Coach Jeri explains how to uncover your true “why” and the powerful difference between why, motivation, and inspiration. She shares personal tips for keeping your drive strong and staying inspired so you can turn intention into action and create lasting change on your health journey.
Hi, Coach Jeri here!
We often hear how important it is to know your “why”—that it will help keep you motivated, strengthen your staying power, and shift your mindset from “diet” to “lifestyle.” Recently, a member who was feeling hopeless told me she couldn’t identify her “why.” That conversation made me realize something important: there’s a big difference between what your why is, how to stay motivated, and how inspiration plays a role.
Before we dive into those three concepts, let’s get one thing straight: there’s really only one true why: your health.
Your why is a deeper, lasting internal foundation that gives you purpose. Anyone who’s ever had a health scare knows that nothing is more important than doing everything possible to stay healthy—for yourself and for your loved ones. So if anyone ever asks, “Why are you doing this?” the answer is simple: it’s about more than just losing weight. It’s about living a healthy lifestyle—free of medications, free to move, and free to enjoy life without restrictions.
Motivation is the driving force that compels you to take action. It’s immediate and short-term. It can be fueled by a specific need or event, like a wedding, reunion, or even an upcoming doctor’s appointment. We’re motivated to achieve a desire or avoid something unpleasant.
But here’s the catch: once that motivating event passes, motivation can fade, and old habits can creep back in. That’s why it’s important to check in regularly and examine where you stand moving forward.
So how do you maintain motivation for the long haul?
Inspiration is anything that lights the fire or amplifies your desire to act. We draw inspiration from events, experiences, and people we admire.
I’ve found that meetings are one of the best places to gain inspiration. There’s something powerful about hearing how another member overcame an obstacle or reached a non-scale victory. Sharing recipes, stories, and successes gives us hope.
We can also find inspiration in good deeds—like volunteering—which helps combat feelings of loneliness or boredom. Inspiration can come from your dreams, hopes, and ambitions.
Think of inspiration this way:
The key difference is this: inspiration creates emotion when you think about the idea, but motivation creates emotion with every small step along the way. And that’s what keeps you engaged.
Your why is your constant. It's the underlying core that fuels your reason for living and working toward your goals.
Inspiration can start you on your journey, but it can’t sustain long-term behavior. Motivation creates the momentum because it’s self-sustaining and renewable.
We all know weight loss isn’t just about food. It’s not that we don’t know what to eat, it’s that our choices are often tied to something deeper. That’s why the focus shouldn’t just be on losing weight, but on learning how to live a life full of possibility, fulfillment, and joy.
Keep your why close, revisit your motivations often, and seek inspiration by staying open to new ideas and strategies.
Because when you stay connected to your purpose, motivation and inspiration naturally follow, and lasting change becomes possible.
October 10, 2025
