Day 2: How to Hit Your Goals When Motivation is Gone

Today Was One of Those Days

Today was one of those days. Honestly, it felt like the day was over before it even started. It was tough to get out of bed. I’m not depressed, but my body aches and is in shock from sticking to my new diet. I thought I’d feel a rush of energy by day two, but working out is hard on the body, and I definitely felt it today. The motivation just wasn’t there. This was the kind of day that would test how badly I want to change.

So, how did I hit my goals today?

Imagining Who You Could Become and Reminding Yourself Who You Are

When I finally got up, I looked in the mirror to snap my daily photo. My dog was tugging on my shorts, and I was hit with the reality: I’m out of shape, I’m overweight, and I’m not living up to my potential.

In that moment, two thoughts ran through my mind:

1. I could have another case of the “tomorrows” and fool myself into thinking that starting over tomorrow would somehow work better.

2. Or, I could accept that I’m not where I want to be yet, but I can get better every day by taking action. That gives me a daily goal and a sense of purpose. If I don’t pursue that purpose, I’m not living up to the potential God gave me.

On top of all that, I asked myself: If I were a husband and father right now, and my kids needed me, would I hit the snooze button? Would I ignore them just to get more sleep? Or would I do the right thing and get up to take care of them?

As I write this, I can honestly say the motivation didn’t magically come back. But something else did—a fire inside me. That fire made the aches and sugar cravings easier to handle. In that moment, I made a decision: to do the right thing, get up, and become better than I was yesterday. And that made life feel more meaningful.

Today’s Workouts

Today, I walked for 20 minutes during lunch, even though it was raining. Being out in nature made me feel alive.
It’s 7:30 now, and I’m heading to the gym at 8. I’ll do 20 minutes on the stair climber, then an hour of strength training—mostly kettlebell swings and chest exercises.

Until tomorrow,

— Josh

Day 2

256 Pounds | 40 Inch Waist