How do you maintain your motivation

(Michelle Britt) #1

I wasn’t sure where to post this, so if this is the wrong area, my apologies.

My question is - How do you maintain your motivation? Any tricks or tips, or game changers. The closer I get to my goal weight (and I am 100lbs down now) the harder to stay on task I am finding it. I am not one to give up ever. And I am immensely proud of what I have accomplished to date, so confidence is not an issue. I know what I need to do and I know how to do it and I know without doubt keto changed everything and that my life and health have dramatically improved. I feel like all of those things should be motivation enough. But I am just finding that inner strength to hold strong to it is what I am lacking. I need to find the “spark” again. What works for you?

(Erica Ramirez) #2

When I lose half of what I want to lose (only 10 more to go) I’m going to book a cruise for me & my husband over spring break! That’ll give me the motivation to go harder for the second half, to reach my goal before the cruise.
Also, I like competing with people so I try to find someone who is also trying to lose.
(LOL) sometimes they don’t even know I’m competing with them, if they post on FB or just mention their diet…

(Casey Crisler) #3

Have you picked up any “healthy hobbies” due to Keto? I’ve taken up hiking and that is one motivator. Working towards the toughest hike this town has to offer. Also, working to get my health numbers down has been a real big one. It’s become my ultimate goal. I’m only 2+ months in so really haven’t lost the motivation yet. But there are times when I get a little frustrated. I just keep my eyes on the prize.

(karen) #4

Wearing pants that are slightly too tight (with a pretty top that covers any weird bulges so I don’t look like trailer trash.) It’s not a happy motivation, more like “ugh, I feel gross, gotta take off a few more pounds” but it works as a constant reminder that I have a goal and I’m not quite there yet.

(Charlotte) #5

Keeping some incredibly easy, incredibly tasty, pre-prepared keto foods on hand works for me, so it doesn’t feel so much like I’m expending effort to stick to it. Let yourself have treats like Lily’s chocolates or keto ice cream if it’ll help keep you on track and doesn’t trigger sugar cravings (this of course varies from person to person). If it’s in your budget, give yourself non-food rewards for staying on track. For example, I reward myself with a massage every month for staying on track, but smaller weekly or even daily treats could also work. And I know it sounds kinda woo-woo, but say nice things to your body when you’re in front of the mirror. Praise your body, not for the hard work you’ve done, but for simply carrying you through life, and assure it that you will continue to show it the love and respect of a healthy diet. It feels stupid at first, but I’ve found it surprisingly effective over time.

(bulkbiker) #6

Depends on your reasons.
For me I want to avoid the blindness and amputations that uncontrolled blood sugars with Type 2 diabetes can bring… when you look at it like that it becomes quite easy to stay motivated and so hard to understand why people “cheat”. The weight loss also helps of course…

(Barbara M) #7

For me remembering that I was a horrible slave to sugar. One piece of candy and I wouldn’t be able to literally stop. I wouldn’t have the piece in my hand gone and I’d be reaching for another.
I took a hard look at what this was doing to me… I think of that slippery sugar slope that I am always prone to.
I believe a healthy relationship with food as fuel will keep me feeling younger and avoiding the pharma medication trap that many cannot see their way around. I have family history with leukemia, lymphoma, breast and lung cancer, obesity and high blood pressure (sister’s, brother and dad) that I believe eating keto is the best way to avoid that.
If you understand the science of what your body needs, you are half way there.
Ask yourself what is important to YOU? Write it down and look at it. You are worth that effort…

(Michelle Britt) #8

I completely understand the science behind it, and can completely understand the slave to sugar comment. I have accomplished what was important to me already, actually exceeded my goals in some ways. I reversed the diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and have been medication free for years, and found single digit size clothes for the first time since I was a child. In ten pounds, I meet my goal weight, and my goal of losing a total of 113 lbs, so I literally have 13 pounds to go. I just feel 'blah" about it when I should be in joyous overdrive mode to meet that final goal that I am so close to. And then I feel guilty about feeling “blah” about something I worked so hard to achieve, almost like I am taking it for granted. Mentally it just isn’t making sense to me.

(Michelle Britt) #9

I cycle 100 miles or more a week. That is my healthy hobby. I have managed to get my health numbers down and be medication free for almost two years. I just added in the cycling a few months ago, and it has helped a lot in terms of how my body feels and looks tone wise and overall. But I am finding it hard to keep that motivation up as well.

(Allie) #10

I’m just incredibly stubborn and my own biggest critic.

