Is Your Diet Destroying Your Drive?

"While it may seem like setting a weight-related goal is just the kickstart you need, consider how doing so may actually destroy your motivation in the long run. Motivation is a finicky beast. It's often fleeting-here today, gone tomorrow. Motivation researchers found that there are different types of motivation, which sit on a spectrum with extrinsic motivation at one end and intrinsic motivation at the other."

"Extrinsic motivation kicks into high gear when you are trying to make a change to reach a certain weight goal, to meet a certain health recommendation, or outdo your friends on social media. Extrinsic motivation is often the driving force when you are trying to make a change because you feel like you "should," "ought to," or like to win. Often, you're doing that behavior to keep your doctor happy or to avoid feelings of guilt or failure."

"Making a change to change your body weight, shape, or size is a form of extrinsic motivation. Tracking calories and monitoring weight suggest that extrinsic motivation is the driving force. With intrinsic motivation, you change because it feels good physically and emotionally. When you make changes driven primarily by intrinsic motivation, you are more likely to stick with them. Trying to lose weight typically sounds exciting at first."

Trying to lose weight often begins with enthusiasm followed by inflated expectations and possible defeat due to false hope syndrome. Setting weight-related goals can undermine long-term motivation because initial optimism may collapse. Motivation exists on a spectrum from extrinsic to intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation drives changes aimed at meeting goals, social comparison, pleasing others, or avoiding guilt, and often relies on tracking calories and weight. Intrinsic motivation arises from enjoyment, satisfaction, and positive physical or emotional feelings, and the motivation comes from within. Changes driven primarily by intrinsic motivation are more likely to be maintained over time.

Read at Psychology Today