3 Ways to Stay Inspired
By Diane Petrella, MSW
If you’re motivated to lose weight you will, right? Well, not exactly. While motivation is important to help you reach your goals, inspiration gets you there more easily!
Inspiration vs. Motivation
When you’re motivated to reach a goal, it usually means there’s something in your life you want to change. You’re focused on what you don’t want, rather than on what you do want. For example, you’re motivated to lose weight because you’re inspired to be thinner. Motivation signifies hard work, determination and persevering through the tough times. That’s important, but also draining. When we’re inspired, we’re uplifted and energized by what we want. Inspiration means “to breathe life into.” So when we’re inspired to change something in our life, our inspiration breathes life into our actions. It becomes easy and effortless, even fun! Motivation alone is drudgery. Motivation with inspiration is joyous.
Here are three tips for breathing life into your weight release plan to create an inspired journey!
1. Draw Inspiration from Reading Calorie Count Success Stories
No matter where you are right now in your weight release journey, know that someone else was at that same place and they got to the other side. When we witness other people doing what we want to do, and overcoming even greater odds, we envision our own success. Read Spinicander’s amazing story of losing 227 pounds, and Warnerd5’s weight loss efforts while dealing with a spinal injury (both Spinicander and Warnerd5 began exercising in bed, folks!), and Alyshiadavies ability to take charge of her life (she stopped smoking, too!). When you read Calorie Count’s remarkable success stories, you expand your belief of what’s possible. Let these amazing people inspire you. Learn what helped them and apply those steps to see what works for you. These people did it; you will too!
2. Remind Yourself Why You Want to Lose Weight
In the beginning, something inspired you to lose weight. But later, when you focus on reducing numbers on a scale, it can feel like hard work. It’s the deeper meaning of losing weight that inspires us. To access that inspiration, draw your attention to the underlying essence of what you want. For example, you may want to lose weight so you can walk up a flight of stairs effortlessly or you want to pick up your child with ease.
Here’s a simple, uplifting writing exercise that helps you connect more deeply with why you want to release weight. Simply complete the sentence, “I want to release weight because…….” Fully write out this phrase with each reason important to you. By focusing on the essence of why you want to release weight, you activate the seeds of inspiration that nourish your motivation.
3. Give Your Body a Special Gift
Sometimes we can be so focused on the longer term outcome of weight loss that we lose sight of the special love and attention our bodies need from us right now. Add inspiration to your weight release journey by offering your body a loving gift. Your gift could be as luxurious as giving your body a massage or facial, or it could be the gift of words by making a point of talking to your body with love and respect for a day. Deciding to do something special for your body keeps you focused on treating it with care. By finding ways to honor your body you strengthen your relationship with it. And nothing is more inspirational to weight loss success than having a strong, respectful relationship with your own body.
Your thoughts....
What inspires you on your path to release extra weight?
Diane Petrella, MSW is a psychotherapist and life coach. She offers her clients a spiritual approach to weight loss and helps them develop a loving, respectful relationship with their bodies. Receive a free copy of Diane's Seven Easy & Effortless Weight Loss Secrets by signing up for her monthly e-newsletter, Living Lghtly, and learn spiritual insights and tips to release weight with ease. To contact Diane directly, visit her website at www.dianepetrella.com
Comments
I think my inspiration is the way that feeling slimmer makes me feel, the way that i move around more freely and more comfortably in, for example my gym classes and when getting changed in the morning.
Another inspiration to tone up is the way that I want to feel in certain situations like being invited for a day on the beach or to go out with my friends, i don't want to feel uncomfortable and insecure WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SECURE in comparison to my friends! Inspiration NOT motivation ;))
I liked this blog post!! thankyou!! x
*EDIT* (my strikethrough on 'i don't want to feel uncomfortable and insecure' didnt work, GRRRR!!)
couldn't work out how to edit the post? sorry!! x
I have been having really hard time lately with motivating myself to exercise and to eat right. It's in large part due to the fact that I have been pretty sick for the last month with a very severe cold and sinus infection. I have never in my life been so sick for so long. My ears are still clogged, but for a couple of weeks I was unable to breathe through my nose and my throat was quite sore and swollen, I even lost my voice for a while. Hubby is still getting over it and Sonny Boy is finally through with his anti-biotics.
Now that I am feeling somewhat better, I remember what motivates me the most and have been able to get back to the gym and back to a menu geared toward weight loss - I want to be in excellent shape for ski season!
I want my legs to feel strong enough to ski all day without fatigue. I want to feel in control and ski with rhythm - side to side - and hear my skis against the snow. I want to ski any trail with confidence. I want that feeling that my whole body is working the way it's supposed to - it's the greatest high on earth.
