I’ve fallen off multiple bandwagons multiple times. The weight-loss wagon. The running wagon. The blogging wagon. All of them.
Generally speaking, it’s tough to get back up on that wagon that you’re chasing. But it’s NOT impossible. This year, I set some lofty goals and that is taking some mighty remotivation efforts.
The Fall Running Fail
I had a big goal this past year for the Annapolis 10 miler. However, I kicked off my training in the wrong shoes. My Achilles and my calves were super tight for the better part of 6 weeks until I realized what was going on.
It made it really painful to run, my training suffered and I fell behind my pals that I regularly ran with. It blew up my training efforts and my confidence.
Come race day, I fell behind bigly. It was hot (though not as hot as previous years), and I couldn’t keep up. My first five miles were great – sub 1 hour! I was on track to hit my goal. But for those of you who have run the Annapolis 10 miler, you know that the back 5 miles are all hills. My pace slowed. I was missing my crew to keep me moving and similar to my experience at my last marathon in 2010, I used myself as a mental punching bag for not keeping up with the group and for failing myself. I was too fat. I was too slow. Insert all the negative self-talk here. It was…demotivating.
I took a break. I introverted hard. It was easy to introvert when little man’s schedule was packed in the fall with soccer, scouts and all the other things I had going on. It was easy to use this as an excuse to keep to myself and bask in my own shame for how my weight had ballooned, and for how I felt slow and how I felt that this all attributed to how distant I felt from the running group that lifted me up out of so many ruts and kept me moving.
I kept trying to lift myself up. I was grasping for anything to remotivate me and help me get these pounds off.
I tried Bikini Body Guide (Kayla Itsines) but I just didn’t have the time it required at the gym.
I tried FWTFL. But my coach was kind of a dud and the group I was put into was not super helpful.
I joined the Peloton Digital App. I like it well enough but I also enjoy working out with a group so it’s great for my solo workout days but not so great when motivation is my key issue.
I joined WW because my mom and sister have had a lot of success with it. But it wasn’t for me. It works great for those who adopt the lifestyle but I needed something more. Again, accountability.
You name it, I tried it. I need more accountability. You see, here’s the thing when you’re suffering from anxiety about your weight, and generally have a little ADD when it comes to sticking with programs – accountability and having people to show up for is what ultimately makes a difference. I can get into my experience with each of these separately but it was more me than the programs themselves.
But it’s a new year. With new goals. I have 30 lbs I want to lose (15 by my birthday) so I’ve gone on a little binge with race sign-ups to get myself back to running and I’m forcing myself to rejoin the night crew during the week when I can and hold myself to these short HIIT workouts when I can’t make it to the gym.
How to Remotivate Yourself after a Bad Slump
Share Your Goals with Friends and Family
Share your goals with others. Share struggles and get them to be your cheerleaders. Whether it’s your group of gal pals or your spouse/SO or a coach, if you don’t share your goals you don’t have anyone to keep you moving and hold you accountable.
Set short term goals
I loved this piece from MyFitnessPal on recommitting to goals (theirs is midyear but I think this is relevant at any time). “In goal-setting, there is a concept called process goals, which means goals you set as part of the process — getting to the pool four times each week, working your way to be able to run your intervals at a certain pace, finally doing that one workout you’ve never been able to do. …. While you don’t have to race to be motivated for working out, smaller races along the way, with their own goals, can be easier to get yourself out the door for.” I don’t really have a “big race” goal except for wanting to hit half marathon #5 (fall 2020), but to keep myself motivated I signed up for the Striders Championship series, and have a couple of smaller races to get me through the spring and summer.
Reward Yourself
Break your goals down and reward yourself. It’s easy to lose motivation when you’re not seeing progress as fast as you want or if you get bored. So set up smaller rewards along the way to keep you motivated. Whether it’s a new piece of workout gear or a pedicure, find something that’ll keep you motivated to accomplish your goal in smaller increments.
Find an Accountability Buddy
Hubs and I both have some serious weight loss goals so we’ve been holding ourselves accountable to eating in more (which hits two of our goals), and we’re doing our own little 8-week challenge. I joined a challenge with my MRTT group (4% loss in 8 weeks is the goal). I’m diving in and staying active. But I’m leaning on him and this group to hold me accountable.
How I’m Holding Myself Accountable
Create a toolbox. Use what works and find those buddies to keep you accountable. Here’s my main plan to reach my goals:
- Tracking food in MyFitnessPal – reduce carbs & sugar.
- Limit weekday drinking and eating out – especially lunches.
- Show up to 2 group runs each week. One solo run with my peloton app.
- Follow the new HIIT program I purchased over the holidays. I’m trying to be active in the facebook groups of people who started it the same time I did (last week).
- Complete the 31 day Ragnar team challenge (31 days of workouts). So far I’m 5 for 5!
I also see myself blogging about the changes in my habits and body here. I don’t want to talk the talk if I can’t walk the walk.
So I’m picking myself back up. I’m recommitting to my goals. I’m finding the strategies that I KNOW work. Now is a great time to recommit to what really matters to YOU also. Whether it’s blogging (raises hand), fitness, weight loss, or any other goal.
How do you remotivate yourself when you fall off track?