Good morning Summer Glow Boot Campers! Can you believe it is already Week 3 of the SGBC? As you may have seen on the calendar, this week’s topic is all about ‘Getting Over The Hump’…aka motivation issues and how we can triumph over them!
This morning, we have a post on motivation put together by the fitness diva herself- Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point. When I emailed Caitlin, I knew that she was my go-to girl whenever I think about motivation to keep on top of my fitness. Whether she is running a 15-mile trail race or biking 60-miles, she never fails to inspire and renew my love for an active lifestyle!
Take it away, Caitlin! :)
Staying Motivated When The Going Gets Tough
You decide to eat healthier or exercise more, and although you tackle your goal head on for the first few weeks, soon you’re ready to throw in the towel. And even though you really, really want to stay on track, you find yourself sabotaging your goals – sleeping in needlessly on the weekends when you could be outside or ordering a large ice cream instead of a small. You wish you could bottle up some will power and take a small dose everyday! Sound familiar?
De-motivation is a normal part of the New Habit Journey.
The New Habit Journey is not a linear path – in fact, it has twists and turns, sudden halts, and sometimes it even goes backwards. Achieving any lifestyle change includes five components:
- Inspiration Moment: The inspiration moment can be one watershed instance, or it can be a slow build. But suddenly, for whatever reason, you want to CHANGE! Maybe you stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office and saw a scary high number. Maybe you’re trying to get pregnant. Or maybe you’re motivated to finally run a 5K race. When you experience an Inspiration Moment, it is important to SIEZE on this positive energy! Don’t wait until the next week to “start” running, eating better, quitting smoking… do it right now! Yes, right now. Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.
- The Gun-Ho Period: Most people will experience a gun-ho period that lasts approximately two weeks to a month when trying to make a lifestyle change. At first, your change is exciting and interesting. You’re still riding high on your Inspiration Moment. As you did for your Inspiration Moment, appreciate and embrace this zest for your New Habit! But, you want to be careful not to get overly enthusiastic. It’s easier to adopt a habit for the long-term if you slow integrate it into your life, figuring out how to make the change work for you and not against you. Make your initial goals small and manageable. By vowing to work out three times a week instead of six, you’re building in room for error as you adopt to a lifestyle change. Many people feel discouraged if they cannot be “perfect,” so don’t ask yourself to be!
- De-motivation: Despite your best intentions, most people will be hit by de-motivation several weeks into their New Habit Journey. Let’s face it – making lifestyle changes are hard, and temptations to slack of are everywhere. De-motivation can just occur over time, or it can be caused by a break from your normal schedule. Holidays, special events, and vacations force you to deviate from your new routine. Anticipate these De-Motivation hotspots by coming up with a "healthy game plan" ahead of time. If you fall “off the wagon,” don’t throw in the towel! Remember that something is always better than nothing. If you don’t want to go to the gym, try going for a walk, doing sit-ups in front of the TV, or dancing around your living room. If you’re on vacation and want to enjoy the local food, splurge at dinner and maintain your diet for breakfast and lunch. The worst thing you can do is give up just because you can’t be at the top of your game.
- Re-coop: Not everyone reaches the point of Re-Coop. Many people enter De-Motivation and never come out. But, if you want to make a lifestyle change, you must emerge from de-motivation stronger and more intent on your goal. Re-coop involves bouncing back from minor setbacks and reminding yourself that it’s your OVERALL progress that matters. If you’re in De-Motivation and want to get back on the wagon, write down a list of why you want to change. Tape the list to your bathroom mirror and read it whenever you need some motivation. Also, talk to a close friend or your significant other about your De-Motivation and ask for support. It’s easier to stick to new habits if you’re not the only one in the boat.
- Healthy Tipping Point: The most glorious part of the New Habit Journey is the Healthy Tipping Point. A Tipping Point refers to a sociological event during which a previously rare phenomenon becomes rapidly and dramatically more common. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called The Tipping Point, and he describes the Tipping Point as "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."
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Thank you Caitlin!
Even though I didn’t realize it for many years, I now know that consistency is key to long-term change. It can be frustrating when we don’t see change as quickly as we would hope. The most important thing I have learned is that if I am consistent with my exercise, I will eventually see pay-offs, even if they do not come as fast as I want them to.
