Do you ever really feel such as you’re simply spinning your wheels in relation to reaching your weight reduction objectives?
I do know for SO many ladies, this can be a big battle, and truthfully, it’s one thing I generally battle with too.
As a result of let’s be actual—it’s arduous to remain motivated when it doesn’t really feel such as you’re getting wherever. It’s arduous to remain motivated once you’re continually surrounded by people who find themselves NOT working in the direction of the identical objectives and perhaps not that supportive of yours. It’s arduous to remain motivated when issues don’t instantly go the best way you want they’d.
The reality is that the street to dropping pounds and getting wholesome can really feel very lengthy. It may well really feel overwhelming. It may well appear unattainable. It may well even really feel hopeless or prefer it’s not price it.
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However what if I informed you that the rationale it feels so arduous to remain motivated truly has NOTHING to do with motivation in any respect? What if I informed you that deep down, there’s one thing else getting in your method?
I can’t inform you what number of girls I’ve labored with through the years who’ve informed me that they’ve been on one million completely different diets and tried one million various things, and but they by no means appear to have the ability to follow something for very lengthy as a result of they simply can’t keep motivated. Or they’ll begin out actually gung-ho after which after a couple of weeks, they’ll completely fall off the wagon and return to their previous habits. Or they’ll get discouraged after they don’t see the outcomes they need instantly, after which they’ll simply hand over. Or they’ll have one unhealthy day after which use that as an excuse to give up.
And truthfully, I believe we’ve all been there at one time or one other. I do know I’ve. There have been so many instances in my life after I’ve tried to reduce weight and get wholesome and simply failed. So many various instances after I’ve needed to wrestle with emotions of frustration and hopelessness and even anger at myself for not with the ability to keep it up.
However I actually do imagine that in the event you’re feeling this fashion, and also you’ve struggled with staying motivated or sticking together with your weight reduction objectives, or actually ANY large purpose in life, that the issue truly ISN’T your motivation.
You’re Extra Motivated Than You Assume You Are
As a result of the truth is, in the event you’re right here, studying this weblog publish proper now, you then ARE motivated. You need to be. You wouldn’t be taking the time to teach your self. You wouldn’t be placing your self on the market and attempting new issues. You wouldn’t be searching for a greater method.
And truthfully, I believe that’s the very first thing that’s actually vital to acknowledge, as a result of so usually we begin to beat ourselves up and inform ourselves that we simply don’t have what it takes, or that we’re lazy, or that we simply don’t have sufficient willpower to reduce weight and get wholesome. We begin to imagine all of the adverse issues we are saying to ourselves once we look within the mirror, and we begin to imagine that it’s our fault that we obtained to this place and that it’s our fault we are able to’t appear to vary.
However that’s not true. That’s a lie. Since you ARE motivated. You wouldn’t be right here in the event you weren’t. And the truth that you’re studying and studying about a greater method, and that you just’re fascinated with private development and bettering your self, and that searching for a method to take motion—that’s all of the proof you want.
And truthfully, that’s the very first thing I need you to be inspired by—to acknowledge and acknowledge that deep down, you truly ARE motivated, and it actually is feasible so that you can make the adjustments you wish to make.
However on the similar time, I additionally wish to acknowledge that it could nonetheless be actually arduous—that even once you ARE motivated and even when you understand that one thing wants to vary, and even once you’re able to take motion, that it’s nonetheless actually powerful to remain motivated and to maintain going once you don’t really feel such as you’re making progress otherwise you’re not seeing the outcomes you wish to see or once you’re not seeing the numbers on the dimensions transfer within the route you need them to go. It’s arduous to remain motivated once you’re continually surrounded by people who find themselves NOT attempting to get wholesome and who continually tempt you with meals and drinks that you understand aren’t good for you.
Why it’s So Arduous to Keep Motivated
And truthfully, that’s the second large factor I wish to handle, as a result of I believe that understanding WHY it may be so arduous to remain motivated, particularly once you’re simply beginning out in your weight reduction journey and also you’ve obtained a protracted method to go, is absolutely vital, as a result of it could aid you to beat a few of these obstacles and keep the course, even when it feels actually powerful.
So let’s discuss that. Let’s discuss among the the reason why you may be fighting motivation, and what you are able to do to remain motivated, even once you don’t really feel prefer it.
What Motivation Is (And What it Isn’t)
First issues first, what’s motivation, actually?
So the very first thing I believe I’d love to do is simply outline our phrases a bit of bit, and ensure we’re all on the identical web page about what it truly means to be motivated, and what motivation truly is.
As a result of in relation to weight reduction and getting wholesome, I believe that motivation is a phrase that all of us use lots, however that we don’t at all times totally perceive. It’s a phrase that we throw round quite casually, and that we frequently use as a catch-all for each time we’re feeling impressed or hopeful or once we’re merely fascinated with doing one thing.
