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You are here: Home / Archives for motivation

Finding Abundance

July 15, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus

The year prior to last was frankly put, lousy.

We had some health issues, which, as you know, are not only frightening, but also expensive. To make matters worse, what I thought was a very successful business model suddenly collapsed as if built on rotten toothpicks, leaving me financially scrambling. I’m fortunate; I’ve always put money away for a rainy day, but this was a downpour.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said,

“That which does not kill me makes me stronger.”

So, I guess I am sturdier for the experience. Yet, I retained scars.

One result was that I hunkered down, even as the tides began shifting. I looked for where I could shrink my life instead of how I could once again blossom. Because I attempt to live simply (all things being relative), there wasn’t a great deal to prune. I was faced with decisions akin to, “How can I save three dollars on the power bill? Is it really essential to patch the roof now or can we wait? How long can I hold off before replacing my brakes?”

Don’t misunderstand, we muddle up our existence with all too much unnecessary clutter so, if given the luxury, living within one’s means is admirable and even virtuous. However, unless one is extravagant or wealthy (or both), he or she can only cut so much fat before grinding away through bone.

Eventually, I was fortunate enough to be confronted by someone willing to have with me one of those unpleasant — but many times necessary — “courageous conversations.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Asking for help, Beliefs, Happiness, Inspiration, Newspaper Column Tagged With: abundance, affirmation, attitude, motivation, prosperity, quality of life, relationships

Why are We in Such a Hurry to Lose Weight? (Part 2)

March 11, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

upset-woman-on-scaleLast week in this space, I posited the theory that, with almost seven out of ten people overweight (including over 30 percent obese), the reason most people don’t stick with their diets long enough to reach goal weight is because they give up when the pounds don’t drop “fast enough.” Logically, that makes no sense. After all, a slow weight loss is still preferable to no weight loss, which is the inevitable result when one throws in the towel altogether.

Of course, the motive for quitting isn’t rational; it’s one of two emotional reasons. The first reason we are so desperate to speed diet is that we fear motivation will vanish before we reach our goal, and we’ll end up spent, frustrated, and still fat. That is born of the false belief that motivation leads behaviors. Last week, I explained how motivation follows behavior and therefore we can motivate ourselves whenever we desire by engaging in behaviors. Due to limited space, I couldn’t address the second reason we quit, which I’ll do today.

That second reason we are in such a hurry to lose weight — as opposed to in a thought-out, healthy, and sustainable manner —

is complicated, but in part due to the fact that “fat shaming” is still accepted, even when so many other tactless slurs are now considered loutish and vulgar. The humiliation and guilt of being overweight casts its sufferers as lesser and out of control. The overweight are recipients of ignorant, countless wagging fingers — in person and throughout the media — proclaiming boorishly that if they possessed better willpower and a stronger moral character, they’d be thin. Condescending, hurtful, and hateful messages are hurled without end.

The unfairness of how society treats its citizens of size however is not the issue.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Change, Diet, goals, mental health, Newspaper Column, Overcoming Obstacles, resolutions, Weight Loss Tagged With: achieving your goals, goals, inspiration, motivation, succesful weight loss

Why are We in Such a Hurry to Lose Weight? (Part 1)

February 26, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus

Jaw droppedI remain gobsmacked by a statistic I recently learned.

By this time of the year, north of 80 percent of people who — at the beginning of the year — said, “This time I mean it! This is the year I’m going to lose those extra pounds,” have given up. Done. Over. Wiped their hands and walked away.

The Centers for Disease Control says that, as of 2012, 69 percent of our population is overweight or obese, with almost half of those folks classified as “obese.” Those extra pounds underwrite a multitude of health conditions, both physical and emotional; and we all know about them. Therefore, one might think that the urgency to shed an expanded waistline could be enough incentive to stick with a program longer than six weeks.

One might think that. One would also be wrong.

The number one reason people quit their program is that they don’t feel they’re losing quickly enough. Granted, if they could slow down racing to the refrigerator long enough to realize that a slow weight loss is faster than a no weight loss, they might stick with it a tad longer. Yet, in all fairness, it’s difficult to remain cold sober logical about your progress when the scale won’t budge. “Get-thin-quickly” scam artists are partially to blame for the false expectations that drive the frustration, but they are actually symptoms of a deeper problem fostering the unrealistic drive to drop weight faster than a brick can fall from a six-foot wall.

So, why are we in such a hurry?

There are two factors at play.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Change, Diet, goals, mental health, Newspaper Column, Overcoming Obstacles, resolutions, Weight Loss Tagged With: achieving your goals, goals, inspiration, motivation, succesful weight loss

Before and After Is Here and Now

March 19, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

I have struggled with my weight as long as I can remember.

Depressed Overweight Woman

I always wanted some sort of miracle.

To one day just wake up in a new body, or to be standing there and suddenly have my clothes just fall off of me because they were too big.  I needed a breakthrough in more ways than one.

Along the way, I’ve loved reading others’ success stories for inspiration.   I thrill at seeing the “before and after” shots.  I get such encouragement from hearing different journeys of fellow weight-loss “Becomers”.  Sometimes just one little word from them will be just the motivation I need to make it through another day. I think that partly, it’s that commonality that is so comforting. It’s great to know that someone else is going through the same things and maybe even being victorious over some tough issues!

I have noticed one little thing though, that makes me feel like I just don’t fit in.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Author, Health, Inspiration, Overcoming Obstacles, Self Talk Tagged With: attitude, change, encouragement, happiness, inspiration, motivation, success stories, thankfulness, weight loss, weight loss success

One Telephone Pole at a Time

February 28, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Photo from Alegna Marie's Photostream on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/angela_sleeping/

It was painful to watch her try to walk; albeit not as painful for me as it was for her.

“Sit down,” I suggested, pulling up a chair, wanting to relieve her of her burden.

She stared at it, shakily supporting herself with her metal cane, the type with four rubber-capped legs that stands on its own. “Do you have a chair without arms?” She asked, referencing her size with a flick of her bulky arm. “It’s hard for me to fit in this type of chair.”

I scurried away and returned with the requested model, placing it behind her. She sluggishly lowered her heaviness on to the seat, all the while leaning weightily on the cane for support. After placing herself, she exhaled a strained sigh of exhaustion, took a moment to regain her composure, and said, “Hi, I’m Sheila. I need to lose weight. I can’t live like this anymore.”

I’m always interested in what triggers us to finally take action. After all, weight doesn’t come on overnight. We fight it for years, constructing excuses, living in denial; until eventually we cross a line that drives us from needing to do something to actually doing it. It’s at that nexus where I enter the scene.

“What brought you here today?” I asked.

“I can’t get my mail.”

“Tell me more,” I said, looking for clarification.

She exhaled again, attempting to catch her breath. “My mailbox is at the end of the driveway, which is up a hill.” She rested. “Well, it’s not really a hill, it’s more of an incline, but I can’t walk that far anymore. I needed someone to bring me the mail yesterday.” Another deep exhalation escaped her lips as she steadied herself on her cane, relying on it to steady herself while sitting. “That’s no way to live. I have to do something.”

That was how we met.

Unfortunately, after a few months, she got a new job and moved away. We lost contact.

Not long ago, she resurfaced, visiting family in town. I did not recognize her.

“You look fantastic!” I exclaimed, upon realizing who she was.

“I’m down 163 pounds – and I walk every day.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, Exercise, Health, Motivation, Newspaper Column, Overcoming Obstacles, Weight Loss Tagged With: change, exercise, healthier lifestyle, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle change, motivation, quality of life, small steps, weight loss

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