What gives you the desire?

[blueyedkowgrl]

taking it one day at a time or one hour at a time, you can do it. Sometimes you just need to be reminded of it. You are strong in mind, body and soul. draw from your inner reserve that we all have tucked away inside. keep small goals so when you reach them you feel that you have come one step closer to what you want. let others help and draw from their strength and their belief in you. We are always our worst critics so sometimes we have to trust the people who love us. take what works for you in the other aspects of your life and apply them to your diet and exercise regime. schedule it in(food exwercise whatever) just like you would schedule a big meeting for work or a dr's appt. just keep plugging along honey,sometimes the big burning desire comes after a few small goals have been accomplished and you see that you can do it.

 

[Sassy69]

We constantly say that fitness is a "lifestyle" -- this is where that lifestyle stuff comes in --- just like you get up to go to work or school in the morning - the gym & the diet become part of your day - regardless of how you feel about it-- you just do it. When it becomes a habit (e.g the 21 days...) then you don't worry about it so much -- those 3 weeks totally suck, but if you focus on the possibilities & keep challenging yourself to see the results, you will see them. And if you do "fall off the wagon", hey, dust yourself off & climb back on, The only day I really worry about is the day I can no longer climb back on - i.e. the day I'm 6 feet under is the day that I can no longer do something about how I feel or how I look.

If you really want some motivation, go check out a local bodybuilding show -- there is always so some sort of personal success story there -- ok, granted this is the part that gets a little silly when you are sitting all day waiting for the "real" competitors to get on, but in the last several local shows I've been to, there are a handful of over 70 & over 80 competitors -- e.g. a 72 year old lady who started curling soup cans to deal w/ her osteoporosis. Then there was the lady in the over 45 category who was about 4 months post chemo for breast cancer,. Holy crap -- and I bitch about my diet & training.

And something I'm personally looking forward to to help me re-establish my motivation - the NPC Wheelchair Nationals next weekend. Sometimes you just need to get things back into perspective. The desire is there -- you just need to implement it!

 

[polarpixie]

Hey NightFLy!

To answer your first question, I can really relate to your question because I've had many false alarms when it comes to feeling that burning desire. I'll feel it really strong, and then I lag off somewhere along the line, the same way that those New year's resolution gym rats do. I've been working out since i was about 17. But never hard enough, and only half-assed. But I think this time it's for real and I'm gonna stick to it until I change my body for good. For me, it is about winning. I just want to win the battle in changing my body and looking the best that I can be. I need to know that I'm capable of achieving my goal if I work hard and I stick to it. That's what is driving me right now. We'll see what happens in a few months.

I've started planning my workouts and my diet, and keeping track of it all with an Excel spreadsheet. I've never done that before. It helps alot to have a plan. I already feel 90% better about myself knowing that I possess the will power to stick with my plan so far.

Best of luck to you. Being on this board and knowing that there are so many other people who are committed to their goals helps a tremondous amount too.

 

[Ceebs]

My resolve has been vacillating lately, and searching old posts this morning, I came upon this thread by chance. Hopefully some of the newer faces around here will find it as inspiring as I did.

 

[takniteasy]

Be dammed if I didn't run across this when I needed it the most. These days my "fire" is only smoldering and after reading this thread I have new resolve to get that fire scorching again!

Congrats to you Nightfly on your recent comp and thank you for showing me and countless other women that we all feel the same at one time or another.

 

[b fold the truth]

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=174678

For motivational purposes...

B True

 

[nikkita]

Night,

I think you got the desire. What may help you is to plan your goals, because many times we want that "certain something" together with "that other thing" and we want just to achieve everything at once. Not that it is impossible to get all that we want all at once, but for many people it is better to take steps to achieve goals.
For instance, you mention that you have trouble keeping up with the diet... then your ultimate goal is to reduce weight... be specific and realistic. Make a list of the reasons that prevent you from keeping on track with the diet. Then make one of those reasons your priority for a week or so, trying to reduce that gradually. For example, my brother wants to make this diet but he loves yellow cheese (the type on top of a pizza), pop-corn and coke. Then his priority for the first week would be reduce the amount of cheese he eats. In the mean time note down response and reaction.
I'm positive about you achieving all your goals, it is just matter on how you plan to attain them.

 

[Intenceman]

I'm not feeling that great, so I will keep it short.
Desire is associated with motivation. Motivation is what happens when you have a goal that you want to achieve. It has two components- an emotional one and a physical one. (All strong emotions have a physical component as part of their response).
Your motivation comes from the premises you hold- both conscious and unconscious. If your desire is'nt strong then check your premises- what goal are you trying to achieve? Is this goal as important to you as you think?- REALLY check this one out through self reflection. Is this goal in conflict wth other goals, beliefs or feelings?