Re-motivation
SO unfortunately I have lost about 2 weeks of steam! I haven't even updated the blog since the 18th of last month and I have absolutely no excuse!
| Here is some visual motivation! Something to strive for and some nice eye candy on the bottom right ;)  | I only have 2 posts so I am pretty sure I have no followers, but I still feel the need to apologize, mostly to the universe, for giving up on myself and on everyone out there. I started this blog with hopes of firstly keeping myself motivated and informed about nutritional and health topics. My dreams were that somewhere along the way, I would touch a few other people’s lives. I am NOT perfect so just like my health, I believe that this will be a long journey! However, I am committed to trying and I hope that as I move forward I will get better and better at writing and updating! For anyone who is out there – please bear with me as I struggle to keep moving. Lets keep each other motivated and focused =)  |
As I try to continue to stay focused on my blog and my health, I am also trying to find a good way to format my posts. Something I want to provide for any readers, followers, and those who only stop by once, is real facts to back up any tips, tricks, and thoughts. Please be patient with me as I try to find a way to effectively relay information!
What Motivates You To Be Healthy?
Today I would like to talk about MOTIVATION since I have so obviously lacked it for these past two weeks!
This post is focuses on getting you thinking about change and motivation for yourself.
This post is focuses on getting you thinking about change and motivation for yourself.
A huge hurtle in almost everyone’s journey is to find the power to get going and keep going. Motivation is part of changing behavior. Motivation is both conscious and subconscious thoughts that leads to a decision to change. The key is to find something that drives you forward and gives you something to work towards. You may feel like you bounce back and forth between knowing that you WANT to change but not believing that you CAN change (just FYI you CAN do it!!!!!), and knowing that you CAN change but not being sure if you really WANT to due to time, energy, effort, and a million other reasons. These tips should help you out.
| Everyone needs to find his or her own motivation and drive. My motivation has developed into many elements, all working towards the same goal. Having lost weight in the recent past, I often focus on how I do NOT want to end up at that weight/state of health again. I use what I felt in the past and what I feel on my bad days, whatever it may be (guilt, queasiness, sluggishness, laziness, disappointment, embarrassment, etc.…), to refocus and move forward. I use motivational pictures, websites, and blogs to keep in mind what I want (healthier body weight, less body fat, more muscle/strength). I also strive to have better nutritional health. Small daily and weekly goals keep me focused on what is actually going into my body. What I suggest is to sit down and brainstorm! Write down everything you want, everything you don’t want, everything you think, everything you feel, and really just everything related to your health journey! Sometimes I will create motivational boards to keep me going. This includes everything I listed above plus pictures, exercises, quotes, and tips that I can look at every day and draw strength from. The more you think, the more defined your motivation will become =) |  |
Now A Little Bit About Behavior Change!
There are several theories of behavior change. I won’t get into them but you can feel free to read about a short summary here http://www.csupomona.edu/~jvgrizzell/best_practices/bctheory.html or a more in depth description here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioural_change_theories (ok so I know Wikipedia is not exactly a credible source, but I looked it over and the information is correct (for the most part) and has some great links. Anyways you get the point!)
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggest setting goals to help achieve and maintain motivation. Setting specific, attainable, and time specific goals will help lead to many small successes on your journey which (surprise, surprise) will keep you MOTIVATED! It is important to reward your many successes with things that will NOT compromise your growing health. That means no food rewards! I would caution against healthy food rewards also because it is easy to slip back into (or create a new) bad behaviors associated with unhealthy food rewards. Try a new book, movie, pair of shoes, sports bra, massage, at home spa day, relaxation day or anything else that will make you happy.
Stanford University also examines positive behavior change. Our surrounding environment shapes, creates, and encourages our behaviors. Recognizing and outlining triggers in everyday life that lead to unhealthy habits will help you set small goals to overcome them and learn new ways to cope. This website by BJ Fogg has a TON of great resources and really great information http://bjfogg.com
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggest setting goals to help achieve and maintain motivation. Setting specific, attainable, and time specific goals will help lead to many small successes on your journey which (surprise, surprise) will keep you MOTIVATED! It is important to reward your many successes with things that will NOT compromise your growing health. That means no food rewards! I would caution against healthy food rewards also because it is easy to slip back into (or create a new) bad behaviors associated with unhealthy food rewards. Try a new book, movie, pair of shoes, sports bra, massage, at home spa day, relaxation day or anything else that will make you happy.
Stanford University also examines positive behavior change. Our surrounding environment shapes, creates, and encourages our behaviors. Recognizing and outlining triggers in everyday life that lead to unhealthy habits will help you set small goals to overcome them and learn new ways to cope. This website by BJ Fogg has a TON of great resources and really great information http://bjfogg.com
 | In my opinion, the most important part is to constantly refocus and reevaluate. Your goals should always be changing, morphing, and expanding to accommodate your ever-evolving behaviors and goals. Don’t give up on your goals but DO continue to push yourself! If your goal for the past 2 weeks was to eat 2 servings of veggies every day, maybe your goal for week 3 is to make sure that on at least one day you eat 3 servings of veggies! It may seem tiny, even insignificant, but these small changes will add up to huge amazing things in your future!! As always I hope that this has helped! Please share with me any thoughts, feelings, frustrations, and emotions you are having. Stay MOTIVATED this week!!! |
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