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How I Stay Motivated

How I Stay Motivated

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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20 Comments

  1. Katie @ Up Fit Creek

    I think, as the study shows, it would probably work for most people but certainly not for everyone. It makes me so sad when I see people join Weight Watchers, pay for a pass and then never come back, even when it’s autorenewing on their credit card each month. For me, money would be a huge motivating factor, but I think it totally depends on the person.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Money is such a factor for me too! I was just chatting with my boyfriend about the January Joiners at the gym who drop out. I want to know how they can afford to pay $300+ a year for a gym membership and never go?

  2. Cole

    Great post! Thanks for the motivation inspiration! 😀

  3. Carbzilla

    I so agree about exercise and mood. I was so pissy this morning, and then I rode my bike around the neighborhood and the moodiness was gone. Hallelujah! Seriously, no one’s gonna hire me or be my friend if I’m angry all the time. Exercise is the cure!

    Erm, I’m the girl who’s gym membership is on auto-pay, and I can’t remember when I went last. When I did cancel it, I panicked and rejoined. Weird that I just need to know it’s there when I need it.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Yes!! Exercise always improves my mood. I definitely notice a dip in my mood if I skip a workout too many days in a row. Glad you got out on the bike today!

  4. RickGetsFit

    I really like the point you made about it being a lifestyle change. I’m really trying to look at my transformation as a lifestyle change, as well. Cheers, Rick

    1. Lisa Eirene

      If you think of it as a lifestyle change instead of a diet you will be much more successful. The word “diet” makes people do weird things…

  5. Darla

    Great post, I really enjoyed it. I think if I had a free gym membership if I did go or I had to pay if I didn’t that might work for me. Reverse psychology.

  6. Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes

    Love this post. Honestly, I bet your main motivation is what you said at fist: that you didn’t see it as a choice. I think that is the mental switch that a lot of us struggle to make. Is working out and eating right a choice, or is it just what I do, who I am, a routine?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Well to be honest I DID have a choice. I could have continued the path I was on and developed diabetes at age 25. I would have also had to take blood pressure medication. I decided I didn’t have a choice with those options.

  7. Ashley

    My secret to motivation is vanity. That’s what has the real teeth.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Vanity is a good motivation!

  8. One Healthy Apple

    Incentives definitely make me work harder. One is fitting into my clothes- it’s too expensive to go out and buy all new ones!

  9. blackhuff

    I think this Gym Experiment can work – who wants to pay more for gym fees when they don’t exercise? Not me 🙂
    Great post about how you kept yourself motivated.

  10. Miz

    for me it is all about the energy
    Im aware that makes me sound old 🙂
    but Ive so so so much more energy to take on my day after I do cardio in the morning.
    and I do not love me some cardio.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m the same way. I feel so much better if I work out. I have more energy and just plain feel better!

  11. Suzanne @WorkoutNirvana

    Thanks for sharing what motivates you! You telling about that experiment is super strange because I was JUST imagining a gym policy like that the other day. I wondered what if you had to commit to a gym schedule and then were rewarded for sticking to it? And how would a gym would keep track of whether people really stuck to it? Some kind of sign out (since we already sign in)? Intriguing…

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I like the idea of a gym having incentives and rewards for working out. I wish my gym did that!

  12. DefineDiana

    I think that part motivation isn’t always there and at the begining of a fitness and healthy eating habit you have to just do it and make it a habit. When the benefits start to kick in (like the good feelings from doing the activity, more energy, etc) then it will make it easier for us to do, crave it even.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Yes! Once I got used to eating healthy and exercising I could tell a difference if I didn’t.

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