Keeping Your (Motivational) Head Above Water
Whether it's the post-summer blues or the shorter days, many people have been complaining about lack of motivation this time of year. Many of us say we've "lost our motivation,” and in fact we just don't really feel like paying attention to food or exercise – it becomes too overwhelming. The trouble with this is that if we want to achieve any sense of balance, energy and enjoyment in our lives, we must pay attention to our quantities of food, getting regular exercise, trying to get adequate sleep, and learning to cope with the various stresses in our lives.
Thus, we must change our behaviours. I know we ask that everyone do a lot of thinking about why they choose to eat a certain way, or why it is that they choose not to exercise...but if you really want to regain ‘motivation,' you must ACT; then you will FEEL, and then you will BELIEVE. I really enjoyed the following sentence I read in the book "It's not what you're eating; it's what's eating you:” the author stated, "You can think until you disappear into your navel, but you've got to act.” The bottom line is, you can't think your way into good action, but you can act your way into good thinking.
Each Monday, Wednesday, Friday my alarm goes off at 4:50 am in order for me to get to swim practice. I do not wake up happy, motivated, and excited to go – I wake up miserable and tired! However, as my coach has told me, just ACT: "Put your feet on the floor, get dressed, and get to practice.” Once I have finished the workout at 6:30, I feel good. I feel like I accomplished something, and I feel like I'm determining my health. The reason I bring this up is because ‘motivation' did not get me to the pool - it was the simple ACT of getting out of bed.
If you are off track with eating, don't spend a lot of time asking "why.” Just make a menu and stick to it. Once you have done this for 3 or 4 days you will feel empowered, you will feel in control, and you will once again feel ‘motivated.' ACT first, then FEEL.
Deep down, what holds all of us back in life is a feeling of inability to succeed, especially when it comes to weight loss. Does the fact that you've tried 6 or 7 plans throughout your life "prove” that you are incapable? NO! What happened with all of those is that you focused simply on the food, not on yourself and the abilities you have. You ARE capable of being anything. Return to the goal you want to achieve (lose 2 or 3 sizes? Walk a 5 km road race?) and start to act on it. Affirm that you will stick to your menu tomorrow, and go for a walk and get to bed earlier and don't worry about the long term. Most of us simply want to feel in control of food, and want to improve our physical health. It begins today. It begins with an ACT. Don't wait for a magical feeling...that will come when you have done the action.
Make a menu plan and write down everything you eat. Make an exercise plan (10 minutes a day is a start), but stick to it. Make sure you are doing everything you can to get a good sleep. Work on today, and don't worry about the next day until it has started.
You can do it. Just keep on trying. Don't ever give up!
Dr. Doug