What keeps you ladies motivated?

[EVE]

What keeps you motivated to look the best & feel the best & live the most harmonious you can live? What keeps you from cheating on your diets? What keeps you going to the gym consistently? How do you stay organized with every aspect of your life? I guess I'm asking this question because I fall off track so much with my diet and my workout routine to just about EVERYTHING else in my life. I could really use some examples of what keeps people motivated and organized. Does everyone have a daily routine (for when and what you eat? When and where you workout? When and what supplements you take? Manicures? Pedicures? Facials? Washing Clothes? taking the trash out....filing papers.... etc.) Does anyone write everyday out on paper?

I grew up with no disipline and it has now become a perpetual problem in my adult life.

Thanks.

 

[Sassy69]

Each time you get tempted to <fill in whatever is bad>, consider how much better it feels to <fill in the good thing>

ex. Coming home from long day at work, get urge to sit in front of the TV and eat ice cream.

Before stopping at the grocery store, consider -- if I get my fav ice cream and stare at the TV for 2 hours I will:

Pros:
Get immediate satisfaction of my fav ice cream
Get to relax and do nothing

Cons:
Will have major bloat & gas (sorry, that's the cost to MY stomach for carb loading at night) the next day
Will have accomplished nothing except put off what needs to be done until tomorrow -- then go thru the same exercise to put it off again another day
Will probably be up all night w/ a stomach ache and staring at the ceiling
Wake up with the samestack of shit left undone, except now I have a stomach ache & gas.

If you do this for a few weeks, all of a sudden there's no question what you'd rather do -- it feels so good to not be bloated that you would rather save your calories for a good steak!

BTW-- same thing w/drinking Diet Coke --- I feel SOO much better when I just stick w/ water. Eventually I crave water instead of diet COKE!!!!

I will be honest -- the above works *most* of the time -- sometimes I just saw screw it and get the ice cream...


Bottom line tho -- are you controlling your life or is it controlling you?? Its your choice.

 

[flex4life]

Like Spat said, when I cheat (not a planned cheat) on my diet, I'm really cheating ME. Going to the gym for regular workouts, eating clean...these are things that make me 'who I am'... I MUST go, I WANT to go to be the person I am inside. So much disappointment from letting myself down... the bloat thing Sassy mentioned really sux too- never is worth it afterwards.

Nothing else feels as good, looks as good, or tastes as good as being fit feels.

Scheduling makes it all come together- for myself, I have specific days for wash, boiling chicken, grocery store, home cleaning, etc...I carry one of those electronic organizers & enter everything to get done. Been at it so long now, it's simply routine.

 

[tripleV]

nothing these days, down in the dumps

 

[smallmovesal]

i've realised that sometimes it's good to take a break and then get back at it. seeing the results on myself and esp the others on here helps a lot too.

getting into a routine really helps too.

 

[Sassy69]

tripleV --

Awwww, how come so bummed out?? Thought this might help distract you for a moment.... You know, sometimes its good to stop and appreciate the "little things" in life..

 

[smallmovesal]

oh my good lord!

 

[Sassy69]

(I stole that from the Pix of Men board...) Cute little guy isn't he?

 

[tripleV]

sassy, thanks, that was a good laugh and a reminder to not let too much get at me.

 

[new@gettinbig]

I keep a journal and a good calender w/things to do everyday! I write down EVERYTHING!!! I keep a food journal write down everything that goes into my mouth....keeps u aware and helps u not to cheat! If u cheat..all that hard work u put in so far....NOT WORTH IT!! Plus it is ALL MENTAL....MIND OVER MATTER AND YOUR BOD IS THE MATTER!!! Its about control....just because u are stressed or upset, it doesnt mean u need to eat to feel better, what u feel better for about 2 seconds,......then u feel like shit and are dissapointed in yourself and sit and regret it for the rest of the day!! Its a false sense of security...so dont let yourself fall into it. As for training, take breaks every now and then to let your body rest and to keep from burning out! U should always want to look your best, feel your best and be YOUR BEST...all the time..Its a never ending challenge! Look around u at most of the population, people are overweight and eat like shit, isnt it nice to know u are one of the few who takes care of themselves and works hard!!!! Setting new goals, and writing them down also helps, take before and after pics, keep a journal of your training progress, so u can look back and see how far u have come....have a trainer, or a training partner so u have someone u can be accountable to when u start to slack off!!! There are millions of things u can do to keep motivated! Look to the boards, we will give u a kick in the ASS!!!