Where Does Motivation Come From? {& WIW}

Someone asked me the other day, 'where do you get the motivation?'

I've always had a problem with keeping my motivation level up. I often get highs and lows of motivation like I've got bipolar of the motivation.

I will go a few weeks with a serious plan for my life and health and then I could go months without caring one bit about what goes into my stomach. Like I have a motivation low point and need help or a boost or something to get out. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one this happens to. 

Over the years of weight loss and gain, I have done a few things to try and lose weight. 

Here are some of the failures. 

Go on a fitness binge and workout every day at least once. Follow all the fitness accounts on Instagram. Pin many pins about toning arms and legs. Get too sore to sit on the toilet. Stop working out forever. Fail.

Go on a healthy food binge. Eat absolutely nothing bad for you. Pin many many healthy recipes. Torture Casey with horrible recipes. Lecture everyone on the benefits of healthy eating and meal planning. Go to someone's birthday, eat all the cake. Fail. 

Post things on Facebook about weight loss. Have someone compliment you on how you have obviously lost weight. Tell yourself you did a good job so you deserve a treat. Eat all the treats. Fail. 

I think you get the idea. 

So, where does my motivation come from? 

Honestly? 

From deep down in my freaking soul. 

I really don't want to track my food. Or watch what I eat. Or meal plan. 

What I want to do is sit on my bottom, watch tv, check out what everyone else is accomplishing on Instagram or in the blog world, make a cake, eat the whole thing. 

But I do want things for myself. Things like feeling better about myself, and being able to wear normal clothes and feel good about it.  To not hate shopping. To not feel like a freak show when I'm on a Caribbean beach. To be around for Harper for as long as I can. To not be a burden to her when I'm older. 

 I realized a little while back, in order to get those things I'm going to have to work. I'm not going to want to do it, I'll probably hate if. But in the end, it'll be worth it. 

So, where does my motivation come from? Deep within. I force it to come out like I force myself to form healthy habits. Then one day, it won't be a force anymore. It'll be normal, like I have done it my whole life. 


Oh, and today I'm linking up again with heather and ash for Weigh in Wednesday. 

I'm down 0.6 lbs this week! I'm happy with that :) how can I not be? It's going in the right direction! 

I wanna know, what motivates you? What keeps you going when you just want to lie down and quit? 



Weigh In Wednesday

Comments

  1. Reading blogs like yours motivates me. And I like how you mentioned Facebook, Pinterest, and IG--they are all things that can really motivate you if you get involved in the conversations and not just scroll and scroll and scroll!
    Congrats on your loss!!

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    1. Thanks! I am loving the weekly weigh in link ups, they're really helping to hold me accountable! :)

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  2. Winter--I am the EXACT same way. This is such a hard thing to make ourselves do, but you're totally right about how worth it it really is. Keep up the good work--great weigh-in this week!

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  3. Down is always good! Nice work on the loss!

    Motivation is tricky. I have a hard time focusing on slow and steady. I want instant results and when I don't get them I get mad at myself and my body.

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    1. Thank you. I'm the same way. I've seen a funny meem online that said "Went to the gym today...do I have abs yet?" I can relate!

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  4. I've been thinking a lot about my motivation this week, especially since I've been hovering at the same pound or two for two weeks straight. It is great to read your motivation bc I think it is similar to mine!

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    1. I hope you conquer those tricky pounds! Thanks for reading!

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  5. Ahhh I soooo hate the ebbs and flows of motivation!

    And great loss this week! You're doing great!

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    1. Thanks! I wish I had a constant awesome motivation! I don't think it exists though.

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  6. You're going in the right direction!! Good job. :)

    You are definitely right. Motivation is hard to keep. I love the quote 'People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.'

    I stay motivated by setting small goals (and BIG ones), keeping up with positive bloggers, and thinking about the future!

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    1. Hahaha that's great! I've been making small goals too. It's a good motivator! Thanks for reading!

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  7. Congrats on the loss! Both my weight AND motivation have gone on a roller coaster ride the past few years. But I keep trying and that's whats important. I'm close to my goal weight and will accomplish everything I set my mind to. Accountability helps me a lot. Being active with my family and friends is so much fun.

    http://whatadventuresawait.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you! You're right, keep on going, that's the important part!

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  8. Wahoo for the loss this week :)
    HIlary's quote is funny :)
    My motivation comes from those tight jeans in my closet, the way I feel when I accomplish something, and how great I feel now that I am lighter :)

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    1. Thanks :) I don't really keep my small clothes around very much. Especially because it's been so long since I've been this size. Thanks for reading!

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  9. Over from the link up.

    I like to think of motivation for me as a wave...sometimes I am riding high and sometimes I am at the bottom of that wave. My issue is, my down points of the wave last 2x longer than the peak! When I am peaking, I try to do my very best to help even out the eventual lows.

    My motivation comes from my blog, my TOPS group and reading other's blogs!

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    1. I like that analogy. I do wish we were always at the top of the wave though! Thanks for reading!

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  10. Great post and congrats on the loss! I started Whole 30, 21 days ago. For me, my motivation to start came from having crazy sugar/junk food cravings and I was just sick of being a slave to those cravings. My continued motivation is to prove to myself that I can kick the cravings (hopefully for good!) and just doing this for myself, nobody else.

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    1. Wow! I am always really impressed with people who have the will power to do a the Whole 30 challenge. Good for you! Thanks for reading!

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  11. I definitely needed this post my motivation was GREAT for the first 30 lbs and now the last 10 are just hanging on with all their might

    Makeover With Aspen

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    1. I am kind of the opposite. I had zero motivation to start, but now that I'm seeing results, I'm more motivated. I imagine it'll waver a bit when I get closer to my goal though. Thanks for reading, and good luck with those last 10!

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