Seriously, how do you do it?

[Lunk1]

Find the will power that is. I have been on a run away train in terms of my diet since around December. I had done really well from Sept-Dec and then a series of events including injuries side tracked me and kept me from staying on course. I have not seen the inside of the gym in nearly 3 months and I have gained at least 20lbs of fat that I had lost prior to Dec.

I feel like shyt but I cant seem to find the motivation or will power to jump back on the proverbial horse. Everytime I try, it lasts for a day or 2 and I find myself eating crap and being a lazy fuk.

Any suggestions on how to fire up that drive again???

[Dpyle]

A motivational partner? Doesn't have to be some one from your real life necessarily. Maybe just some one to text and send you little motivational rants and jeers to help keep you headed in the right direction.

Don't feel bad lunk. I've been in the same position since the end of the most improved comp. bounced straight out of the bulk classic right in to the new one with little break between. Pushed hard for near 6 months. Made some great accomplishments with my body, but alas I haven't seen the gym in over a month. Between those 2 back to back and moving to third shift I've been fried. Happens from time to time. I continued with my eating habits minus the volume, but here I maintain.

[ppwc1985]

As we get older and get into this position from time to time, I have found spending a crapload of money on supplements or even a cycle if someone wants to go that way will motivate me to get my ass up and moving. A training partner could help to.

[rollingthunder]

you will never "conquer" it - the lethargy, sloth, gluttony - whatever you want to call it. at least, i never will.

i can, of course, surrender. that's easy! (and VERY tempting at times, especially as we get older!) but that, too, comes at a high price - in terms of self-respect, health, etc.

it's a lifelong battle. i just have to keep "fighting", to keep "pressing on", so to speak. when i fall down, i just have to get back up again.

sorry bro. wish i had a magic pill for you, but i think you know that nobody has one.

[ac guy]

Im in the same boat. Down 40 lbs since March, but for the last 2 months keep gaining and losing 10 lbs every 2 weeks. Can't get back in the groove to lose the last 30 lbs I have to get below 15%. Only have myself to blame.

[tdoe11]

As we get older and get into this position from time to time, I have found spending a crapload of money on supplements or even a cycle if someone wants to go that way will motivate me to get my ass up and moving. A training partner could help to.

/\ what I was gonna say in a round about way

[gearbox]

Find the will power that is. I have been on a run away train in terms of my diet since around December. I had done really well from Sept-Dec and then a series of events including injuries side tracked me and kept me from staying on course. I have not seen the inside of the gym in nearly 3 months and I have gained at least 20lbs of fat that I had lost prior to Dec.

I feel like shyt but I cant seem to find the motivation or will power to jump back on the proverbial horse. Everytime I try, it lasts for a day or 2 and I find myself eating crap and being a lazy fuk.

Any suggestions on how to fire up that drive again???

For someone thats a straight shooter like yourself I am surprised you asked.
You do not want it bad enough, or sacrifice the foods we love.

My idea is how do you know if its worth it if you have not met your goal. Meet your goal then decide was it worth it. I cant answer this yet, but not eating cake at bday parties and a lot less cheese bread cookies 5he the list goes on forever.
So again the question remains. Is it worth it? Get there and then you can personally decide for yourself.

[Brazensol]

Sorry to hear of your temporary set backs but that is all it is - temporary.
Dpyle had a very good suggestion for you - get a motivated training partner. You are less likely to not show up when someone else is counting on you to be there. Also, though tedious, I log everything I put into my body everyday. Calories, supplements, otc meds, prescription meds... everything. It helps to keep me honest and takes out the guess work. I am getting to the point where I can track my eating in my head so I may be able to back off this soon.

