What Motivates You?

The motivation to change begins with you. However, our team is extensively trained in the psychology of motivation to spur you onward toward your goals. We never use negative motivation!  You will only get positive reinforcement from the IEM team!

There are many problem-solving strategies, self-assessment tools, and various other techniques available that can help re-direct you when your mind wants to veer off onto the wrong path. Because each person is unique, the techniques we implement will be specially tailored to your needs.  In the end, our goal is to be part of your support team and we want to see you succeed! 

Stage 1 - Fear-Based Motivation
Fear-based motivation is an emotionally charged form of motivation. In this stage, you may fear getting any heavier than you already are.  You may be frightened that you are starting to look like your mom. Maybe you had a health scare like a bad blood test result or recent illness. Regardless of what got your attention, the first stage of motivation generally starts with a fear whereby you respond with action.

The fear-based stage is actually a positive because it motivates you to do something about your situation. The problem with fear-based motivation, however, is that it is not long lasting. Once you take action and the problem begins to fade, the fear dissipates and you will do one of two things: you will either revert back to your old behaviors, or you will move up to the second stage of motivation.

Stage 2 - Feedback-Based Motivation
Feedback-based motivation is fueled by all the various forms of feedback that you get from a variety of outside factors. For example, perhaps you are motivated to move forward because you see the scale moving in the right direction. Perhaps friends and family members are commenting on how good you look. Perhaps your clothes are fitting looser and that swimsuit you’ve wanted to wear seems more of a reality.  Perhaps members of the opposite sex are starting to notice you and you relish the new attention.

The problem with feedback-based motivation is that it, too,  eventually ends. What happens when the scale is exactly where you wanted it to be or your clothes can't get any looser? What if friends and family members that complimented you early on quit commenting about your weight by the third or fourth time they see you?

As the feedback begins to diminish, your motivation can begin to fade and you will move to one of two places. You will either revert back to your old behaviors and gain your weight back, or you will move into the third stage of motivation.

Stage 3 - Innate or Inner Drive Motivation
Innate or “inner drive” motivation encompasses the "big picture." This stage isn't as easy to identify as the other two. In this stage of motivation, you come to understand that eating right and exercising isn't a "have to"; rather, it's simply a part of who you are and what you do.

When a person reaches this stage, self-motivation is based not on weight loss, but on living a lifestyle of health that matters. It's coming to terms with the fact that you are in control of your destiny and that each choice and decision has a consequence.

In this stage:
◾  You have an inner desire to continue with your program no matter what life throws
​     your way;
◾  Your coping skills have become a natural part of you so that eating wrong seems harder
     than eating right.