How to Stay Motivated

I know that many people are just beginning what could possibly the adventure of a lifetime--the quest for a new and healthy lifestyle. Yay, you! Over the past year, and only by the grace of God, I've been motivated to continue on a relentless path to wellness. If that is what you desire to do, I have compiled some suggestions. I have also included links to some of my earlier, relevant (and favorite*) posts to give you an idea of where I started. Here we go...

Identify the TRUTH- First and foremost--examine your heart and try to identify every single lie that you allow yourself to believe. Write them down. Then out beside those lies, write the truth. Then forget the lies and focus only on the truth. (Huge breakthrough post for me.)

Establish Accountability- Letting someone else hold you accountable for the goals you have set to tackle the problem(s). I find this type of accountability on several levels. Through my First Place group, through my blog and I find it in key individuals who I have sought out or God has placed in my life to "ask the tough questions." Being honest with myself and others is important. Draw on others experience and knowledge. Learn from their mistakes too. ;) (Friends help get you out of funks.)

Journal--I do this mainly on my blog. Sometimes I will get to typing and by the time I am done I have learned something about myself or weight loss that I had no idea I even knew. This does not have to be a blog. It can be a spiral notebook or the notepad on your phone. Keep a record of feelings and emotions. Being able to go back and read how it felt to mess up really bad or how good it felt to reach a milestone is so important. (See: entire blog)

Take Photos--believe it or not photos have probably been the biggest motivator of all for me. It was hard to take them in the beginning because I didn't want to face the way I looked, but seeing what a huge difference even small losses make in how I look is such a motivator.I share most of my pics but you wouldn't have to. Even if the photos are for your eyes only that could still help you. The camera never lies. Another thing to keep in mind--whatever you look like in the picture is what you look like in real life.If you are overweight, it is no secret. (One of my favorite photo posts--early on! LOL!)
and another favorite: (Photos Never Lie)

Do the Impossible--Do that which you think you can NOT. In the beginning this was usually with exercise for me. I would push myself to do things: run a mile... Eventually run a 5K..now training for a 10K, possibly a Half Marathon. You have to do things drastically different than you ever have before if you expect to see drastic changes. (Losing more than 20 pounds is drastic in my book.) After you have done the thing you didn't think you could do then you know that you CAN do something you never thought possible. This breeds more of doing those types of things which means more change. (An early post about this : The one where I ran a whole mile!)

Press on-- This may sound silly since the whole purpose of this post is essentially to answer the question "How do I press on?" but its key. You just can't let anything scale-related or guilt get you down. If you mess up, literally forget about it and move on. Each time it gets easier and easier. Forget what is behind and press on to the goal. You have to believe that you can reach the goal. You can. If you just don't quit, you will succeed. It's a guarantee. (Read this if you are a QUITTER like me.) and (read this if you struggle with temptation. Okay, everyone on three--1..2..3..CLICK HERE!!!)

Prepare Yourself for "The Crossroads"-- Eventually you will have to make a decision. A big one. In the beginning, the pounds come off quickly. Inevitably, there will come a time in your journey that the scale will not provide the incentive it once did to keep you going. Eventually you will need to find the "something" that will be your main reason for doing this that has nothing to do with the scale. Indeed, if you do this long enough--and always remember, this is the goal: the scale will quit moving.

Will you?