As for me right now what keeps me going strong is the weekly - even daily - changes I am going through. I look in the mirror, not as a a narcissist mind you, and I am simply amazed at how we have the ability to completely transform ourselves! When I was out riding a few days ago I had a car slow down and a couple of younger guys were just amazed at my condition (caught me totally off gard) and the compliments got even better when they asked how old I was and I told them 51. It's little things like this that help keep me motivated even if it doesn't happen very often. I am so excited thinking about my first cycle and what kind of changes that will bring. It is hard to wait but I want to do it right. I have this mental picture in my head of how I want to look and feel and to see myself getting closer and closer keeps me going. When I get hungry on the lower calorie days I just keep thinking to myself there goes a few more fat cells!

As for right now my motivation is vascularity. I want to look like a road map! Why? I think it looks awesome! No other reason than that. I've been in pretty good shape before but never like I am right now. I did not have vascularity like I do now even when I was sub 10% bf. It's the little things I guess... lol.

Hope this helps at least a little. Good luck! You can do it!

[V-ROID]

You just sound depressed to me. Hard to get motivated to do anything other than eat, sleep and poop when you are depressed.

[OnTheSauce]

Hangout with people who are doing it. Go to hardcore gyms where the beasts are. Makes me feel inferior so I keep at it to change that

[jasc]

Look in the mirror and ask yourself

"would I fukk me?"

if the answer is no, GTF back in gear

....

Summer seems to be a good motivator for me. Any given day you may go swimming or have to take off your shirt. With the amount of hard work we put in at the gym, do you really want to look flabby when that time comes?

[tarmyg]

Lunk1,

Perhaps your demotivation have nothing to do with weather you are going or not going to the gym? The best thing you can do is to be totally honest with yourself and confront whatever it is that is bothering you and only then, I believe, can you start making the physical change you want!

~T

[Lunk1]

All very good responses. I do and have always agreed that having a good workout partner has helped. I have not had one for quite a while but was doing my best when I had someone giving me reason to just show up, then the competiveness in me came out and it was on.

Unfortunately I have burned through several and have not recruited another yet.

PPWC...I have gone that route and it does work but alas I am tired of being on that roller coaster. I don't want to be committed simply because I'm cycling.

[< <Samson> >]

Will power is very tough to find in many aspects. All the way from AAs abuse to food abuse.

It all comes down to your self control. Problems arise and put a serious strain on your self control. For instance: Social eating, lets go to xxxx and eat some crap. That is tough at times for sure.

My current one is me being sick as a dog. Being sick sure makes it more difficult taking down a half dozen eggs at a time compared to a few slices of oh so deliciously greasy pizza.


I look for sources of motivation all around. For instance, fat gross looking people who ask me why I never eat. < Well, I do eat just not shit that makes me look like garbage.

Depression is another huge factor for sure. Me suffering through this self caused hell of a PCT sure pushed my limits.


Ask yourself, why do I have to eat this garbage instead of "real" energy loaded foods that fit what you need to eat in terms of nutrients.

And last but not least, I just don't like looking at myself being a pile. I been there a few times - It don't feel so good.


Find your inner Chi. . . LoL

[energizer bunny]

what exactly do you struggle with mate?

is it the eating of bland foods day in day out? having to count macros? going to the gym? cardio? weights? all?

[Lunk1]

what exactly do you struggle with mate?

is it the eating of bland foods day in day out? having to count macros? going to the gym? cardio? weights? all?

Right now ALL pretty much sums it up.

[austinite]

Do you even lift, bro??

[< <Samson> >]

Right now ALL pretty much sums it up.

It's all psychological inner turmoil BS.

^ This is the toughest thing for the human kind to deal with. Thus the reason we have 700 pound bahimaths


This is what I tell myself and anyone really going through some moody phase of eating crap: Just stop yourself, it achieves nothing.

It's pretty much like throwing tamper tantrums because the day is not going your way.

