I have been thinking about motivation around weight loss of late. What motivates us and what happens that causes motivation to wane? I find it intriguing that it is such an ephemeral mindset, and would like to become more knowledgeable on whether one can manifest it at will.

Over the years of having endless meetings and conversations around this topic I have come to a big conclusion. This is my take on the topic. If yours differs I would love to hear from you.

I think we become motivated via negative and positive sources. What I mean by that is, we could find that spark of motivation to lose weight from a photo of ourselves in which we look infinitely heavier than we fancied ourselves to be. The "ugh factor" raises its lovely head, if you catch my drift. And that can incite action. Negative motivation. Another negative motivator is illness or poor overall health. The doctor tells us we have to lose weight or we are looking at dying soon, and suddenly something clicks and we are facing it head on. Not uplifting, not profound, hard cold reality slaps you in the face and says "let's do it". I will share my most negative motivator: a man I liked very much told me he could never date me because I was too heavy. I felt so dejected, but then I decided I never wanted to hear that again, and it lit a fire under me big time.

Positive motivation comes from other resources. We see our friends who have lost a lot of weight and they inspire us to act. Or we actually sit down and watch the movies or read the books people have been talking about, and they get us fired up to take action. Maybe we find a spiritual or more inward path which shifts our perspective on the whole issue and that takes us in a direction we never imagined. Sometimes we are not motivated at the outset, but go for it anyways, and find the motivation as we begin to see results.

Either positive or negative motivation can get us to act. And there is something almost magical that can happen when we are really ready. Food is not as interesting, or rather as tempting as it had been. We are able to eat less and feel satisfied. We say no enough times to certain foods that eventually they become non-issues for us. We are floating on happiness of seeing our bodies change, our energy shift, and our powerful self make a showing for a change. Wow!!

This state can last for months, a year, even longer in some people. The first time dealing with weight loss is the longest. Subsequent efforts are generally shorter in duration, unless one tries a new program. The excitement of a new formula and a different tack to take can spark it again like the first time.

But why does it disappear to begin with? Well many factors come into play here. Boredom can play a part; "eating my nice, safe foods...I would die for a cheeseburger!" Rebellion is a big one; "f#$%^& it to dealing with this stuff". A trip or event which sidelines the efforts can be the starting point for a tumble off the wagon. And then the "story" we tell ourselves that "since I ate that, well then the day (week, month) is shot" solidifies the indiscretions.

Every example there is based on the same simple premise: I am dieting. I know some of you reading this will disagree with me. You'll say, "but I do not look at this as a diet: I look at it as a lifestyle change. And yet I have not lost weight in months and am totally non-motivated". Well, so here's where I am challenging your thinking. If you are bored by it, rebellious of it, or willing to let go of it because of a few enticing experiences then you have not embraced it as truly being a lifestyle change for you.

Let's face it. If it were a lifestyle change you would eat differently, and eat less. You would ratchet up the exercise at every opportunity. Boredom would not come into play because you were now "eating this way", so you would get creative on keeping it interesting and fresh. Rebellion would not be necessary because why rebel against something you truly embrace. You would not deny yourself the occasional indulgence, but do it carefully, mindfully, and with never a doubt it would be that day but not the next. 

I hope I am not angering you, but rather inspiring you to shift your focus. Shift from the negative: "I can't have" to the positive "I don't want or need that". Shift from the mindset of "I should...", to "I want to". And if all of this sounds too idealistic and impossible then look at that belief. If you hold that as being true for you, then guess what?

This week your homework is to find inspiration and motivation. Go to a meeting (I would love it if it were one of mine!!), read a book, watch a movie (list below), talk to a sparky friend. Take action to make a shift. My rant is based on not just my experiences but hundreds of people I have know throughout the years who have found this place. You can too. At the risk of sounding too cliche, you just have to really want it and believe.

1 serving carb
1 serving dairy
1 serving protein

1/8 cup chopped cilantro

2) Cook the quinoa (see the video below to make the perfect quinoa!)