It would be a total bonus if I could fit into those tiny size 6 ski overalls that I wore when I was a single babe!
I have two months...
Any suggestions for someone with Sjogrens Syndrom and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
It's hard to stay motivated or inspired when your in pain and very tired most of the time. Thank ;s
This is the most inspirational article I've ever read. I've emailed it to myself so that I can keep reading it. I love the idea of having a healthy body that I can love and respect. I have to live in my body so why not make it as comfortable as I can. I like living in a clean uncluttered house so why not make my body clean and uncluttered to live in. I quit smoking 2 months ago I'm cleaning my lungs and now I'm ready to get rid of the excess bagage that I've accumulated for many years. The healthier I become the more I love myself inside and out.
Having more energy to breathe, walk, swim, exercise is all part of taking care of my body with love and respect.
This really hit home for me:
3. Give Your Body a Special Gift
Sometimes we can be so focused on the longer term outcome of weight loss that we lose sight of the special love and attention our bodies need from us right now. Add inspiration to your weight release journey by offering your body a loving gift. Your gift could be as luxurious as giving your body a massage or facial, or it could be the gift of words by making a point of talking to your body with love and respect for a day. Deciding to do something special for your body keeps you focused on treating it with care. By finding ways to honor your body you strengthen your relationship with it. And nothing is more inspirational to weight loss success than having a strong, respectful relationship with your own body.
Thanks so much for your article Diane Petrella, what great insight.
Franny
4mi3sonz "Any suggestions for someone with Sjogrens Syndrom and Rheumatoid Arthritis."
I suffer from the same things.... I was in so much pain, I thought I would be in a wheel chair before long and mentally I was preparing for that for the rest of my life. BUT... then I decided I wasn't going to go down without a fight! I know that exersize helps arthritis, but there are so few exersizes that you can do that don't hurt... Then I found Curves. I can exersize at Curves and it doesn't hurt me... it is awesome. I feel so good after I have exersized.... I never want to be without it. I have been going for about 2 years now and I have been watching what I eat, trying to make more healthy food choices... counting my calories... all so I can feel better.... amazingly enough, I have dropped 67 pounds and I am not in anywhere near the pain I was in even a year ago. Give yourself the greatest gift of all and don't feel sorry for yourself, but buck up and give it what you have... maybe a little today, but more tomorrow. I did it, and am doing it... You can too!
@ Franny ~ you wrote
"Any suggestions for someone with Sjogrens Syndrom and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It's hard to stay motivated or inspired when your in pain and very tired most of the time. Thank ;"
I practice TaiChi for Arthritis, and have been doing it for 3+ years . . . and wish I had started much earlier. TaiChi is a series of very slow motions. It strengthens the body's core, and it utilizes every muscle in your body . . . but no pain involved. There are many, many types of TaiChi out there, but the type for arthritis is Sun Tai Chi (pronounced Soon Tai Chi). Hopefully you could find one in your area, but if not you can get directional DVD's by searching Sun Tai Chi on the internet. It can be very difficult to learn by yourself, so if there is a class available it would be easier . . . but there is a new DVD out that is pretty easy to follow. I'm in Tacoma, WA and we have classes here. I love the feeling that TaiChi gives me, and I ceertainly never thought I would be this flexible with arthritis! Good Luck.
Ksod it's not me that was asking, it's the person below 
4mi3sonz "Any suggestions for someone with Sjogrens Syndrom and Rheumatoid Arthritis."
Original Post by: sharol46I have back and knee problems, so the loss of significant weight (20% of my body weight) has really helped me with that pain.
In addition, I have a poster on my refrigerator that says, "The fat pants are in the shed." I retired all my size 14 and 12 pants to a storage bin and moved it into our storage shed (the size 10's will be heading that way soon). When I see those words, I am reminded that I don't want to go down that road again. I've been there for lots of years (I'm 63 and have been dieting off and on for 45 years), and I don't want to go back.
I have been on maintenance since April, so it seems to be working.
Way to go! Your doing great!
Why not 'fire' the size 12 & 14 pants instead of just 'retiring them to the storage shed'. Change that sign on the fridge to: "I FIRED THE FAT PANTS & THEY AIN'T WELCOME NO MORE!" You don't want to go back..........right? Then don't.
Keep up all the good/hard work.
Original Post by: h23kbennOriginal Post by: sharol46I have back and knee problems, so the loss of significant weight (20% of my body weight) has really helped me with that pain.
In addition, I have a poster on my refrigerator that says, "The fat pants are in the shed." I retired all my size 14 and 12 pants to a storage bin and moved it into our storage shed (the size 10's will be heading that way soon). When I see those words, I am reminded that I don't want to go down that road again. I've been there for lots of years (I'm 63 and have been dieting off and on for 45 years), and I don't want to go back.
