Ah. That's an easy one. I'm eating better and exercising! I'll go into my detail under the "food" and "exercise" pages to give you a better idea of what I mean.
I'm a firm believer that not everyone needs "motivation" in the same way. Some people get the motivation from their epiphany moment and it does a good job carrying them through to whatever the next big reminder type moment is. Some people find the way they feel as they become more fit is motivation enough. Some people need constant motivation.
But, you're not wondering about other people, are you? Just me.
I try to give myself multiple types of motivation "just in case". I had my epiphany moment, and while it carries me though sometimes, I occasionally need more. So, I pull out those clothes that didn't fit and gawk at the fact that they're starting to fit better. I set goals for myself and work towards those goals, giving myself mental pats on the back when I find myself getting even a little closer to them. I read fitness magazines and watch fitness/bodybuilding types of events to remind myself of what my goals are. I read diaries of other people and see what kind of motivation they are using. Sometimes someone else's victories are all I need to see to remind myself that I can do it, too. I write in my journal about how wonderful it feels to be getting healthier and reflect on the various things in my life which have become better/easier as I get fit. I spend as much time as I possibly can dwelling on the positives of what I'm doing. Basically, I do anything and everything which I think might help me stay motivated.
What I do not do is become angry or hostile toward myself when I fall short of a goal, don't work out, or eat less healthily than I know I'm capable of. No one is perfect all the time and I simply refuse to hold myself up to those kinds of impossible standards. I make it a point to recognise that there is very little food in this world which is NOT health food, so long as it's eaten in moderation. I also acknowledge that it's important to work out pretty much every day, but I don't get down on myself when I don't. One day isn't going the end of my fitness. Even two days are okay. It's when I consistantly skip that it becomes a problem. The solution? Stop skipping workout days and get back to work.
I was blessed with having never honestly dieted in my life. I was on weight watchers when I was young teen. That lasted two days. I never tried to change the way I ate again until about a year ago. At which point I stopped eating pizza for lunch all the time and started having fruits, veggies, and lean meats. Even that, I wouldn't consider a diet as I were merely starting to eat better.
Since I've never really restricted my eating in a "diet" sort of manner, I've never learned to feel guilt about eating. I've never been the type to exercise, so I never learned guilt for sitting a day out. Basically, I was a blank slate when I began to change my life.
I spent a few days searching the web as I got more into the idea of losing weight and I came across someone's diary which mentioned onephatman.com. I visited the site and spent two days reading Fred's (now defunct) journal. His extremely healthy attitude toward diet and exercise has since become mine.
On a side note, it is my hope that other individuals will come across my own page/diary and have the opportunity to look at fitness and weightloss in the non-punishment non-temporary way, too.