(Michelle Britt) #11

You actually have given me an idea!! As nice a cruise would be, I really laser skin tightening for areas of loose skin that I have from the weight loss. I think that is going to be my goal. When I reach and maintain my goal weight for a couple of months, I will schedule a consultation for that service.

(Michelle Britt) #12

Same! Actually think that is playing into my lack of motivation in a weird way. I feel kind of like I am mind screwing myself somehow. Like I know better. I have been doing this years, and have results and improved health to show for it, and every reason to continue being motivated.

(Michelle Britt) #13

That is a good idea too. It is hard to stay on task when you run out of snacks on the run. With me, sugar is all or nothing, and I mean that literally. If I eat a small amount I am going to eat it all. I can’t even indulge in keto friendly treats without binging. I mean have you ever tasted the keto pumpkin pie cheesecake mousse. I literally ate it all. Not just a little bit, or a serving, I ATE IT ALL. Maybe I should try some different savory snacks.

I love your idea of praising my body. I have noticed that even though I see slim when I look in the mirror, my mind still thinks I am obese, so there is a love/hate relationship there that is not entirely healthy, in my own opinion. I know I made the changes and I improved everything about myself physically and healthwise, but the mental side is much harder to convince. So that is a wonderful idea and I appreciate your input.

(Dee) #14

Self affirmations! Writing them down, posting them in areas I will see daily and saying them out loud to myself. Also, when I feel like I haven’t made progress I put side by side photos together. I never shied away from the camera and that worked in my favor. There is no denying the changes that I worked hard to make happen. I look at these photos whenever I am feeling down. Maybe something like this will help you…

(Edith) #15

There are several things that keep me motivated:

  1. I’m 52 years old, I’ve given birth to four children, and I look pretty darn good in a bikini (if I do say so myself, actually my hubby thinks so, too. :smiling_imp:)

  2. Even after nights of little sleep (Thank you, perimenopause!) I am able to function with lots of energy all day long.

  3. I ran my first 1/2 marathon in May. I’ve never been able to make that distance before keto.

  4. Joints are feeling way better.

  5. Finding delicious keto recipes.

These are all the motivation I need to keep from going back to SAD.

(Diane) #16

Lots of great ideas here. I’ll just add a couple more that have really helped me.

Listening to podcasts. I love the 2 Keto Dudes, Keto Woman, The Obesity Code and any podcasts with interesting, low carb friendly guests like Nina Teicholz, Dom D’Agostino, Gary Fettke, Ivor Cummins, etc, etc.

Visiting these ketogenic forums.

Trying new ketogenic recipes, I try to make something new about once a week.

(Michelle Britt) #17

Might need to buy a pair in the size I want to be, but fortunately, I have zero pants that are too tight anymore. I do however have a dress that has been in my closet for a year that I always told myself I would find a reason to wear if I was ever able to look good in it. It is a very form fitting dress, and it might be time to pull that baby out and see how it looks. It allows for no mercy, lol. That might help the motivation a little bit.

(Michelle Britt) #18

I think one of my favorite pass times is looking at these keto forums, and looking at all the awesome before and after stories. That does do a lot for the spirit to see so much success and healthiness abound.

(KetoQ) #19

Michelle –

First of all, congrats on your progress. It says a lot about you that even with a 100lb loss, that you have the humility to ask this community how to live better. It’s truly a winning attitude.

What has been working for me is getting into a routine. It helps me to be consistent with my fitness program and diet. Establishing good habits are powerful things.

On the flip side, changing things up a bit every now and then so you don’t get bored and keep it challenging. Plus, it helps break body adaptations to get you losing more fat.

Those are things you may already be doing and are rather straightforward approaches. What might be more of a “game changer” for someone like you who has experienced success, is to get to the bottom of why you are on this journey and what it really means on an emotional level, and what you need to keep you on this path. Its really more than losing weight.

I’d suggest you research/Google the “core transformations technique.” You essentially ask yourself why you wanted to lose the weight – feel xyz – and if you feel xyz, what is that going to do for you or how will that make you feel – and you keep drilling down until you get to the real reason why you’re doing what you’re doing. Hopefully, you’ll gain some insights about yourself that will give you that spark and personal awareness.

Good luck!

(karen) #20

If the dress doesn’t do it, maybe those “aspirational pants” will help. I still have a just-in-case mentality about buying clothes in my goal-weight size, as I’m not 100% sure what shape I’ll end up … the thrift store is my friend right now. :grin:

(But really, all I need for motivation is to try on a sleeveless top. NOT what I want to show the world yet!)