And but, I don’t assume that’s truly what motivation is. As a result of the reality is, motivation isn’t just a sense. It’s not a fleeting emotion. It’s not simply inspiration or pleasure or curiosity.
Motivation is definitely a REASON or a PURPOSE for doing or reaching one thing. It’s a deep-rooted want. It’s a perception within the worth and significance of a specific consequence. It’s an understanding of what’s at stake in the event you DON’T observe by way of. It’s a recognition of the advantages and the rewards that may come once you DO take motion. It’s a way of private duty. It’s a willingness to do the arduous work and sacrifice in an effort to get what you need.
And once you consider motivation in that method, it truly is a reasonably highly effective pressure. Actually, it’s essentially the most highly effective pressure on the planet. As a result of when you might have a robust sufficient motive for doing one thing—when the advantages of taking motion and reaching a specific consequence outweigh the prices of NOT taking motion or the prices of staying in the identical place—then you can find a method to make it occur.
That’s what motivation actually is. And that’s why I mentioned on the very starting of this episode, that you probably have plenty of weight to lose and also you’re fighting staying motivated, the issue most likely isn’t your motivation. As a result of in all probability, you truly DO have a very sturdy motive for desirous to reduce weight and get wholesome, or else you wouldn’t be right here. You could have a goal. You could have a want. You could have a perception within the worth and significance of this consequence.
And but, for thus many people, that’s not sufficient, is it? As a result of even with what ought to be a reasonably sturdy motive for desirous to make adjustments in our life, and even with that deep-rooted want and perception within the worth and significance of our purpose, we nonetheless permit ourselves to get derailed. We nonetheless battle with staying motivated. We nonetheless discover it so arduous to maintain going when it will get powerful.
Why It’s So Arduous to Keep Motivated
So why is that? What’s actually taking place once we say we’re fighting motivation, even once we know we’ve got a robust sufficient motive?
Nicely, I believe plenty of it comes all the way down to what I prefer to name our SOCIETAL MOTIVATORS, and the truth that for lots of us, our societal motivators are literally MORE POWERFUL than our true, deep-rooted motivation.
Our societal motivators vs. our TRUE motivators
So what do I imply by that? Nicely, in a nutshell, I’m speaking about all of the issues that society has conditioned us to imagine are most vital and most motivating in our lives, even after they’re not truly in keeping with our true values and our true objectives. I’m speaking about all of the issues that different folks inform us we should always care about. All of the issues that we see on TV and in motion pictures and in magazines and on social media. All of the issues that our family and friends say are vital. All of the issues that we’ve been taught to imagine are an important and motivating components in our lives.
And for many of us, these societal motivators are literally MORE POWERFUL than our true, deep-rooted motivation, as a result of they’re the issues that we’ve been conditioned to imagine are most vital, they usually’re the issues that we’ve been conditioned to imagine will deliver us essentially the most happiness and success. And that makes them fairly arduous to disregard.
So what are these societal motivators? Nicely, they’re all of the issues that almost all of us have been conditioned to imagine we should always care about MORE than dropping pounds and getting wholesome, MORE than constructing our enterprise, MORE than going after these large issues that we actually wish to do, even when that’s not truly true. They’re the issues that we THINK are extra vital, even after they’re not truly in keeping with our true values and our true objectives.
And truthfully, it’s completely different for everybody. As a result of we’ve all been conditioned in several methods, and all of us have various things that we’ve been taught to imagine are an important. However for many of us, these societal motivators can embody issues like:
– The need for consolation and comfort
– The need for fast gratification
– The need for acceptance and belonging
– The need for pleasure and pleasure
– The need for standing and recognition
– The need for management and energy
– The need for safety and stability
– The need for love and connection
– The need for pleasure and journey
And truthfully, the checklist might go on and on, as a result of we’re all motivated by barely various things. However the vital factor to grasp is that for many of us, these societal motivators are literally extra highly effective than our TRUE, deep-rooted motivation to reduce weight and get wholesome, as a result of they’re the issues we’ve been conditioned to imagine are most vital, they usually’re the issues that we predict will deliver us essentially the most happiness and success.
And that signifies that when these societal motivators come into battle with our true motivation, they are going to nearly at all times win out. As a result of they’re extra highly effective and extra deeply ingrained.
So how does this play out in actual life? Nicely, let me offer you a couple of examples:
Instance #1: Consolation and Comfort vs. True Well being
Let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for dropping pounds and getting wholesome is that you just wish to have extra power and really feel higher, with the intention to be a extra energetic and current mother in your youngsters. On this case, your TRUE motivation is your want to enhance your well being and have extra power, and your perception that it will help you be a greater mother.
And truthfully, that’s a reasonably sturdy motivation, isn’t it? I imply, what could possibly be extra vital than your well being and your loved ones?
