Motivation

[katiasasha]

I thought I'd share the notes I took during my meeting yesterday. It was a good one!

The theme was Motivation.

On the board: Motivation is whatever inspires you to do the things necessary to reach your weight goal and stay there!

In a circle drawing, our leader had "motivated," "moderate," and "casual" approaches to WW. The "motivated" approach is when we first come in. We've had a "last straw" moment and we're determined and focused on making positive changes. People in our meeting shared some "last straw" moments: not fitting into a chair, not going out socially because felt too self-conscious, seeing onself in a photo.

Then, over time, our resolve/motivation may lessen, and we're just moderately following the program. This is when we start to have lapses and can start derailing.

If we give in to the lapses, and don't get back on track, then we're just casually following the program, unfocused, if at all, and we've entered the "col-lapse" stage.

So, to stay on track, we have to keep focusing on what is motivating us to lose weight, which may change over time. We can focus on both what we don't want (what we're moving away from): hiding in photos, achy knees, wearing big sizes AND on what we do want (what we're moving toward): wearing smaller sizes, being more active, feeling more attractive.

A few other things our leader said that I jotted down:

• What brings you into WW isn't necessarily what keeps you here.
• WW gives you better choices; it doesn't take your choices away.
• What you eat and how much you move are some of the very few things in life that you can control.
• You have to love yourself and make yourself happy, no matter what your size. No one else is going to do it for you.
• The program is easy to follow if you think it is easy.
• It's just overweight. It doesn't make you good or bad. It's something you can change.
• Attitude influences behavior. If you can't change a fact, change your attitude.
• Everything we do is motivated by the payoff we get.
• You're not stuck with you. You can always change. You can reverse obesity.

[cheryl39]

I'm glad you wrote this up, I thought it was a good meeting too but I forgot the 3 kinds of motivation. Thanks

[Woodland]

Thanks for these notes! I like having phrases around to help me keep my attitude aligned. I got some good new ones from your list.

[jessachinacat]

I love this post, thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us!
It's exactly what I needed to read today on this rainy Monday!

[yoj6179]

Thank you. I really needed this today.

[wentzmom]

Thanks for sharing. It's good to be reminded of what really counts.

[JS1982]

I REALLY NEEDED THIS TODAY! THANK YOU SO MUCH

[mseeebee]

I printed this out. I need it so much. Am really glad it was brought to the top of the lists again.

[RocksAnn]

Thank you!

[angelskiss]

I'm new to leading meetings and I read this. It was similar to what I was planning for my meeting but not in the same direction. It made me nervous. lol. then after panicking for a day I realized the date. Oops.

I like reading the meeting notes. They aren't posted very often anymore.

[LillieG]

"What you eat and how much you move are some of the very few things in life that you can control."

This is my favorite point. It reminds me of being in a WW meeting a year ago with a woman about to be sent to Iraq. People were wondering why she was spending her last month OP, when she was facing such a tough situation. She responded, "I can't control that I'm going to Iraq, or what will happen to me when I'm there, but the food I eat is one thing I can control. If I eat well, I'll do my job better and be happier." I thought that was a great attitude. Lillie

[sandycheeks]

thanks for typing this up....