Nine Reasons to Keep Going

never_give_up

On Monday, I shared with you the story of the little engine that could, which I hope you all enjoyed.  As I went on with my day, the topic of motivation just kept coming back to my mind. As I looked back on some of my most frustrating times, things that helped me get through kept coming back to me. To add to it, I had three people ask me in one day if I had experienced any plateaus and if so, how on earth had I gotten through them?  I thought I’d share a short list of some of the things that helped me keep going when thoughts of tossing in the towel crossed my mind, in hopes that one or more of them will help you at some point as well.

  1. Self Confidence

Do you remember how it felt after you took that first jog around the block? What about when you finally walked up a flight of stairs without being winded at the top? For me it was my first 300 pound leg press that was so exhilarating. I felt like I could take on the world…and win. Bottom line here? The more you accomplish, the more you’ll believe in yourself the next time you hit something that feels “hard” to do.

  1. Fit Into That Little Black Dress

You know which one I’m talking about! We all have one. It’s the one you saw on the sale rack that was two sizes too small at the time, but you just had to have it…yeah that one. It’s been hanging in the back of your closet for the past two years now with a nice coating of dust on the shoulders. Sometimes you can even hear it calling your name, begging to be worn for a night out on the town. All it takes is for you to stay on track and before you know it you and your little black dress can be out painting the town fabulous.

  1. Make Your Week Fly By

Ever felt like your week was lagging? Don’t you hate it when it feels like it should be Friday, but it’s only Wednesday?  This is what happens when you are not working towards anything.  When you have a goal in sight, you’ll be more likely to cook that healthy dinner or to get your butt to the gym, both of which will make you feel good. The bonus here?  Not only will your week go faster, but you’ll enjoy it more.

  1. Give Your Life A Purpose

Ever found yourself needing a good reason to get out of bed? I’ll give you one! Eating a healthy breakfast will not only jump start your metabolism, it will also set the tone for your day. People who have a good breakfast before leaving the house don’t crave high calorie junk food and are happier on average than those who do not. So the next time your alarm goes off, don’t hit snooze, get up and get on with it!
 

  1. For Your Kiddos

And your grandkiddos, oh and their kiddos, too. This one is far reaching. The healthier you are, the longer you’ll be there to watch your children grow and go out to conquer the world. If you play your cards right, you’ll get to spoil your grandchildren (and great grandchildren) rotten too!

  1. The Power of Momentum

It’s science that says, something in motion tends to stay in motion. Momentum builds up quickly and can lead to great things. When you look at it this way, it changes things a little bit, doesn’t it? All of a sudden, you’re not just working towards one goal (weight loss), but also to keep your lucky streak alive. One thing I would do is keep track of how many days I hit the gym for a killer workout consecutively or how many healthy meals I had eaten in a row.

  1. The “WOW” Effect

Imagine you’re walking into a restaurant when you run into someone you went to High School with, their mouth falls open, their eyes light up and  then they  gasp, “Wow (insert your name here)! You look great!” By staying on track and striving to reach your goals, this can (and will) happen to you. When you’re working hard to lose weight and someone gives you a compliment, it makes it all worth it. So, work hard and then stand back and watch the “wows” you get add up.

  1. Set An Example, Share Your Knowledge

When your friends and family see how hard you’re working, they’ll start to wonder how they can reach their own goals. When they get to a point where they are ready to begin their own weight loss journey, just guess who they’re going to look to for help?  That’s right, YOU! By keeping yourself motivated and on the path to a healthier lifestyle; you’ll not only help yourself, but your loved ones too. Honestly, does it get better than that?

  1. Keep Gaining Experience and Knowledge

The more you read; research and do, the more you will learn and understand.  You’ll discover which exercises work best for you and which ones don’t. You’ll learn what your unique nutrition needs are to be at the top of your game. Think of it like weeding the flowerbeds – If you’re like me, then it is definitely not the most enjoyable job in the world, but it is very gratifying and satisfying. When you’re done, you stand back and all that’s left are the beautiful flowers and a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (and probably again sometime in the future):  Anything worth having is worth working and sacrificing for. The amount of work and sacrifice involved should be a good indicator of the quality of whatever it is you are trying to obtain. Losing weight is hard, but it’s worth the work involved!

 

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