The Weekend Doldrums & Determination
Each weekend since I’ve started my 2013 weightloss project I have backslid. Like, I start out each Friday at my lowest weight number and end the weekend about two pounds heavier. For a while I thought it was a water issue – it’s always nicer to say it’s water, amiright?!- until the gain was consistently tied to giving into temptation every single weekend without fail, except one – that weekend I stayed consistent and driven and lost. I want that again.
This weekend my goal is to stay on track and hopefully leave one more decade behind by next weekend. And if there is no loss, at the very least, no gain will be much better than gaining those pesky 2-3 pounds back every weekend!
I was spending some time seeking motivation at my favorite weightloss blog yesterday (running for cookies) when I read her musings on motivation versus determination.
http://www.runsforcookies.com/2012/01/difference-between-motivation-and.html
I know it’s mostly just a game of semantics, but for me, it helped to think about my own power as a dieter, exerciser, health seeker and person. When you talk about motive, you’re often looking for external resources to keep headed in the right direction- I have piles of motivational stories and resources in my head for when I get to a tough moment. But it’s my determination that keeps me on track. It’s my determination that sends me walking around the block, that makes me run. It’s my determination that allowed me to only eat half of the donut yesterday instead of the whole donut followed by it’s brother and sister who never got claimed. My determination is what allows me to have confidence, to be to absolute and resolute, that allows me to walk the world and tell people I’m losing a pile of weight. Relying on motivation to pull me through rough moments is almost like not taking responsibility for my weightloss. Motivation gets me excited, determination gives me confidence. I always hear people say, “I’m so unmotivated.” I have said it often. But what we really are saying in that moment is, “I’m not determined so I’m not going to follow through.” Then I get all grumpy because there I am with that blasted two pounds on my butt again!
Yesterday and all last night when I was confronted with temptation, all I had to do was whisper to myself, “Determination.” Guess what? So far it’s Tamara:with all the points and Temptation: 0. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?
Determination.