I have been on maintenance since April, so it seems to be working.
Way to go! Your doing great!
Why not 'fire' the size 12 & 14 pants instead of just 'retiring them to the storage shed'. Change that sign on the fridge to: "I FIRED THE FAT PANTS & THEY AIN'T WELCOME NO MORE!" You don't want to go back..........right? Then don't.
Keep up all the good/hard work.
Sharol46 - First, congratulations on your success! Good job!
Since April 1 of 2008 I've lost from a size 20 to a size 12 and since I'm 5'11" tall and at 167 lbs (started out at 216#), I'm very near my goal of having a BMI of 23. I'm at 23.4 now, so I'm probably within 5# of that magic number. That will put me at what I weighed when I graduated from high school and I'm 55 now. Size 10 is tiny to me! I'll never, ever be a size 10. God just didn't make my bones small enough for that and it's taken me most of my life to realize that we are all different shapes and there's no 'right' number for everyone.
So, if you're firing your pants (great idea to fire instead of retire, h23kbenn!) don't put them in the storage shed. Your storage shed doesn't need them and your 'fat pants' are someone else's GOAL pants!
I give away all my clothes as I "ingrow" them. I'm tall so my long-legged jeans are a blessing to someone else my height that may need to get rid of their 'fat pants' and would LOVE to have size 12 and 14s in their closet. If you don't know someone personally that is on their own weight loss journey and still larger than you are then donate them to a women's shelter or give them to a charity resale store. If they are really nice clothes you could probably place an ad on Craigslist.org and sell them to someone that can use them for work and you'd have a little extra cash to go buy some new size 8s!!!
You're NOT going to regain the weight you've lost. Just never stop reading the CC newsletters. Your story, and every story I read on CC every day, is an INSPIRATION to me to keep my new healthy lifestyle!
Original Post by: 4mi3sonzAny suggestions for someone with Sjogrens Syndrom and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
It's hard to stay motivated or inspired when your in pain and very tired most of the time. Thank ;s
Dear 4mi3sonz,
Yes, it is hard to stay inspired when you're in pain and very tired a lot. And there certainly are some things you can do to help yourself with that.
I agree with the suggestions offered about exercise, Tai Chi and perhaps yoga as activities that may provide relief to you and that will help you to feel more inspired. They will also help you to feel more connected with, and at peace with, your body.
You may also find it helpful to learn visualization and relaxation exercises. Perhaps there is a pain management center near where you live to teach you some mind/body techniques often used to help manage pain. I teach such techniques and they can be very powerful in helping you feel more in control of your body.
I'd also like to suggest a very inspirational book called:
29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life, by Cami Walker
The author was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This very inspirational book describes how generosity, and specifically giving a daily gift for 29 days, helped her condition. I found it to be a very uplifting book that speaks to the spiritual power of generosity. Perhaps you will find this helpful.
I wish you well.
Warmly,
Diane
I really liked this article. I changed years ago using a similiar approach to quit smoking and get a better attitude. Praying and quoting scripture and also repeating the reasons why I wanted to change in a positive sentence several times a day. It worked.
In the past year I have had a double disc fusion and my tailbone removed and one extra digit up from my tailbone removed too. I have had a lot of set backs along the way. At one point I didn't think I would ever get better. I really thought it was going to take me out I was in so much pain I didn't think my body could handle it another day.
I still have chronic pain but nowhere near how much I was in following the surgeries. I turned to comfort food quite a bit. I lost 40 lbs after the disc fusion and then gained it all back. I felt pretty ashamed of that and decided I was done with dieting. I then couldn't look at my food anymore seeing how my choices were so unhealthy. I prayed about it and with my husband and the Lord's help I was able to lose ten pounds while I was almost 100% bed ridden.
I am now in physical therapy and driving again. I will do anything to get my life back and get this pain under control if not gone completely.
I want to release weight because it will make me stronger. I want to release weight because I want to be pain free. I want to release weight because I want to fit into my close comfortably. I want to release weight so people will respect me more. I want to release weight to be more attractive. I want to release weight to help me have a baby some day soon. I want to release weight so my husband can pick me up and carry me to be romantic.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and he shall direct your paths Prov. 3:6
Another way , try to buy a beautiful clothe but u can not wear on it because of fat , give yourself a goal .when u wanna give up ,look at that clothe encourage yourself /
Thanks for your coments. As a side note i went to the dr yesterday i have lupus now too. ugh Thanks again
I have lost 84 lbs this past year and have kept it off for another 5 months so far. I can tell you about a few things that have motivated me to keep it up.
