Staying Motivated

Friday 22nd July, 2011

 Day 25

You feel ready for anything when you are motivated. You are fired up, ready to lose those kilos and ready to take on the world! But in a few weeks will you feel the same? Motivation is like a fire that constantly needs refueling and stoking, otherwise it goes out. Reminding yourself again and again of what you want, why you want it, and what you will do to get it, is one way to keep your motivation burning.  You need to recognize and prepare for the different phases of motivation.

The first phase of motivation is one of enthusiasm and strong vision, and it is great for getting you started. But rule number one: Do not expect this initial motivation “high” to last.

The second phase of motivation is all about trial and error. You need to test different avenues of organisation for achieving your goals to see what works for you and what does not. During this
phase you experience success and failure. Make sure you acknowledge the successes and learn from the setbacks.  Bouncing back from perceived failure is crucial here.

In phase three your motivation starts to decline. You find yourself remembering when your motivation was high and you felt like you could overcome huge obstacles. Now that it is low, everything just seems too hard and not worth the effort. This is a high-risk phase. The symptoms of this stage can be anything from slipping back to old habits and finding excuses for not following your Eating Plan, to doing and thinking things to sabotage your own success.

When you feel motivation slipping,go straight to family and friends for support and encouragement.