How To Get Past A Post Event Motivation Plunge

As I approach my 55th birthday in a few days, I feel prompted to write this post about how health and fitness motivation plunges after a milestone birthday. My mind drifts back to 5 yrs ago when many of us were turning 50, how we made an effort to look our best for the milestone celebration. We were all very motivated to drop a few pounds to look sizzling at 50. However, 5 years later, many haven’t managed to maintain their 50th birthday figure. On the blog today, I explore the reasons why this is so.

Motivation is like a party animal. Great for a night out but not someone you would rely on to pick you up from the airport. – BJ Fogg

When I decided to wear the unlined dress in the images (with slits on both sides) for a party this summer, I knew I had to make sure my abs were in good shape. Wearing any kind of tummy-tucking undergarments would have been impossible without them showing. For this reason, I was motivated to be a bit more disciplined with my food in the weeks preceding the event. 

An upcoming event or party is a powerful but temporary motivation

Aiming to look your best in a dress for an upcoming party is powerful motivation for staying active and mindful of your diet. Knowing you have a special event on the horizon can provide that extra push to commit to your fitness routine and make healthier food choices. It’s not just about fitting into the dress; it’s about feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin. The anticipation of turning heads at the party can inspire you to be consistent with your workouts, whether it’s hitting the gym, going for a run, or trying out a new fitness class. 

At the same time, it encourages you to be more conscious of what you eat—opting for nutritious, low-calorie meals and snacks that support your goals. This kind of short-term motivation can be incredibly effective in helping you achieve your health and fitness objectives. The discipline and habits you build in preparation for the event should have lasting benefits, setting you on a path toward a healthier, more active lifestyle long after the party is over.

Your motivation plunges because you’re human

Human nature is such that, after a big event like a party, where you’ve put effort into preparing your body and appearance, it’s common to experience a drop in motivation afterwards. This phenomenon can be explained by a few psychological and physiological factors:

1. Goal Achievement: The preparation and event itself represent a specific goal. Once that goal is achieved, there’s a natural decrease in motivation because the immediate purpose that was driving you is no longer there. Without a new goal to focus on, motivation tends to stall.

2. Adrenaline and Dopamine Crash: Leading up to and during the event, your body may produce higher levels of adrenaline and dopamine, which create excitement and energy. After the event, when these levels drop, you might feel a corresponding drop in motivation and energy, leading to a kind of emotional and physical “crash.”

3. Post-Event Blues: Sometimes, after a high-energy event, people experience a sense of anticlimax or a feeling of emptiness. The excitement is over, and the return to routine can feel dull in comparison, making it hard to maintain the same level of motivation.

4. Lack of Immediate Next Steps: Often, motivation is driven by having something to look forward to. After a big event, if there’s no immediate next goal or project, it can be hard to find the drive to continue with the same level of effort.

5. Physical and Mental Fatigue: The preparation and the event itself can be exhausting. Once it’s over, your body and mind might simply need rest, leading to a natural dip in energy and motivation.

To counteract this, it can help to set a new goal or focus on self-care and recovery after the event, ensuring that you gradually transition back into your routine without losing momentum.

After all the hard work you put into looking your best for your big event, you probably  just want to relax a little afterwards. Have some cake, lounge around looking at your photos and videos, and chat with friends about the party. Hitting the gym the next day, week and maybe month, might be far from your mind. 

This is why being in good shape as a lifestyle is far better than just getting in shape for an event. If you’ve built the habit of discipline, your body will naturally signal when it needs a workout, and your brain will remind you not healthy to eat large slices of cake every day. You won’t find yourself struggling to find motivation to work out weeks after the celebration—because staying fit will already be part of your routine.

K✨

More on the blog!

https://kehindepitan.com/this-is-how-fasting-can-make-you-put-on-weight/