 servings of veggies, eating 2 servings of fruit, abstaining from coffee, and so on. I award myself fifty cents for each goal I make every day and save this up to reward myself with something at the end, in my case a handheld GPS system for hiking in the woods. I don't "need" this gadget but I would like to have it and sticking to my goals for healthier living will eventually lead to having it.
I might change the goals over time as I progress in changing my lifestyle, substituting one goal for another so that I keep on track.
