I would like to know how I can become more motivated. It seems to be hard for me to burn off fat or lose weight in my midsection. —Robert, Wilmington, NC
Robert, you are not alone. Becoming “motivated” is one of the most difficult aspects of making a healthy lifestyle change. Let’s face it, change is hard and making the choice to live a healthy lifestyle each day doesn’t always come easily. However, there are several things you can do to get the motivation jump-start you may need.
Focus on why making a change is important to you then write it down. Perhaps your motivation for beginning an exercise program is with your grandkids, or living longer and better, or maybe just to look and feel better. In as much detail as possible, write down why you are making this lifestyle change. Ask yourself these questions:
- What do I want to do?
- Why do I want to do it?
- What will happen if I’m successful?
- What happens if I’m not successful?
- How do I plan on making this change?
On days when your motivation is low or nonexistent, look at how you answered these questions to remind yourself of why this is important to you.
Set realistic goals. You know yourself, your schedule, and what makes sense for your life. Take all of these things into consideration when setting goals. Set lots of mini, short-term goals as long-term goals can tend to feel too overwhelming. Be flexible with yourself, don’t get down when life gets crazy and you haven’t met your goal. Some weeks are busier than others so set new goals for yourself every week or even every day according to what makes sense for you.
Make a commitment to yourself. You make commitments every day. Take your job for instance. You commit to being at work on time and to performing your duties to the best of your ability. Are there days that your boss annoys you? Sure. Are there days where work is the last place on earth you want to be? Plenty. But it doesn’t matter because you made a commitment. Think of your healthy lifestyle commitments in the same way. There will be days when the last thing you want to do is exercise or the first thing you want to do is smoke a cigarette, but you made a commitment to yourself, and to your health.
Give yourself a break. Like learning to walk or ride a bike, you will likely slip and fall along the way. The key to success and mastering your healthy lifestyle is to continue to pick yourself up and try again. Having a slip does not mean that you don’t have motivation and isn’t a bad thing if you take the time to learn from it and better prepare yourself for the next time you are in a similar situation.
Give yourself a break. Like learning to walk or ride a bike, you will likely slip and fall along the way. The key to success and mastering your healthy lifestyle is to continue to pick yourself up and try again. Having a slip does not mean that you don’t have motivation and isn’t a bad thing if you take the time to learn from it and better prepare yourself for the next time you are in a similar situation.
—WCA Wellness Coach Danielle Messick, LPC
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Other Questions:
I have really bad knees, how can I exercise without causing more damage to my knees? Thanks—Louise in NC.
I'm a 43-year-old working mom looking to make the most of my limited exercise time. My mother has had three back surgeries and one knee replacement primarily due to arthritis. I would like to avoid a similar fate. I wouldn't mind losing ten pounds, but prevention is my primary goal rather than weight loss. I have heard that Pilates is an excellent approach to avoiding back problems. What recommendations do you have? —Cheryl in Asheboro, NC
Is Splenda® Sugar Blend a good choice for diabetics to use when recipes call for sugar? —Kim in Albemarle, NC
Why is it that some people cannot eat fiber foods such as oats, wheat, barley, bran due to bloating? —Linda in Horry County
Is it a good idea to begin exercising again, after not doing it for a while, during times of great stress? —Bill in Charlotte, NC
Please tell me some abdominal exercises that will not strain the back. I am not overweight. I am conscientious and I swim laps every other day. —M.J., Monroe, NC
How can I eat healthier when I go out to restaurants for lunch? –Alex in Kannapolis, NC
When I quit smoking, I gained a lot of weight. I’m wondering what I should do to remove the spare tire I gained around my midsection? —DeAnne, Fayetteville, NC
Is there a list of healthy carbs that I can refer to and also a list of bad carbs? —Joe, Huntersville, NC
I know that the skin on chicken is unhealthy as it has a lot of fat and cholesterol. I was wondering if fish skin (salmon skin specifically) has the same negative properties, or if it’s actually healthy. —Henry of Eastchester, NY
If a medication that you need tends to make you gain weight, what should you do? —Janet in Asheboro, NC
When I’m not dieting, I don’t eat much. But when I begin to diet, I want to eat up everything in sight. I just want to know how to control this habit. —FeFe in Statesville, NC
I enjoy walking for exercise. I am 46 and walk regularly 2-4+ miles on pavement at a pretty good pace. Do I need to worry about my knees? –Linda in Charlotte, NC
I’m a busy mother of two pre-schoolers and work a part-time job, so I find it very difficult to exercise regularly. What can someone in my situation do to get in shape? –Jane in Belmont, NC
