Monday, March 23, 2009

Motivation Scmotivation

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.
Zig Ziglar
I've gotten that question a few times recently; where do you get your motivation? "I really admire your motivation," says a friend.

What motivation?

"You're walking how many miles? Oh, I couldn't do that..."

Well, neither could I...

Motivation isn't like an energy shot. You don't drink a tiny bottle of expensive, foul-flavored liquid and suddenly feel inspired. Hells bells, I don't feel inspired most of the time either.

Let me tell you a story; a few weeks back, at my Weight Watcher's meeting, a new lady spoke up and said, "I don't like fruits or vegetables. Like, any of them. Unless maybe catchup counts." Thirty pairs of eyes trained on her with expressions of mixed disbelief and amusement. No vegetables? Honestly, I couldn't figure out what someone must eat if they won't eat ANY plant material. That was my first reaction: sheesh, what do you eat, lady? My second reaction was, "Are you an adult or what?"

Look, I don't like peas. Or cooked carrots. Or corn. My husband doesn't like squash, asparagus, lima beans, or cauliflower. But you know what? I just eat them. It's half a cup of peas. It doesn't matter that I think peas are gross. I'm an adult, I'm perfectly capable of paying bills, putting on my scarf in the winter time, cleaning up my own mess, and eating a goddamn dish of peas.

Where do I get the motivation to walk nine miles?

I don't. I just go. If I sat around waiting to feel enthusiastic about exercise or waited until I really wanted that dry-chicken salad... I'd still be sitting around.

Yes, sometimes I feel enthused. And these days, I sometimes find myself longing for that gym time. But I didn't, at first.

Seriously, think about your day.

How many of you leap out of bed in the morning and say, "God, I really am looking forward to taking out the trash!" "I just can't wait for my 10am meeting!" "Oh, I totally adore my hour and a half commute time, sitting in traffic! And I just bet someone will cut me off at the light, won't that be great!"

No.

No.

You just do it because it needs to be done.

Brooke: "I don't want you to do the dishes, Gary. I want you to want to do the dishes!"
Gary: "Why would anyone want to do dishes?"
The Break-up

It helps, in the beginning of any lifestyle change, if you have some idea of what you want, and it definitely helps if you have a plan to get there. But day to day isn't about motivation; it's not about enthusiasm. It's about manning up, putting on your big girl panties, whatever you want to call it, and just get it done.

No one says you have to like it.

No one says you have to sit down to your egg white omelet and love every bite.

Some days you will, some days, you won't.

What's going to get you where you want to be isn't motivation. It's not inspiration. It's not willpower. It's not even determination.

It's simple drudgery. You do it because it has to be done, and if you don't do it, no one's going to do it for you.

Every time you put something in your mouth is another opportunity for it to be the right thing. It's not a race, no one is grading you. (Ok, well some people might be judging you, but really, you shouldn't care what they think. If you figure out how to do this, please share.)

Just do it.

13 comments:

Aimee said...

this is one of the best blog posts i've ever read.

:)

Jen, a priorfatgirl said...

I agree with Aimee, this is very well said! You have captured the true source of motivation... ourselves!

Becky Fyfe said...

I've been saying this for ages!!!

(But you said it much better.) ;)

Anonymous said...

OUCH! I needed that.... (((((HUGS))))) sandi

Becky Fyfe said...

I hope it's okay that I linked to this post in my blog.

It's just one of those posts I think lots of people need to read.

Mary said...

Love your post, very well said!!
It's not so much motivation as it is something that just "needs to be done," as you said. I have a reason to go about my weight loss efforts, and if I don't do them, it's not gonna happen. Simple but not always easy!!

MrsEvilGenius said...

Hahahah! Brilliant!

I wanna post about this and send you some linky love.

Dieting is HARD. But so is parenting (for example), yet we don't go "aww, hell, I just won't change the baby or cook her anything today! I can't be arsed!"

No, we get up, breastfeed, change nappies, mop up spills, wipe snot, read that same bloody book to them AGAIN ... and so on. We just do it.

Dieting is the same way.

Anonymous said...

This is such a great post!! I agree 100%.

Trisaratops said...

This really spoke to me. It is so absolutely true! And such a good reminder for me when I'm having a case of the don't wannas. Brilliant!

Journo June aka MamaBear said...

So are you gonna print this out and take it to the lady at the meeting? You totally should. LOL The post definitely ROCKED!

It's the people who whine that they can't lose weight when they are making crappy choices every day who drive me nuts. Well, what did you EXPECT to happen when you ate 4000 calories every day and sat on your butt watching TV???? I'm not saying I never finish off a bag of chips, but I don't throw a self-pity party afterward, I give myself the kick in the booty I need to get back on track. ;-)
Path to Health

Ro said...

Awwwww SHIT!
This was the best best "bestest" blog post I have read in a LONG time and I needed this today. THANKS.

Kelly the Happy Texan said...

Ugh, I guess I should get off my butt and exercise just because I have to.

Very good post.

Unknown said...

This is one of the most important things I've read in my life. Lynn, I thank you for putting to words what we all know to be true but, so often forget. You ROCK!!!