Is it willpower or something else that drives you?

[ZerasPride]

Someone said to me yesterday that she was amazed at the willpower I have to get this far. I told her that it's not about willpower for me. I love the foods I eat and have no desire (at least not so far) to go off plan. If my eating plan was complicated or I had to eat foods I didn't like, then I would need a lot of willpower and probably would have failed like I have so many times before in the past.

Now my work out program is a different story. I do have a tremendous amount of dedication to it. It is NOT easy and sometimes I don't feel like doing it but I push myself.

Anyway, I was wondering what you guys feel is the driving motivation behind your success. Is it the ease of your program, concern for your health, vanity or some other driving force?

 

[wtpclc]

Good question.

It's concern for my health that really got me going. I have to admit that's not what drives me on a daily basis, though. I like what I eat now, but it does take will power not to go for the bad stuff.

The big driving force to my eating habits, though, is the longer I go without cheating, the more I lose and the better I feel about myself. I guess that may be vanity, but it's self-image and a feeling of accomplishment too.

As for exercise, the others apply too, but I do just feel better and have more energy when I exercise.

 

[chrismiss56]

Zera

I am so glad you found a program that works for you. I am motivated to feel better about myself. This last trip to Disney World made me feel really old because I struggled to keep up with my family.

I have some pictures of myself from the trip and plan on putting them up in the kitchen for motivation. As I have said I am an emotional eater and hope the pictures will stop me.

Thanks for your support. You keep going.........and enjoy the shopping. Cant wait to have to buy new clothes!!

Chrismiss56

 

[Minniespal]

Lisa ~

I was just thinking about that very thing this afternoon. I have been on the ww plan now for six weeks and although I have been hungry sometimes. There has never been a time when I wanted to cheat. Usually I am looking for excuses to break the diet and eat chocolate or some other high calorie item but this time has been totally different.

I do want to lose weight because I know I will feel so much better and I want to stop dressing like some sort of middle aged person but dress for the age I am.

I am really enjoying the exercise side of it too and although some days are better than others on the whole I am doing ok.

I'm hoping that this time I really will have gotten this diet thing right and not only will I be able to lose the weight, which I already know that I can do but to keep it off.

 

[helenk]

Its hard to break it down to one thing for me, I'm getting older and just hated being so over-weight, I felt disgusted with myself and got to the point where I knew I had to change my eating habits.
Following the South Beach plan has been pretty easy, I do find that periodically I crave candy, but not eating a lot of breads, pastries, potatoes and junk food has been a good plan to follow.
I know that I have to keep up my exercise though, I must have the slowest metabolism in the world, if I fall off my eating plan and don't exercise I gain instantly.
I think that having a plan that is good for you really makes a difference, you are not starving yourself or depriving yourself and it makes it easier to stay on track.

 

[DisneyEnthusiastic]

Wow...this is a hard question! I'm going to have to go with vanity! I lost over a 100 lbs. a few years ago...and I loved all the comments about how great I looked. As half of the weight crept back over the last 2 years...I know how I feel...and it's not good. I like the way my clothes were fitting. I did not mind the foods I was eating...but I did start to slack up quite a bit.

This time around I would have to stick with vanity. I see a picture of myself..and I don't like how I look. But this time around I don't like how I feel on the inside as well. I had to take a look at what causes me to eat bad. I think that my willpower comes from vanity which also pushes me to exercise! So I'll stick with my first answer...vanity

Gail

 

[newholiday]

Definately a health issue - heart disease runs in our family - dad died from it, older brother had a massive heart attack/triple bypass May 03.
Ive been eating lowfat/low sodium and Im currently at my goal weight. Doc told me last visit not to loose anymore. Whenever I find myself starting to gain a few lbs I think of Dad and my brother and take it right back off

 

[July]

I would have to say it was how uncomfortable I was. When I bent down at work it was awful to get back up. My feet kill me they have to much weight on them. I have arthritis and my body is screaming please loose weight.
I just plain hate to look in the mirror. And going to the pool or beach. Yuck Yuck Yuck.


July