And but, for lots of us, this true motivation usually comes into battle with our societal motivators for consolation and comfort. As a result of let’s face it, it’s an entire lot extra comfy and handy to simply hold doing what you’re doing, and to maintain consuming all of the meals and consuming all of the drinks which are making you unhealthy and inflicting you to achieve weight. It’s much more comfy to simply sit on the sofa and watch TV as an alternative of going for a stroll or taking part in together with your youngsters. It’s much more handy to simply hold ordering takeout and consuming processed meals, as a result of truthfully, it takes plenty of effort and time to prepare dinner wholesome meals and reduce out all of the processed junk.
So on this case, your true motivation for well being and household is coming into battle together with your societal motivators for consolation and comfort. And when that occurs, we nearly at all times have a tendency to decide on the extra comfy and handy choice, even when it’s not truly in keeping with our true values and objectives.
Instance #2: On the spot Gratification vs. Lengthy Time period Outcomes
Or let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for dropping pounds and getting wholesome is that you really want to have the ability to look within the mirror and really feel assured and good about your self. On this case, your TRUE motivation is your want for self-acceptance and your perception that it will deliver you essentially the most happiness and success.
And as soon as once more, that’s a very sturdy motivation, isn’t it? As a result of all of us wish to be comfortable and profitable, and all of us need to be ok with ourselves.
And but, for lots of us, this true motivation usually comes into battle with our societal motivators for fast gratification. As a result of let’s face it, we reside in a world the place we would like what we would like, and we would like it NOW. We’ve been conditioned to imagine that we are able to have no matter we would like, each time we would like it. And that’s why we’ve change into so hooked on all of our on the spot gratifications—whether or not that’s within the type of meals or procuring or social media.
So on this case, your true motivation for self-acceptance and happiness is coming into battle together with your societal motivators for fast gratification. And when that occurs, we nearly at all times have a tendency to decide on the moment gratification choice, even when it’s not truly in keeping with our true values and objectives.
Instance #3: Acceptance and Belonging vs. Sticking to Your Plan
Or, let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for dropping pounds and getting wholesome is that you really want to have the ability to really feel extra assured and cozy in social conditions, and to have the ability to take part in actions and occasions together with your family and friends with out feeling embarrassed or unnoticed. On this case, your TRUE motivation is your want to really feel a way of belonging and acceptance.
And truthfully, that’s a very highly effective motivation, isn’t it? As a result of all of us wish to really feel like we belong, and all of us wish to really feel accepted for who we’re.
And but, for lots of us, this true motivation usually comes into battle with our societal motivators for pleasure and pleasure. As a result of let’s face it, once you’re attempting to reduce weight and get wholesome, there’s plenty of issues that aren’t at all times very satisfying—from having to say no to sure meals and drinks, to feeling like you need to skip out on dessert, to having to take the time to train or be extra energetic. And when that occurs, we nearly at all times have a tendency to decide on the extra pleasurable choice, even when it’s not truly in keeping with our true values and objectives.
The best way to Faucet Into Your Internal Motivation
So I suppose the true query turns into, then, what do you do when your true motivation comes into battle together with your societal motivators?
Nicely, step one is to easily concentrate on it. Acknowledge that that is what’s taking place, and perceive that it’s fully regular to really feel such as you’re fighting motivation, even when you understand you might have a robust sufficient motive for desirous to reduce weight and get wholesome. As a result of the truth is that for many of us, it’s not our TRUE motivation that’s missing, it’s our means to remain true to it within the face of societal pressures.
The second step is to reframe your pondering. As a substitute of viewing these conflicts as failures or weaknesses, see them as alternatives for development and studying. While you select comfort over well being or on the spot gratification over long run outcomes, use that second as an opportunity to mirror on why you made that selection, and how one can make a unique selection subsequent time.
Lastly, keep in mind to at all times keep true to your internal motivation. You need to constantly discover methods to remind your self of why you began this journey within the first place, and to make your true motivations stronger than your societal motivators. What are you able to do to ensure your WHY is at all times prime of thoughts? Possibly it’s posting it in your wall, or making it the display screen shot in your cellphone. Possibly it’s listening to this podcast and different motivating audiobooks and podcasts so that you’ve a relentless stream of inspiration in your ear.
Or it may be hiring a coach or becoming a member of an precise program that’s devoted that can assist you attain your objectives so that you’re not solely getting the help you want, however you’re really INVESTED in your purpose. Our Skinny Tailored System is a superb place to start out.
However most significantly, be variety and affected person with your self as you navigate by way of these conflicts. You’re not alone on this battle, and with willpower and self-awareness, you may overcome it.
So hold pushing ahead, and keep in mind that your true motivation is at all times price preventing for. In the long run, it’s about discovering a steadiness and staying true to your self. It might not at all times be straightforward, however with a transparent understanding of our true motivations and a robust mindset, I do imagine any of us can overcome any obstacles that come our method.
