Do you ever really feel such as you’re simply spinning your wheels relating to reaching your weight reduction targets?
I do know for SO many ladies, this can be a enormous battle, and truthfully, it’s one thing I generally battle with too.
As a result of let’s be actual—it’s laborious to remain motivated when it doesn’t really feel such as you’re getting anyplace. It’s laborious to remain motivated whenever you’re consistently surrounded by people who find themselves NOT working in direction of the identical targets and perhaps not that supportive of yours. It’s laborious to remain motivated when issues don’t instantly go the way in which you want they might.
The reality is that the street to losing a few pounds and getting wholesome can really feel very lengthy. It might really feel overwhelming. It might appear inconceivable. It might even really feel hopeless or prefer it’s not value it.
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However what if I advised you that the rationale it feels so laborious to remain motivated really has NOTHING to do with motivation in any respect? What if I advised you that deep down, there’s one thing else getting in your means?
I can’t let you know what number of girls I’ve labored with through the years who’ve advised 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 stick to 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out actually gung-ho after which after a number of weeks, they’ll completely fall off the wagon and return to their outdated habits. Or they’ll get discouraged after they don’t see the outcomes they need instantly, after which they’ll simply surrender. Or they’ll have one unhealthy day after which use that as an excuse to give up.
And truthfully, I feel 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 once I’ve tried to drop some pounds and get wholesome and simply failed. So many alternative instances once I’ve needed to wrestle with emotions of frustration and hopelessness and even anger at myself for not having the ability to keep it up.
However I actually do imagine that if you happen to’re feeling this fashion, and also you’ve struggled with staying motivated or sticking along with your weight reduction targets, or actually ANY huge objective in life, that the issue really ISN’T your motivation.
You’re Extra Motivated Than You Assume You Are
As a result of the fact is, if you happen to’re right here, studying this weblog publish proper now, then you definately ARE motivated. You need to be. You wouldn’t be taking the time to coach your self. You wouldn’t be placing your self on the market and attempting new issues. You wouldn’t be searching for a greater means.
And truthfully, I feel that’s the very first thing that’s actually necessary to acknowledge, as a result of so typically 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 drop some pounds and get wholesome. We begin to imagine all of the unfavorable issues we are saying to ourselves after we look within the mirror, and we begin to imagine that it’s our fault that we received to this place and that it’s our fault we are able to’t appear to alter.
However that’s not true. That’s a lie. Since you ARE motivated. You wouldn’t be right here if you happen to weren’t. And the truth that you’re studying and studying about a greater means, and that you simply’re excited by private development and bettering your self, and that searching for a option 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 really 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 may well nonetheless be actually laborious—that even whenever you ARE motivated and even when you recognize that one thing wants to alter, and even whenever you’re able to take motion, that it’s nonetheless actually robust to remain motivated and to maintain going whenever you don’t really feel such as you’re making progress otherwise you’re not seeing the outcomes you wish to see or whenever you’re not seeing the numbers on the dimensions transfer within the course you need them to go. It’s laborious to remain motivated whenever you’re consistently surrounded by people who find themselves NOT attempting to get wholesome and who consistently tempt you with meals and drinks that you recognize aren’t good for you.
Why it’s So Laborious to Keep Motivated
And truthfully, that’s the second huge factor I wish to handle, as a result of I feel that understanding WHY it may be so laborious to remain motivated, particularly whenever you’re simply beginning out in your weight reduction journey and also you’ve received an extended option to go, is de facto necessary, as a result of it may well assist you to to beat a few of these obstacles and keep the course, even when it feels actually robust.
So let’s discuss that. Let’s discuss a few of the explanation why you may be fighting motivation, and what you are able to do to remain motivated, even whenever 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 feel 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 really means to be motivated, and what motivation really is.
As a result of relating to weight reduction and getting wholesome, I feel that motivation is a phrase that all of us use loads, however that we don’t at all times absolutely perceive. It’s a phrase that we throw round slightly casually, and that we frequently use as a catch-all for every time we’re feeling impressed or hopeful or after we’re merely excited by doing one thing.
And but, I don’t assume that’s really 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 selected final result. It’s an understanding of what’s at stake if you happen to DON’T observe by. It’s a recognition of the advantages and the rewards that can come whenever you DO take motion. It’s a way of non-public duty. It’s a willingness to do the laborious work and sacrifice with a purpose to get what you need.
And whenever you consider motivation in that means, it truly is a reasonably highly effective drive. In truth, it’s probably the most highly effective drive on this planet. As a result of when you’ve got a powerful sufficient purpose for doing one thing—when the advantages of taking motion and reaching a selected final result outweigh the prices of NOT taking motion or the prices of staying in the identical place—then you can find a option 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 a whole lot of weight to lose and also you’re fighting staying motivated, the issue in all probability isn’t your motivation. As a result of in all probability, you really DO have a very sturdy purpose for eager to drop some pounds and get wholesome, or else you wouldn’t be right here. You have got a function. You have got a want. You have got a perception within the worth and significance of this final result.
And but, for therefore many people, that’s not sufficient, is it? As a result of even with what ought to be a reasonably sturdy purpose for eager to make adjustments in our life, and even with that deep-rooted want and perception within the worth and significance of our objective, we nonetheless permit ourselves to get derailed. We nonetheless battle with staying motivated. We nonetheless discover it so laborious to maintain going when it will get robust.
Why It’s So Laborious to Keep Motivated
So why is that? What’s actually taking place after we say we’re fighting motivation, even after we know we’ve got a powerful sufficient purpose?
