How do you get motivated?

[janette]

I know I'm overweight and would like to lose but really don't feel movitated at all. I've gained the weight slowly and have never dieted before.

I don't own a scale, hate shopping for clothes but I didn't like it when I was thin either. I've always had a weird body type that was hard to find clothes for. I don't excerise but did pick up a treadmill at a garage sale so could do that. Can't walk outside due to allergies.

I have some friends at work that have lost lots of weight they look great. I know my girls & DH would like for me to lose, they don't say much. My girls just complain I'm not fashionable I'm not sure weight loss is going to fix that though

Most of my sisters have trouble with weight, one has been successful with Aitkens so that is probably a good one for me to do. Worse part is that she has to eat that way all the time or gains weight back right away.

How do you start and what makes you want too?

 

[kayeandjim00]

I am sure that everyone probably has a different answer for this but for me personally it was just finally realizing that I HAD to get healthy so I could be around for a long time. I didn't like my body the way it was and after months of complaining I decided to just DO something about. On our trip to WDW next year I want to be able to zoom all over the park and not be tired and wear cute little clothes while I am doing it! DH is in this with me which is helpful and we are just taking it day by day. We aren't on a specific plan just watching our fat intake, calories, and portions and working in some exercise. Many here have been very successful with Atkins and they can add more about that but once you find what works for you just stick with it and the pounds will come off! Most importantly join WISH. Everyone here will encourage you when you are having a bad day and celebrate your losses with you! Good luck!

 

[dzneprincess]

The big thing that got me going was after the birth of my last child, I decided I really wanted to try the new contraceptive patch, ortha evra. It looked like it was perfect for me and I really wanted to use it. I got my prescription filled, got home and saw a note that said may not be effective on woman who weigh over 198lbs! That was it. I decided that it was ridiculous that my body was limiting the type of medicine I could take. and I had ENOUGH! I want control of my body back! Thats is it in a nutshell. LOL

 

[wdwnutze]

My motivation was in the form of pictures. I reluctantly had my picture taken with my dd at a function and when it came in the mail I cried and hid the picture. I have been avoiding the camera for quite a while but when I saw that picture I was so embarassed. It took me a little while to figure out what program I wanted to do. I decided on Atkins after reading his book and doing some research. Now the scale, the tape measure and my new(smaller) clothes are my motivation. Since June 3 I have lost 38lbs and gone from a very tight 16w to very loose 12's. I can get into 10's but they are more snug than I want. I will be there soon and the 1st thing I will do is have my picture taken with my kids! Good luck!

 

[webray]

Everytime I go shopping and see that I am down another size, I am even more motivated to get to my goal...lol. Just too much fun!

 

[nativetxn]

I think you are motivated, Janette, or you wouldn't be here asking this question. There is a difference in being motivated and being <i>enthusiastic</i>. You are motivated but you just aren't too enthused about doing this

I started Atkins on 1/9/03 because of an agreement with my sister. She wanted me to follow the Atkins plan at the same time she did so I agreed to do that. It was the easiest eating plan I've ever followed. I plan to avoid refined carbohydrates for the rest of my life, I've taken the Atkins plan as my lifetime eating plan. My husband eats this way too and for the first time since 1988 his blood sugar is normal, his triglycerides and cholesterol are normal and he feels so much better.

Finding an eating plan that works best for <i>you</i> is half of the battle. Atkins isn't for everyone. If you give up refined carbohydrates and then add them back to your diet you will gain more weight faster than you ever imagined to be possible. Sad but true.

The key is to find an eating plan that you can live with forever. Our goal is not to just get smaller but to change our eating habits so that we don't get larger again. That's <i>my</i> goal, anyway. I'm tired of dieting and losing only to gain it all back again. I've decided I'm not going to to that anymore. I'm changing my way of eating forever.


Are you going to be taking the challenge, Janette? I sure hope so. WISH can help you with that enthusiasm. Our support group is the best and helps me stay enthusiastic and motivated. I hope you will be joining us.