[energizer bunny]

Right now ALL pretty much sums it up.

well I can seriously relate to the diet side i.e eating bland foods not so much the training, I love training cardio aswell lol.........

im following a plan with baseline right now, its called flexible dieting or IIFYM........maybe this could be the way for you mate, you can eat most of the foods you like i.e pizza, curry etc aslong as you hit your macros and micros for the day.........now a lot of people will cry about this and say eat chicken blah blah blah and surely that will work but if you are like me and just want a decent body while enjoying life then this is a good form of eating, actually its making me a better eater, I used to binge at wknds now I have control over what I eat, ill have a little here and there..............its not new by any stretch and most people have been practicing this for years! anyway just a thought mate.

[jasc]

Do you even lift, bro??

"like"

[spywizard]

what i do when i'm injured, or lacking the "will power" for dieting correctly..

Is i'll explore a new style of dieting... paleo as an example..

or i'll switch to a style of training that i don't normally do.

or i'll do specific type training say for increasing my high jump..

seems to always keep me going..

[starscream]

Like other members have already stated one thing I have found really helpful to get out of a slump is to go spend some money on new things for your goals..

Like new gym shoes, supplements, or training gear (gloves, lifting belt, straps) maybe a new blender to get you excited about making better smoothies..

I think psychologically it does something for us. Along the lines of how a girl might be feeling unattractive so she will go shopping and buy a new outfit. hopefully regaining her positive self image!
There is definitely some correlation between new stuff and our emotional state.

Endorphins or something maybe haha

Plus with the commitment of your hard earned money, you tend to want to hold to it a little more so it wasn't "just a waste of money"

Just my thoughts..

[starscream]

Look in the mirror and ask yourself

"would I fukk me?"

Images of Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs haha

[JAB1]

For me the best thing to get out of a rut is to just show up, no matter what. Even if I take a couple extra days of I feel the drive dwindle and everything starts to fall of. If I just force myself through a few days of hitting everything spot on, diet, training, etc. I get motivated again. Im either all or nothing, so I try my best to be all. The longer I slack, the more justifications I make. Once I get over those first few days all I can think is...What the F*&k was I thinking, and am totally recharged and ready to go. For that reason the breaks can be good, as long as I dont let them get the best of me and stay off too long. So, my advice. Kick yourself in the ass and just force it no matter what!! As soon as you mind says skip a meal/gym. Slap yourself and call yourself a p&#*y, and push through!!! Few days in, as soon as you get sore, and start to "feel" you mind muscle connection, I think you will be back in the game and re focused.

[Gaspari1255]

I think a lot of people, myself included, were once guilty of this "If I miss one meal/work out - my life is over and I will look like shit" phenomenon. In reality, you can miss a lot of meals, miss a workout here and there, but give a decent effort and you will still look good. I used to have a "give 110% of your wasting your time" attitude which is total rubbish. Get to the gym a few times a week, eat a decent diet, live a life, and you will look better than 95% of the general public....I don't plan on ever stepping on stage, and I don't think you do either - so what's the point living life like a legit BBer? I think we're all a bit too harsh on ourselves and expect too much from ourselves...

[Rusty11]

Sounds familiar. My problem turned out to be hypothyroidism. Any possibility...??

[Lunk1]

Sounds familiar. My problem turned out to be hypothyroidism. Any possibility...??

Nope, just been hyperlazy

[Giggle]

I got out of a similar rut by changing gyms.
It was like there were all new toys to play with, and I found my inner Chi, Sampson lol.
Also, it felt like I didn't have to have the same old conversations with the same old guys. I didn't have to impress anyone - just go in any f'ing lift.

[ironbeck]

Its k bro, your human, no need to be down on yourself or even feel guilty becuase that wont change anything. you will change it when you are ready. How about the wife is she being supportive or just ignoring your "change" in lifestyle?

[< <Samson> >]

I got out of a similar rut by changing gyms.
It was like there were all new toys to play with, and I found my inner Chi, Sampson lol.
Also, it felt like I didn't have to have the same old conversations with the same old guys. I didn't have to impress anyone - just go in any f'ing lift.

You know, I been really thinking of changing gyms. . . But, this one is the closest

Should give me some fresh motivation