14. Motivation and Weight Loss Goals with ADHD

Balanced Living with ADHD

Today's episode is all about motivation and how it affects us people with ADHD and how it ties into when you have a weight loss goal. You might know the feeling of wanting to get started on something, but you just aren't able to get going or get any kind of forward progress.
Today I talk about six ways that motivation may or may not show up for you and the kind of struggles that you might have with ADHD and nine things you can do to help it.
Six ways that motivation may show up for you:

1. Overwhelm - becoming overwhelmed with information and being in state of paralysis to get started
2. Boredom - finding it hard to pay attention to or become interested in any task because you are reactive to boredom
3. Anxiety - being unable to concentrate on anything or start anything because of anxiety
4. Shame and Discomfort - feeling these feelings deeply and being triggered by unhelpful comments and/or ideas about how you should be able to lose weight
5. Task Urgency Reliance - relying on a sense of urgency or a deadline because our brains want novelty and excitement. With urgency it's easier to do things, but without the sense of urgency it can be difficult and unhealthy to become motivated
6. Energy drain - monotony of daily tasks can seem draining and exhausting, making it hard to be motivated

Nine things to help with motivation:

1. Break things into smaller tasks
2. Recognize and celebrate completing those smaller tasks
3. Assign a small amount of time to work on the tasks (like doing a five-minute fitness video you find on YouTube)
4. Change things up and keep it interesting
5. Redefine the reason you want to do something in the first place
6. Tap into your strengths and your likes
7. Ask for help (or accountability)
8. Find ways to make it fun!
9. Have a plan or to-do list

The key is to remember what works for you and play to your own strengths.
What resonated with you on this episode?

I'd love to hear from you! You can connect with me in the following ways:
Instagram: @balancedlivingwithadhd
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.balancedlivingwithadhd.com
I'd love to know if there's something you want to hear more about or if you want to let me know about your own experiences with ADHD and weight loss.