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Fitness: Testimonials on Staying Motivated
How do we stay motivated with our new healthy diet and exercise routine? Our major obstacle to effective weight loss is our need for "the quick fix." Most of us are very impatient and need to see instant results. Unfortunately, when it comes to losing weight or trying to instill healthy habits, a majority of the instant results are subjective (more energy) rather than objective (change in body weight). We often tend to place more of a value on the number on the scale or the pants size rather than how we feel.
Below are some suggestions on how to help you stay motivated through your new lifestyle change:
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Realize that it may take at least 3 weeks to become comfortable with a new habit. Be patient, don’t become frustrated, and realize that slips are normal.
" I set a goal to eat at least 3-5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day. The first week went well, I was excited about my new goal and consumed at least 3 fruits and vegetables every day that week. The second week was a little more of a struggle, I went two days with no fruit or vegetables at all. By the third week, I had no time to go to the grocery store, ate at mostly fast food for lunch and had a bag of chips one night for dinner. Because I had gone an entire week of reaching my goal, my nutritionist assured me that I could do it again. She was right, by the middle of the fourth week, I was back on track and reaching my goal every day." -Marilyn
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Avoid a drastic diet or exercise plan. Instead, choose balanced, sensible, long-term life-style changes that emphasized new habits and behaviors.
"When my doctor told me I better start exercising, I decided to try jogging again like I had done in my early 20's. I went out every day and forced myself to jog the loop in my neighborhood twice. That loop turned out to be 2.5 miles. By the fifth day, I was tired, sore, achy, and felt that exercise was nothing but punishment and torture. Before I gave it up all together, an exercise instructor helped me put together a much more reasonable and enjoyable plan. After 2 months I was doing something every day; walking the dogs, playing catch with my kids, bike riding with my wife, and I even enjoyed some weight training with a professional fitness trainer. This was a lifestyle I could live with." -Steve
"My co-worker lost 20 pounds on a high protein diet. I was desperate enough to try anything to get this weight off. After a week eating only protein foods I felt deprived, weak, tired, hungry and my muscles were even sore. Friday night when I got home from work, I sat on the couch and ate a box of cookies, muffins, microwave popcorn and a diet coke. I felt worse now than before I started the diet. I made a new set of very reasonable goals after working with a nutritionist. I realized that by eating a well-balanced lunch everyday instead of skipping it because I thought I was too busy, I didn't end up overeating at night. I immediately had more energy, didn't feel deprived at all and I finally began to lose weight." -Susan
Check out these websites for places on-campus to excercise:
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Alcohol & Drugs / Gambling & Financial
Wellness / General
Wellness Topics / HIV & AIDS /
Minority
Health / Nutrition / Peer
Health Educators / Sexual
Health / Tobacco
Use