Would you do me a favor and post to the WISH challenge thread too? Posting there makes you an official WISHer. You will find the Challenge thread right <b>HERE</b>


You can do this, Janette. We all plan to help you. We will make your road to goal a little smoother. We can't remove all the potholes and stones but we're always here to help you up if you stumble. Please join us.

Katholyn

 

[pixiechick]

I turned 40. I was tired of looking and feeling "frumpy." I was 30-35 pounds overweight. Not horribly heavy, but I didn't look or feel good. I have a 7 yr old son that deserved better. As I write that, I think I deserved better!

My weight has gone up and down over the years. The weight I'm carrying now came when I went back to work after maternity leave. It was over the course of 5 yrs or so. I know what caused it and to address it I needed to make lifestyle changes. My food was only part of the problem. Exercise, poor time management, etc. played into it.

What keeps me going is seeing results. I, DH and DS are all eating better/healthier. That, in itself has value. The weight loss may take a while, but who cares. Next year will come whether I'm fat or thin. I'd rather be thin when it comes around!

Good luck!

 

[elisebutt]

My motivation is simple - I want to be around to see my kids grow up!!!

Every time I went to the doctors with an ailment the reason was usually my weight - aching legs, sore knees, snoring(ick!) etc so I just decided to do something about it before I fell over with a heart attack!!!

Also my marriage being on the rocks was a great spur!!! I decided this would be the year I was going to change!!!

So far I've got shot of the husband, got into University, got a fabulous new boyfriend, made friends with all my neighbours, restored civil relations with my sister, hoicked myself out of debt, lost 5 dress sizes and lost a whopping 63lbs!!!!

It's all down to positive thinking - if you think you can do it hard enough - then you will!!!

 

[MelanieC]

For me, the motivation was that I was just tired of being unhealthy, looking in the mirror and not likeing what I saw, not being able to go to the store and find clothes to wear, having to wear super huge sizes to hide my fat. My kids are 5 & 11 and I want to be able to be around for a long time to enjoy them and my grandchildren(someday).

Motivation also comes once you have been doing it for a little while. Once you see the weight come off, and feel how good it feels to have people compliment you........you don't ever want to go back.

The thing is though, that most people who loose will gain it back if they go back to eating the way they did. You really have to look at it as a life change style and stick with it. I lost 37 pounds last year, and gained almost all of it back. I know this time, that I can't go back to the same habits.

Good luck and welcome to Wish!

Melanie

 

[imgoingtodisney]

CRUISE !

actually it just remotivated me to work out again on my total gym - started again yesterday - just finished tonight's - hopefully its a new habit - only takes 1/2hr

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

For me it was a combination of things, but most importantly I needed some new clothes and the size 24's were getting a big snug. I knew that I had to do something.
I have tried for a few different years with WW, JC and even prescription drugs with a DR's supervised diet and my results were barely there.
I researched the GBS and went to seminars and meetings, etc. I spoke with my PCP regarding this and he felt too that it was in my best interest to get the surgery and I went trhu 7 mths of testing, xrays, colonscopies, an endoscopy, bloodwork, nutritional training and a 1200 calorie a day diet for the time before surgery and I even had a psych consult to see if I was mentally prepared and before I could even meet with the surgeon I had to take a test to see how much I really understood and knew about the surgery and eating, etc.
It was a long road to get the surgery and its been an adventure every day since. LOL I literally had to learn a whole new lifestyle afterwards. I had to learn how to eat right and how much and to take 5 min in between my tiny bites and what's protein, what's vitamins, carbs, sugars(natural and added) it's been a true eye-opening experience. I've had my bouts with the puking and learning what I can and cannot tolerate and not to eat fast, etc.
This surgery is not for everyone and it's a hard decision to make and I'll admit kind of hard getting used to this new lifestyle, but I realize in the long run it will be so much better for me healthwise. My sugar is now perfect, no more high blood pressure, my cholesterol is great and I feel so much better! I get my B12 shots once a month, take my daily vitamin and calcium and biotin, and while I should be taking the actigall for my gallbladder I am willing to take my chances on getting gallstones. The meds make me too sick, Iron too. I am checking into getting the iron shot.
I am so happy at fitting into a size 18 after beingin a 24 for the last 2 yrs. I cannot wait to get into that size 8 or heck even a size 6!(that is my true goal! I may have to have the plastic surgery to get rid of the excess skin to do so, but I will!)