For example, I used to be able to run for only 1 minute before stopping and walking. One minute. I hated running for this reason. I hated it with a passion. It wasn’t fun or enjoyable when I was gasping for breath all the time. In the past, I didn’t treat my body right and I didn’t treat my overall health properly. In fact, I ignored it. It seems funny to me now that I ever expected my body to give back to me when I didn’t give it what it needed to succeed- proper fuel, nutrition, rest, and love!
But eventually, I started to treat myself better. I became more patient and kind to my body and in return my body responded better than I could ever have dreamed it would. Before I knew it, I was running 5 minutes at a time, and then 1 mile at a time, and now I can run for over 1 hour without stopping to walk. Because of our busy lives, sometimes we forget to pay attention to small changes that are occurring! It didn’t even click with me until recently how little endurance I had when I used to run and how much I have changed. I was so busy focusing on improving my pace or my goals, that I forgot to appreciate the journey.
I think if we all stopped to write down a couple things that we appreciate about our own progress we wouldn’t feel that twinge of de-motivation as severely. We could simply consult the things we have accomplished and recognize that change is happening, even if it is small. Because when you think of it, a handful of small changes lead to one BIG change and before we know it we have reached our goal.
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The wonderful Amazing Grass is at it again! Today marks the first of three Amazing Grass giveaways for Summer Glow Boot Camp. You can read about the other two giveaways here…you won’t believe what the 2nd and grand prize draws are for- nothing short of AMAZING!!!
Up for grabs today:
- Sample of the Amazing Grass packets,
- Amazing Grass T-shirt, and
- A shaker (my all time favourite Green Monster container!)
How to enter: You must leave a comment on this post telling us two positive changes you have made to your health and/or fitness in the past month or two. We need to start appreciating the journey and stop being so hard on ourselves all the time! If you hit a hump or ‘De-motivation’ refer back to your changes to renew your faith in your goals. Contest open to US and Canadian residents only. Contest closes Tuesday July 14, 2009 at 11pm EST. One entry per person.
Want a second entry? Simply link back to this giveaway on your blog or email someone about the Amazing Grass contest making sure to copy me on the email ([email protected]).
Even though I can’t participate, I will still answer the question:
1) I have drastically improved my side planks! I can now do advanced side planks without so much as the blink of an eye, whereas before I couldn’t even hold myself up at all! It is fun to feel strong.
2) I ran my first 10 race ever mid-June 2009 and I am running in my second race- a 10-miler– this Sunday!
Goodluck to all participants! :) See you this afternoon for some exciting news!
The two positive changes that I have done this month are getting to the gym 4-5 times a week and eating more greens and yummy fruits!
i have tried to eliminate weird chemicals from my diet and i have realized moderation and balance are more important than perfection.
Hey Angela! The two positive changes I have made are 1) Ran my first half-marathon in May (after not being able to run more than a mile a year ago) and 2) Drink a green monster every morning!
My two positive changes that I have made are
1. replacing my coffee with green tea and green monsters
2. began to take important vitamins such as fish oil, vitamin d and calcium!
there are many more but i think those have built the foundation for a healthful rest of the day :) i love your blog you get to the root of real issues that effect so many people and turn them into positive outlooks!
My two positive changes have been:
1. Eating more! I didn’t realize it until I got one of those calorie calculators you wear all day (like on the Biggest Loser) but those girlie mags that tell us to eat 1200 -1500 cals a day ARE STARVING US. I am eating like 2,000 calories a day and it’s nutritious stuff — fruit and nuts and avocados and, um, wine. :-)
2. Became a vegan!
Linky Linky: http://granitegourmet.com/2009/07/anges-contest-ends-tonight/
1) Lower my caloric intake/practice moderation
2) Run/Exercise more (just started this week!)
I have 1) added in fresh produce at every meal, and 2) started having a green monster for breakfast almost every day.
Love your blog!
Link back: http://farebear.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/angies-contest-ends-tonight/
I have had a lot of successes in the past couple of months since starting P90X . Most notably and happily NOT weight related are:
1: just set a new PR in the 5K – 30:22
2: can do real push-ups! not many, but I can!
1. I have had at least one GM every day since camp started. I’m certain I’m getting all my veggies every day, and I can definitely feel the difference.
2. I’m easier on myself. I have a plan, printed out and hanging by my desk, so if I get off track, instead of throwing my hands up, I can look at that plan and get refocused.
I’m desperate to try amazing grass! Fingers crossed!
