Since going Paleo my family has fallen even more in love with our grill. Paleo and grilling just work well together. The past couple of years I've even been stepping outside my grilling comfort zone more and more. Grilling things I'd never thought to have grilled before and trying new flavor combinations. I have to say I'm pretty thrilled with the results of most of my flavor experiments. In the past I'd never have thought to grill fruit, but it's amazing. Grilling fruit and adding it to traditionally savory dishes? Brilliant. Oh yes, and? New rule: every burger recipe for the rest of forever must contain grilled pineapple. OK, maybe more of a guideline. It's a seriously delicious combination though. This Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burger is always a crowd-pleaser at my house. It's not only Paleo, but Whole30, glutenfree, lower carb, and clean eating friendly. I promise you won't miss the bun! paleo, grilled pineapple burger, smoky
Once upon a time there was a woman…let’s call her Sally (forgive me if your name is Sally I use this as my pseudo person name a lot). Sally needed to lose weight. Sally wanted to be fit and healthy. But she just couldn’t get MOTIVATED. She couldn’t get motivated to get to the gym. She couldn’t get motivated to workout at home. Sally couldn’t get motivated to shop for and cook healthy meals. Poor Sally just couldn’t get MOTIVATED to lose this dang weight.
Then one day Sally found MOTIVATION. And presto: Sally worked out every day, found the time to shop for and cook healthy meals and lived happily ever after being perfectly motivated every day.
THE END
OK, not to burst anyone’s bubble, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret, lean in real close now:
MOTIVATION IS A MYTH!
Well, now before you click out and go back to your Facebook page let me elaborate on that. Motivation is a feeling. The funny thing about feelings, they come and go. Some days we will feel motivated to do the things we know we need to do, and some days we just plain won’t. By all means on those days we have that motivated feeling we should take full advantage of it! But on those other days...
We cannot rely on how we feel to win this weight loss/healthy living/getting fit war (or to reach any other goal for that matter). Yes, sure, the motivation of being healthy, fitting into that size @#$ jeans, feeling better about ourselves, being a good example for our kids, (or whatever, you get the point) may help us win some battles, but it will not win the war! Motivation will come and go. We cannot rely on it to keep us going. When times get tough motivation will take a hike (trust me, I know).
What can we rely on then?
Commitment, hard work, consistent good choices, and a positive support system.
I know, bummer right?
But if we want to win this war and not just a battle or two, that’s what it takes.
- o We have to be committed: to ourselves, to accomplishing the goals we’ve set for ourselves, to making these healthy choices into habits, to sticking to it no matter how we feel. I'll be hosting the #SFCFit Chat on Twitter January 12th at 6:30 Central time and discussing making our New Year's goals into habits. Please join us!
- o We have to be willing to do the hard work. To do the work it’s going to take to reach our goals. Whether that’s getting up early to fit in our workouts or finding the time to plan, shop for, and prepare healthy meals. It takes work, no way around it.
- We have to surround ourselves with positive, like-minded people. I cannot stress this enough. When push comes to shove this is a HUGE asset.
Our motivation and our efforts will ebb and flow, that's just life, but I believe focusing on these four things will get us from point A to point B in the straightest possible route.
Now, all that said, I do think there are things we can do to capture that motivated feeling more often. More on that tomorrow…
Now, all that said, I do think there are things we can do to capture that motivated feeling more often. More on that tomorrow…
when I was a trainer, back in the DAY, I was renown for saying to clients:
ReplyDeleteI DIDNT ASK IF YOU WERE MOTIVATED I JUST ASKED YOU TO DO XYZ.
Sure I knew which clients would respond to this was of talking (typically my longerterm ones)but I also really meant it in the way you detail above.
whether it's right or wrong there are many days I cant find my motivation and I do it anyway.
For reasons other than myself.
I'm just checking out your blog now. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteMotivation comes in waves and I find that pictures and a list of my goals staring me in the face every morning helps pump me up
"Commitment, hard work, consistent good choices, and a positive support system" - Yes, those are the key things! I wish there was some way to bottle up motivation, but alas, there isn't. We just have to try and keep the momentum going the best way we can to reach our goals. :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic post...and I did lean in. Your feelings do come and go - especially if you are a hormonal woman (lol). You absolutely have to be willing to do the hard work. YOU. People may help, but WE have to do it. Thanks Kerri, I enjoyed the read.
ReplyDeleteBut my name really is "Sally". Way to freak me out...
ReplyDeletegreat post...hmmmm maybe you should rethink Eugene!!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love, this post!! You are right on!!! We must choose, daily, to pursue those things that are worthy of pursuing. Boy...this applies to so much of life. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYup I think I'm Sally. I know what it takes, and have been successful at making good choices for months at a time. But just when I think I've developed healthy habits something falls apart and I veer off track again, for months at a time...so frustrating.
ReplyDeleteSometimes (dare I say more times than not?) getting where we're going is a matter of putting one foot in front of the other...especially in the beginning after the honeymoon phase wears off. But, then the fun of it is that our happiness switch gets curiously thrown when we aren't looking, and we find we're actually enjoying the process! To me, having fun and enjoying my life every single day is important and I am learning that is entirely possible when the four elements you mention are also a part of my day. :) Who knew that hard work could bring so much joy?!
ReplyDeleteGREAT post! Especially the part about surrounding ourselves with positive people! :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this!
ReplyDeleteMotivation is a state of mind brought on by some form of inspiration; sure call it a feeling. Is it needed to accomplish something? Nope. Does it aid in any way? I believe so. At a minimum it can often be the feeling that gets us to start something, and nothing gets accomplished if we don't first start it.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!