The Motivation Myth

Hey y’all! This is Amy, Blue Eagle Nutrition Coach. Today, I want to talk about motivation and how it’s bad for you…what? Yes!

Motivation can actually prevent you from sticking to a program and reaching your goals. 

Let me explain.

Motivation is nothing more than a feeling or an emotion. Just like feeling happy or sad, motivation comes and goes. Do you only care for your children when you are motivated to do so? No. That sounds ridiculous. You committed to being a parent, so you do it. Why then, do you trust your healthy lifestyle changes to an emotion that you can’t control?

An “oh so” familiar story about motivation:

It’s 3 weeks into your new, healthy lifestyle, and you are already finding your initial excitement and enthusiasm waning. You start skipping a workout here and there. You opt for driving through the nearest fast-food restaurant instead of meal prepping over the weekend. You are slowly falling back into your old, unhealthy habits. You’re just no longer motivated. You convince yourself that change is too hard and go back to your old ways. Maybe in a few weeks, or months…or next January, you will try again.

How does this story end successfully? Well, let’s talk about commitment.

What is a commitment?

A commitment is an agreement with yourself.  You commit to attending a meeting at work. You don’t have to be motivated to attend. You just do it because you said you would.  Would there be consequences if you skipped that meeting because you didn’t feel like it?  Most likely.  Are there consequences for not living a healthy lifestyle? Absolutely!

I guarantee you, if you know anyone who is fit and healthy, they did not get there because they were motivated or inspired to do it.  No one. They may have started their journey that way, but at some point, they made a conscious choice to commit to doing the work. Don’t feel like working out? So what? It’s on the schedule, so you show up and do it whether you want to or not.

What can you do?

Make a plan.

Make a plan. Start from where you are today. Choose one or two small, realistic changes that you can schedule into your day or week. Put them on your schedule and stick to it! Here are some examples:

• Do a workout

• Make a grocery list

• Shop for healthy groceries

• Prep food

• Drink more water

• Eat one fewer snack

• Eat vegetables at one meal every day

• Go to bed at the same time every night

 Now, choose your habits, schedule them, and go do them. 

Keep that commitment to yourself!