I start my swimming on tuesday after the kids go back to school and I hope to get on a regimen of doing it at least 4 times a week if not more! I want to tone and lose! I have that motivation now since I got htis head start and I want to keep on going!

 

[LuvTigger]

I too had a variety of reasons. Probably the primary one was that when I was about 29, I actually sat down and wrote out some life goals, and one of them said, "I will be healthy and at xxx pounds by my 30th birthday." It didn't happen. I never really dieted, but I did go through different exercise phases.

Every year I would say I would lose weight before my vacation, before a friend's wedding, before this, before that, and again, didn't happen. In 2002, I was introduced to the health plan that I am on now. I started doing it, but fell off the wagon, and didn't get back on until this year.

What got me going this year?
1. I finally said I'm going to DO this. Not TRY, but actually DO it.
2. In the past year and a half to two years, I know at least 3 people who have had massive heart attacks. 2 of them died, the other came real close to dying. All of them were overweight. My Uncle also died of lung cancer, and he never smoked in his life. He was slightly overweight, but I kept thinking about his eating habits and how that may have been a factor. About 4 years ago, my friend's father died of a massive heart attack. Also extremely overweight.
3. BF's parents are both overweight (they live in Vegas). Step-mom is overweight, and she's had some health problems, but nothing serious. Dad is who we worry about, he is even more overweight, and he is on high blood pressure medication. I personally fear that he is a high-risk for a massive heart attack. We gave them the program kit last year (the kit for the program I'm on), and until recently we didn't know if they'd used it. I decided that this year I am going to lose the weight and set a "good example" for them. Unbeknownst to me until a couple weeks ago, step-mom lost 38 pounds, and dad lost 17! (I'm down 14.5 so far, my goal is 50.)
4. My work environment is such that I am EXTREMELY busy between January and April...some days I just have to pray that someone brings food in, and whatever it is, I'll eat it! People have been known to gain 10 pounds during that period. I decided that I am going to lose the weight NOW, to create a "buffer" for that time period. While I can try to plan meals during that time, it is extremely difficult under the circumstances.

If there's one thing I've learned, weight is one of the few things in life that we CAN control...it might not seem like it, but we all make choices on what we put in our bodies, and how much we exercise. I simply decided that I was going to be in control of my body, as I believe everyone here on WISH has ultimately decided. This is the most awesome support group you will find anywhere, and I hope you will join us!

 

[cinmell]

The biggest motivator was when I stepped on the scale and saw those numbers ! Other things that motivate me are that I want to be thinner because I want to be healthier, I want to be at a healthy weight when I decide to have a second child, I want to look good and feel better about myself and because I have to wear a bridesmaid dress with spaghetti straps next October!!!!!

I have found that coming to this board helps keep me on track because there is plenty of motivation here and there are lots of people like me. I started a journal so I feel accountable for what I eat and when I do and don't exercise. Good luck!

 

[bicker]

Originally posted by janette
I know I'm overweight and would like to lose but really don't feel movitated at all.

Seems to me that the most fertile ground to cultivate your motivation was posted at the bottom of your message. While being a parent carries with it additional responsibilities and drains on your time and energy, it also carries with it the most powerful source of motivation to get and stay healthy: Healthy parents serve as a powerful symbols and models for children, not to mention how much richer children's (and grandchildren's!) lives are with the richer interactions possible with a strong, vibrant, healthy parents (grandparents).