Nicely, I feel a whole lot of it comes all the way down to what I wish 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 necessary and most motivating in our lives, even after they’re not really consistent with our true values and our true targets. 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 films and in magazines and on social media. All of the issues that our family and friends say are necessary. All of the issues that we’ve been taught to imagine are a very powerful 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 necessary, they usually’re the issues that we’ve been conditioned to imagine will deliver us probably the most happiness and success. And that makes them fairly laborious 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 losing a few pounds and getting wholesome, MORE than constructing our enterprise, MORE than going after these huge issues that we actually wish to do, even when that’s not really true. They’re the issues that we THINK are extra necessary, even after they’re not really consistent with our true values and our true targets.
And truthfully, it’s completely different for everybody. As a result of we’ve all been conditioned in numerous methods, and all of us have various things that we’ve been taught to imagine are a very powerful. However for many of us, these societal motivators can embrace issues like:
– The need for consolation and comfort
– The need for fast gratification
– The need for acceptance and belonging
– The need for pleasure and delight
– 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 may go on and on, as a result of we’re all motivated by barely various things. However the necessary factor to grasp is that for many of us, these societal motivators are literally extra highly effective than our TRUE, deep-rooted motivation to drop some pounds and get wholesome, as a result of they’re the issues we’ve been conditioned to imagine are most necessary, they usually’re the issues that we predict will deliver us probably the most happiness and success.
And that implies that when these societal motivators come into battle with our true motivation, they are going to virtually 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 provide you with a number of examples:
Instance #1: Consolation and Comfort vs. True Well being
Let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for losing a few pounds and getting wholesome is that you simply 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 this can permit you to be a greater mother.
And truthfully, that’s a reasonably sturdy motivation, isn’t it? I imply, what might be extra necessary than your well being and your loved ones?
And but, for lots of us, this true motivation typically comes into battle with our societal motivators for consolation and comfort. As a result of let’s face it, it’s a complete lot extra snug and handy to only preserve doing what you’re doing, and to maintain consuming all of the meals and ingesting all of the drinks which are making you unhealthy and inflicting you to realize weight. It’s much more snug to only sit on the sofa and watch TV as a substitute of going for a stroll or taking part in along with your youngsters. It’s much more handy to only preserve ordering takeout and consuming processed meals, as a result of truthfully, it takes a whole lot of effort and time to prepare dinner wholesome meals and lower out all of the processed junk.
So on this case, your true motivation for well being and household is coming into battle along with your societal motivators for consolation and comfort. And when that occurs, we virtually at all times have a tendency to decide on the extra snug and handy choice, even when it’s not really consistent with our true values and targets.
Instance #2: Instantaneous Gratification vs. Lengthy Time period Outcomes
Or let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for losing a few 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 this can deliver you probably 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 blissful and profitable, and all of us need to be ok with ourselves.
And but, for lots of us, this true motivation typically 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 wish what we wish, and we wish it NOW. We’ve been conditioned to imagine that we are able to have no matter we wish, every time we wish it. And that’s why we’ve grow to be so hooked on all of our immediate gratifications—whether or not that’s within the type of meals or purchasing or social media.
So on this case, your true motivation for self-acceptance and happiness is coming into battle along with your societal motivators for fast gratification. And when that occurs, we virtually at all times have a tendency to decide on the moment gratification choice, even when it’s not really consistent with our true values and targets.
Instance #3: Acceptance and Belonging vs. Sticking to Your Plan
Or, let’s say that your true, deep-rooted motivation for losing a few pounds and getting wholesome is that you really want to have the ability to really feel extra assured and comfy in social conditions, and to have the ability to take part in actions and occasions along with your family and friends with out feeling embarrassed or not noted. 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 typically comes into battle with our societal motivators for pleasure and delight. As a result of let’s face it, whenever you’re attempting to drop some pounds and get wholesome, there’s a whole lot of issues that aren’t at all times very pleasing—from having to say no to sure meals and drinks, to feeling like it’s important to skip out on dessert, to having to take the time to train or be extra energetic. And when that occurs, we virtually at all times have a tendency to decide on the extra pleasurable choice, even when it’s not really consistent with our true values and targets.
Find out how to Faucet Into Your Inside Motivation
So I assume the actual query turns into, then, what do you do when your true motivation comes into battle along with your societal motivators?
Nicely, step one is to easily pay attention to 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 recognize you’ve got a powerful sufficient purpose for eager to drop some pounds and get wholesome. As a result of the fact is that for many of us, it’s not our TRUE motivation that’s missing, it’s our potential to remain true to it within the face of societal pressures.
The second step is to reframe your considering. As an alternative of viewing these conflicts as failures or weaknesses, see them as alternatives for development and studying. If you select comfort over well being or immediate gratification over long run outcomes, use that second as an opportunity to mirror on why you made that alternative, and how one can make a distinct alternative subsequent time.
Lastly, keep in mind to at all times keep true to your internal motivation. You need to persistently 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 high of thoughts? Possibly it’s posting it in your wall, or making it the display shot in your telephone. Possibly it’s listening to this podcast and different motivating audiobooks and podcasts so that you’ve got a continuing 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 targets so that you’re not solely getting the assist you want, however you’re actually INVESTED in your objective. Our Skinny Tailored System is a good place to start out.
However most significantly, be sort and affected person with your self as you navigate by these conflicts. You’re not alone on this battle, and with willpower and self-awareness, you possibly can overcome it.
So preserve pushing ahead, and do not forget that your true motivation is at all times value preventing for. In the long run, it’s about discovering a stability and staying true to your self. It might not at all times be simple, however with a transparent understanding of our true motivations and a powerful mindset, I do imagine any of us can overcome any obstacles that come our means.