1. I keep 1 pair of my previous size 18 "fat" jeans in my closet and bring them out about once a week to try them on. Looking at them reminds me of how far I've come and reminds me that I never want to go back there!
2. I buy myself something nice to wear about once a month. Trying on new clothes in my new size is exhilerating and I still can't believe the image I see looking back at me in the mirror. I need to remind myself about how great I look now.
3. Other people. Receiving continuous compliments about my weight loss. Hearing people tell me how great I look really keeps me motivated to keep up the hard work! Also, I had an e-mail from an aquaintance asking how I lost the weight and asked for some pointers. I was astonished that someone would actually ask me for advice. It was very gratifying and made me feel proud of myself!
4. My health. Since I have lost the weight, I know longer have knee or foot pain. Also, aside from a minor cold, I have been perfectly healthy this past year. I think the exercise has contributed to this. Feeling better effects all aspects of my life!
5. Watching shows like The Biggest Loser. This show and others like it are motivating because I see others struggling and having success, and reminds me of how far I've come (and did it on my own!). Also, I have a treadmill at home, and I don't allow myself to watch these shows UNLESS I'm on the treadmill!
Hope this may help some others who are struggling with ways to get motivated.
Good luck to everyong starting on their weight loss journey!
I just need to sit down and watch a recent movie starring Jennifer Aniston or Jessica Biel...jajajaja... or watch those amazing bodies from Michael Jackson's dancers in This is it!
That really works for me! ; )
Original Post by: malonsomI just need to sit down and watch a recent movie starring Jennifer Aniston or Jessica Biel...jajajaja... or watch those amazing bodies from Michael Jackson's dancers in This is it!
That really works for me! ; )
Well, really really, this is part of what keeps me focused, but most important, my health (I feel G R E A T now that I am eating right and exercising constantly), and people who can't recognize me due to my weightloss!
Original Post by: 4mi3sonzThanks for your coments. As a side note i went to the dr yesterday i have lupus now too. ugh Thanks again
Dear 4mi3sonz,
I'm sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis in addition to what you already shared with us. Please don't let this hold you back. Use the suggestions offered and you will experience relief. It may take some time, but little by little, as you learn new skills you will develop the mental and emotional strength to move through this. I know of others who have. You will to.
No matter what, take good care of yourself. I wish you well.
Warmly,
Diane
I had baratric surgery 7 years ago and maintained my 155 pound weight loss at 139. Then I saw the doctor and he told me I could stand to gain five pounds. Now, I took him at his word but didn't get stopped at five pounds...gained ten pounds. This has really upset me and I'm out of my size 10s and into some 12 (pants) Still can wear the medium to small pants if they have elastic. I've been searching for a site like this for aout a month.
When I was losing, as soon as something got too big AWAY it went. The only thing I didn't get rid of was a pair of size 13 panties that we in the back of a drawer. I think God that I can't wear those and want to get my eating back under control so I don't.
Hugs to everyone.
I REMIND MYSELF OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE 100LBS MORE THAN I AM TODAY. I THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING ME TO TOSS MY WALKER INTO THE GARAGE AFTER LOSING ONLY 35 OF THOSE 100. I NEVER WANT TO USE THAT WALKER AGAIN. I COULD NOT MAKE IT AROUND THE BLOCK , SO I USED IT UNTIL I COULD. I HAD ASTHMA ATTACKS, JOINT PAIN AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES. ALL OF THESE ARE NOW NON EXISTENT. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER IN THE CLOTHES I WEAR. I AM PROUD OF MYSELF AND I FEEL MY FAMILY CAN BE PROUD OF ME. THE WEIGHT HAS STAYED OFF FOR 5 YEARS. RECENTLY I LEARNED I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS. I FEEL IF I WERE HEAVIER, IT WOULD BE HARDER TO FIGHT IT. I KEEP A PICTURE OF MYSELF AT 264LBS IN THE DRAWER AND LOOK AT IT NOW AND THEN. I AM 66 AND HAVE HEARD EXCUSES FROM PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU ARE OLDER IT IS HARDER. SO WHAT IF IT IS. JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN AND YOU WILL FIND IT GETS EASIER.BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND NEVER GIVE UP.
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I have back and knee problems, so the loss of significant weight (20% of my body weight) has really helped me with that pain.
In addition, I have a poster on my refrigerator that says, "The fat pants are in the shed." I retired all my size 14 and 12 pants to a storage bin and moved it into our storage shed (the size 10's will be heading that way soon). When I see those words, I am reminded that I don't want to go down that road again. I've been there for lots of years (I'm 63 and have been dieting off and on for 45 years), and I don't want to go back.
I have been on maintenance since April, so it seems to be working.