Tips for staying motivated?

Camy here, asking how everybody’s doing on New Year’s Resolutions?

I know, I know, I hear the collective groan. But really, it’s not too late to try something new for 2009.

My New Year’s Resolution wasn’t a “new” one—I determined to lose weight this year, same as I resolve to do every year.

The difference is that this year, I’m putting more effort into my resolution than previous years.

First, I joined (or rather, restarted a nonactive membership in) SparkPeople.com (friend me! Mary Griffith’s there, too!). What I like about it is that:

(a) It’s free

(b) I can keep a food diary online, which is really easy for me since I’m always on the computer, and it’ll calculate not just calories but also protein, fat, cholesterol, etc.

(c) Their online food list is HUGE so I can always find what I’ve just ate

(d) It’s free

(e) They have this nifty fitness tracker where they’ll assign you a certain number of strength training exercises, tailored to your fitness level AND the equipment you have at home (I have a stability ball and weights)

(f) The pre-assigned strength training exercises takes the thinking out of strength training, and it’s only 20 minutes 3 days a week, and they change the exercises automatically for you every two weeks or whenever you’re bored—you just hit a “change exercises” button.

(g) Did I mention it’s FREE???

Now I’m going more than 3 weeks with them, and I’ve seen a few things:

(a) I’ve been better and better about keeping within my assigned calorie range (YAY!)

(b) I’ve been fairly consistent about exercising 6 days a week, even if it’s only walking the dog for 30 minutes or riding the stationary bike (YAY!)

(c) I lost a few pounds the first week, but I haven’t lost a single pound in two and a half weeks (BOO!)

(d) The exercise is getting harder to keep doing (double BOO!)

Now, those last two are something I’m familiar with. Previous years, I’d also not lose much weight and then lose motivation to exercise, and the resolution would tank, all by the end of January.

Well this year, that’s not going to happen if I can help it!

You are already helping me by reading this because you’re (silently) keeping me accountable.

But do any of you have any other tips for helping me stay motivated?

What I’m already doing:

1) I bought a new waterproof running jacket to make me want to go out and walk, since it’s a very pretty lavender color and it looks way cool. (I’m actually going to use it for the first time today, since it rained)

2) I’m tracking my food and exercise with SparkPeople.com

3) I’m reading lots of articles on healthy living and success stories to keep my spirits up

4) I have set a concrete goal for the year: I want to be a size 6 by September 1st. I don’t know if that’ll happen, but it’s nice to dream about, don’t you think? The thought makes me smile, anyway.

Anything else I can do?

Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research,
and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her latest Asian chick lit novel, Single Sashimi, is out now. Join her newsletter YahooGroup for monthly Christian fiction giveaways!

Comments

[PatriciaW]

Camy, weight loss has been a life long struggle for me, last year in particular, so I'm no expert on this. I didn't lose much in 2008, in fact, nothing at all but I learned a lot, and using those learnings, I've already lost 9 lbs this year.

Here's the first thing I learned: to lose weight, you have to sweat. Seriously sweat. Exercise 20 min 3x per week will not do it. I figured this out by watching The Biggest Loser show.

Try ramping your exercise up to 60 min 3x per week or 45 min 5x per week. If walking, keep a brisk but comfortable pace. And you really need to be building muscle, which requires use of those weights you have. I use strength training DVDs, like the Cathy Friedrich (I think that's her name) series from Prevention Magazine. When you're ready to go all-out bootcamp, consider picking up the Biggest Loser Cardio and Power Sculpt DVDs. You'll sweat like you never have before and build muscle big time.

You have to get adequate sleep, at least 6 hours a night. Lack of sleep causes the body to work inefficiently and fight against your weight loss.

You also have to hydrate. Big time. 8-16 cups of water a day. After a couple of days, your body will adjust to this level of water and not have you running quite so much.

You already know you have to make good food choices and at the same time, cut back on calories. Less calories in, more calories expended equals weight loss.

Finally, you have to talk to yourself. Affirm what you are doing. When you have those special "aha" moments, like your waistband is looser, your ankles are skinnier, your jaw is not sagging as much (okay, maybe those are my moments), savor them. Spend five minutes relishing the feeling and mentally photographing it for later recall. You'll need that when you hit those times when you don't want to exercise, don't get enough sleep, absolutely have to have that chocolate dessert, etc.

Lastly, you're already journaling your food. Journal about your thoughts and feelings on this weight loss journey. It will help, again, to be able to look back and see how far you've come and how you were able to do it.

Here's to that size 6 by September!

[Camy Tang]

Thanks, Patricia! That's totally good advice. I do 45 minutes 5x a week (either running or stationary bike) and I do strength training 3x a week, so your advice is very affirming to me. Thanks also for the reminder to talk to myself and affirm myself!
Camy