1. About 6 weeks ago I (a verrrry occasional runner) challenged myself to run 75miles in 4 weeks … not only did I reach my goal with one day to spare, I also exceeded it by 2 miles! And I went from counting light posts to my next walk break (about 5!) to long runs of 9 miles without stopping at all.
2. Since completing my challenge, I’ve set a new challenge of running every day (even if it’s short) and now I am thinking about training for a marathon.
You’re so right about just sticking to it. When I am sucking wind after running up a hill, I remind myself that not too long ago I could only manage to walk up that same hill.
1) I am learning to appreciate my body more after my knee injury from running. I am learning to listen to my body and taking it slow.
2) Last month I was hospitalized for low blood sugar and not enough electrolytes because I was barely eating. I am now making it a goal to eat a small meal every 3 hours and eating till I am comfortably full. I am making good choices as I beginning to realize that food is not the enemy, but is fuel!
1) Recently I’ve found a better balance with my eating that means letting myself have “treats” and being more vigilant about staying away from lactose, which I’m allergic and intolerant to and unfortunately crave.
2) I’ve been biking a lot and recently found some yoga videos that I like and I’ve been doing them to keep my muscles loose!
Great post! I have to say my top two healthy habits that are new are:
1) Eating breakfast every day where I used to always skip – and my new addiction to green monsters makes it a pleasure, not a chore. Hmmm, maybe that actually counts as two?
2) Getting back into a regular exercise routine after YEARS of couch-potato-dom. I’m now running regularly 4 days or more a week and have gotten to where I look forward to the post-run stretch (ahhhh) almost as much as the run itself.
I have felt better in the last two months than I think I have in the last five years. It didn’t START off feeling good – it felt like a chore! I dragged my feet on both counts, but stuck with it and have now developed both as healthy habits. Getting over the inertia is the hardest part, I think. There are so many reasons to NOT do it and it was definitely a forcing exercise for me. Then after a while, you realize how much better you feel, how much brighter your eyes are, how much better you’re sleeping and you think “wow, what took me so long?”
Keep it up Angela! Love the thought-provoking posts and love reading everybody’s responses!
1. I started drinking green monsters all the time! at least one every day, sometimes more
2. I incorporated more yoga into my workouts – it really helps me relax and re-center after a stressful day.
Great contest!
My 2 positive changes I’ve made is
1) Running once a week – I do yoga on a regular basis but it’s good to get some cardio
2) Allowing myself to eat what I want in moderation. Before I would just restrict myself and then end up binging on something I’ve been trying to avoid.
1. I conquered my coffee addiction! Drinking 12 cups/day for nearly 3 years was causing a plethora of health problems, and I can’t believe how good I feel now.
2. I threw out all my chemical laden beauty products. I love feeling fresh and natural, and my skin rarely breaks out anymore!
1. I’ve started to try and eat more clean, unprocessed foods.
2. I’ve also started running, and stopped beating myself up when I couldn’t run as far or as long as I hoped :)
If it’s not too late, I linked you in my post!
I hope I am not too late but positive changes that I have had is that first I have decided to stop being so hard on myself. I realized that I am healthier than I was last year. I know that it is a slow process and there is no fast way to do it. So I need to stop putting myself down and be more positive. Plus, my husband hates it when I talk down about myself. The second change I have had is my eating. Reading your blog has inspired me. I have a green drink every morning now for the last two weeks. I woke up this morning excited to have one. I loved it! I am very aware of what I put in my mouth and it has paid off. I am starting to see results.
cutting out white rice and refined grains, and another thing is to TAKE REST DAYS (i’ve injured myself SOO much from not doing rest days!)
Hi there, and thanks for the opportunity!
Two nutritional improvements:
DRINK LOTS OF WATER. I take water with me everywhere…it’s easily available and it saves me from spending money on bottled type stuff which is absolutely POINTLESS (but that is a whole other blog post)
Good carbs now replace bag carbs. I learned a lot simply by reading the South Beach Diet book. I didn’t do the diet but I read the first six chapters of the book which completely opened my eyes to healthier eating…and I made some minor changes to my diet based on the information I found useful. MADE A HUGE difference in my life….I don’t go from hunger pains to too full. I am now even keel all day long!
We changed our diet when the Pandemic hit. We started eating healthy for everything including snacks.
I started to exercise and am feeling more energy now.