Need to regain my motivation

[Titan]

I hate to make this a cry for help, but I am realizing I need to find my motivation again and could use any help offered.

I had some back trouble so missed a lot of workouts these past 2 weeks. It's good enough to use again. I've kept my diet 75% of ok, but I need to get back to 95%. I saw my trainer last week and got a good form check. I need to work on keeping the navel tucked in and keep building core strength in the abdominal wall.

I know what I need to do, I have a good plan and need to follow it.

I still think about it constantly, and talk. I was at the bar eating a salad for dinner last night talking all about health, diet and fitness, and people are into it. In the past 2 weeks I've had people tell me I've inspired them to start something. I have been getting compliments from folks saying how I look great.

I have lost 50 pounds since august, and probably put on at least 5 of muscle. But I am still fat, and have a lot more work to do. My plan to reach my main goals won't happen until a year from now. I am on track with my current goal, I am 325 pounds and the goal is 300-320 by the end of the year. I can lose 10 in one month easily if I focus.

I had a 4 day holiday weekend where I skipped most of my workouts and ate some crap -mainly sugar, some caffeine, probably not enough water. So I might be a bit depressed/anxious there. Missing workouts is no good for mood either. I did 40 minutes of elliptical and weighed in yesterday and am glad to say I haven't gained any weight back. I have been going to the gym at least once a week.

I was supposed to workout this morning but felt too groggy, it was rainy and I was dehydrated and muddle-headed. I need to ease back into my workouts so I will go tonight and tomorrow morning, doing 2 a week this week, then 4 the next week.

I know what I need to do, I'm just not in a good mood about it. I've gotten lazy and am fighting with myself over it. Once I get the routine back and stay uninjured, I should be good.

How do I re-discover my motivation?

 

[TallBill]

I just look at myself in the mirror and know that I could be better.

 

[PricklyPete]

How do I re-discover my motivation?

It always helps me to get a couple of good work outs in and I immediately start feeling better...and realize what I've been missing.

 

[NGC_604]

I just look at myself in the mirror and know that I could be better.

This. Just look at yourself in the mirror before you take a shower and that is usually enough motivation for most of us.

 

[brikis98]

There are many different things you can try for motivation:

1. Work out with a friend. Don't let each other skip work outs.

2. Alternatively, make a bet/challenge with a friend, such as seeing who can lose the most weight or lift the most weight in some exercise by some fixed date. Competition is a great motivator.

3. Develop concrete, measurable goals (looks like you've already done this), write them on a huge piece of paper/poster, and put them somewhere visible (ie, on the fridge, middle of the living room, etc). Force yourself to record your progress towards them every single day. Seeing these goals each day may be a great reminder to get your butt in gear, especially if you see that you are failing to achieve them.

4. Start doing exercise that you genuinely enjoy and don't have to force yourself to do. Sports are often a great option for this and there are tons of options: team sports (hockey, soccer, football), singles (tennis, squash, ping pong, martial arts) or even solo events (running, gymnastics, biking, swimming, rowing, climbing).

5. Variety. Don't do the same workout every single day. Mix it up as much as possible and it'll be far less boring.

6. Set up your schedule so you can't skip workouts because you "don't feel like it." For example, I go immediately after work, rain or shine, good mood or bad. If I head home, to a bar, restaurant or anywhere else, I'm very likely to lose motivation and not work out that day. If I just have the gym as built into my routine as going to work is, there is not much chance I'll skip.

 

[surfsatwerk]

When I'm injecting steroids into my ass I just think, "Man these cost a lot of money, better work my ass off today and make the most of my pharmacological investment."

 

[zebano]

You're going to have to suck it up a couple times to get back in the groove, but I get a post-exercise high and thinking about that pre-workout can help.

 

[gophins72]

runners world website has a whole section on motivation:
http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/0,7119,s6-243-0-0-0,00.html

lots of good stories there.

 

[KoolDrew]

Waiting for something to motivate you isn't going to get you anywhere in life. Forget about trying to find motivation to do something and just do it. Do it without motivation and that's where the motivation comes and makes it easy to keep on doing it.

This doesn't really deal with just this topic either. Whenever I don't feel like doing something and I find myself making excuses for not doing it, but at the same time I know I should do it I just tell myself "just do it."

 

[Koing]

Set a target and go for.

Or compete at something with your mates or enter sprint triathlon or a local 5k etc.

For me I'm goal orientated so I have my goals and I need to train to work towards them. It also helps that I train at a weightlifting club so I have people that train 3x a week with me.

Koing