Motivation and Focus
I frequently hear, “I start out really well and then just lose my focus after a week or so,” or “I was doing well until I had a lot of stress at work and then lost my focus.” or “I always lose about ten or twenty pounds and then I lose my focus.”
So if focus is the problem how do you get it back? There's hope, if you can lose it then you can find it again!
Start with a list of your motivators. Don’t stop there, make those motivators become alive again and don’t just say "I just want to lose thirty pounds," Does that really motivate you? It simply does not elicit the underlying motivation behind it. Exactly why do you want to lose thirty pounds? Dig those reasons out.The following are some ways to really “focus” on how to rejuvenate your motivation with your thoughts:
- I will have more energy. With that energy, I will do more outdoor activities again like water ski, go to the beach in a bathing suit and compete in volleyball again. I will play with my kids more and I will hike again.
- I will feel more confident in social situations. Maybe I will start dating again, get a better job, or join a class etc.
- I will be healthier. I will lower my blood pressure or cholesterol and just maybe live longer!
So take these reasons and think about them, often, every day and especially when you are feeling tempted or the next time you “lose your focus.” Revisit them with real heart and feeling.
Readers how do you regain your focus?
 older posts |
home | newer posts  |
| Why Now is the Best Time to Start | | Diet & Weight Loss Blog | | 50 Ways to Exercise |
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Sep 18, 2009 9:58:38 PM
Thank you all for your insightful and thought provoking remarks.
Both a healthy food plan and motivation are important. The correct food plan can actually promote "focus" and motivation. Mind and body are interconnected!
Joseph, I will be doing some blogs on inflammation real soon. It really is a topic that is not addressed much in the weight loss industries, and should be. -Elaine
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Sep 13, 2009 10:19:11 PM
Hi Joseph, there are sooooo many facets to losing weight; "the problem" becomes multifaceted! Absolutely, the right healthy food plan has to be identified but even then people will continue to label these kinds of plans as "diets" which only instill that mentality style of eating which works against them. Sadly, it's hard for people to get beyond this. But it is a reality.
And even the most healthier eater can lose "focus" and lapse too. As a nutritionist I have to address it all....an unending but enjoyable job.
You are one of the lucky ones to know and embrace healthy eating in its totality.
Posted by: Tre | Sep 12, 2009 12:23:33 PM
I think Joseph is on the right track but I think it goes even deeper. Motivation is what gets us started. Education gets us where we need to go. Education about exercise and nutrition is important to develop a new life-style, not just a diet to lose however many pounds. If we continue to lose and gain the same pounds over and over again, it isn't healthy for us. We HAVE to make a permanent change in our nutritional habits and the amount of exercise we do.
Posted by: Joseph Gentzel | Sep 12, 2009 10:34:57 AM
Respectfully, I don't think you have identified the problem correctly.
Focus is easy enough and to identify, say 30 pounds is easy enough. We have all done it; many times. And there in lies the basic fallacy in this line of reasoning. An understanding of what our bodies were created to ingest is absolutely required to enjoy good health and increased longevity. Once we have that understanding we can move to that place that is not a diet anymore. Foods that create inflammation in our bodies were not meant to be consumed by our species and will cause the problems we are seeing now in epidemic numbers. And it will get much worse. Losing 30 pounds does nothing if we do not understand that basic truth of our body’s physiology.
