Motivating out of a rut

Recently, like most people in these trying times I got myself into a bit of a rut, I found myself with no motivation or will power to eat well, exercise or meditate, 3 things that I have been pretty good with since I lost 50kg in 2017. My weight started to creep back up, my sleep was getting worse and my body started to hurt in places it hasn’t hurt for some time. The worst thing of all is that my mood was starting to get worse and this was affecting my family life. I realised that I needed to do something, but what?

I tried for a couple of weeks with the classic “I’ll start Monday” approach, Sunday I would treat as a last supper situation and binge with plenty of junk food and rubbish, Monday would roll around and I would do pretty good, I did my fasting till lunch ate no processed foods or refined carbs and went for a little run, Tuesday was much the same, by Wednesday I was craving sweets and would crave and binge on a block of chocolate. Then it was all over and I spent the rest of the week doing no exercise and eating poorly, then repeat all over again the next week.

I then realised that I was missing one of the key components to my 2017 weight loss success, Meditation. Once I incorporated my daily 10 minute meditation practice into my routine I was able to better cope with my cravings. The practice does not eliminate or even reduce impulses and cravings but it helps reframe them in your mind and helps you identify that these things will pass. I personally use Sam Harris’ Waking Up App for my meditation practice but I have also used Headspace in the past and I find them both great.

I am still in the process of getting “back on track” and I know it is a hard long road but you need to make a start. Another great tool that I’ve found works is to have something to work towards, in my case it is the Hubert 100 mile race in May 2021. I ran the 100km in 2019 and was in training for the 100 mile in May 2020 before the Covid situation cancelled all events, this was also part cause of me losing motivation.

The best way I have found of getting out of a rut is to;

1. Start (sounds basic but can be the hardest step)
2. Set short easily attainable goals (success will motivate you further)
3. Daily meditation (10 minutes guided or unguided is fine)
4. Daily exercise (30 minutes of walking is a good start)
5. 8 hours of sleep opportunity per night (doesn’t matter if you don’t sleep for 8 hours as long as you give yourself the option)
6. Watch your food (food is complex and you need to find out what works for you, but if you simply cut out processed food and added sugar you’ll be on the right path)
7. Support (don’t go it alone, we are social creatures and as such we have greater success when we work together)

Thanks for you time reading this post, if I can assist you in motivating let me know.

Stuart Burgoyne