What keeps you motivated?

[preshi]

I literally hate the way I look. I complain all the time about it but yet I can't seem to keep myself motivated. My best girlfriend and all her sisters, whom I frequently hang out with, are all tiny and I feel so gross being with them. We all went to a concert together and when the pictures got sent to me I was horrfied. I look pregnant! DS6 has asked me twice now when I'm going to have the baby I've had to explain to him that i'm not pregnant just big.

I just did my BMI today and it's estimated that it's 24.25 and that I'm 26.46% body fat! What the heck! I was 148 pounds this morning. I can't fit into my clothes for work. I feel horrible. I can manage what I eat most of the time but then I get bored and we have junk in the house and I devour it.

So then I have all these great plans about getting up early, I put out my iPod with all my good music, my workout clothes and I set my alarm, then it goes off I get up and turn it off and go back to sleep. I am exhausted all the time and I'm grumpy because I hate myself so much. So what do you do to keep yourself from falling backwards? I have a subsciption to Shape and I always browse through it and then put it away. I could just kick myself.

I have a big conference in October and I want to be at least 130 lbs. by then but I need to stay motivtated! HELPPPP!!!!

 

[bubba73]

Meagan - First rule of anything in life is to NOT hate yourself. Just by reading what you have put in your post doesn't really sound that bad. Of course, I don't know how tall you are or what your build is so I can't say too much more on that but I might be able to answer some of the other issues.

To loose 18 pounds in the time you have isn't that hard but it will take dedication. All you have to do is average between 2-3 pounds a week. If you would like to, I welcome you to PM me a list of what you eat during an average day as well as an idea of how active you are. I will be happy to take a look at it and offer any advice that I can. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, you can get to know me a little better by checking out my thread here on WISH, Dieting for Disney but this is only if you want too. We are a happy family over there and welcome anybody who is interested in leading a healthier lifestyle.

I understand about turning off your alarm and going back to sleep. I do that because of how hard I work all day but I still get in my workouts in when I get off work at least 3-4 nights a week. You are feeling tired all of the time because of that extra weight that you are carrying and also because of how it makes you feel about yourself. It really is a 50-50 tradeoff. There are so many people out there that do have a weight problem but still feel good about themselves so they have more energy than the typical rabbit. But that is a mindset. It is all will-power and self-esteem. Focus on what is most important for you. Set yourself a goal. Say you want to get back down to a certain size, weight or even feeling. Find a workout buddy. You said that your best girlfriend was very thin. Does she do anything to maintain that or does she just have a naturally high metabolism? It is very easy to talk yourself out of going to the gym if you don't have someone that is looking for you to hold you accountable. Give yourself a present for achieving a goal. Tell yourself that after you loose 10 pounds you will go to the Spa and pamper yourself but don't just stop there. Go ahead and BUY the Certificate or have your Husband get it for you with the understanding that you don't get it until you REACH that goal. Stay off the scale. the scale can play mean tricks on you. Your weight can fluctuate 2-4 pounds in either way on any given day so don't let the scale be your primary judge. I always like to use my clothes as a judge. If they are looser, then I am doing my job.

I hope this helps, makes sense or something. Like I said, if you want to PM me anything, feel free. If you want to check out our thread, feel free. Just remember one very important thing. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! You have a lot of friends here that will be happy to assist in anyway that we can. Have a great day!

 

[grlpwrd]

18 lbs by October? That's very do-able so please don't feel discouraged. I think you just have to take the first step and keep going.

I agree with bubba73' suggestions. Those are wonderful ideas.

I would start small, such as getting the junk out of your house or get good substitutes, and start one day at a time. It's so important to reward yourself, not with food, though. You can challenge yourself to do so much or reach a certain goal and then reward yourself with a special outing or outfit.

You can do it! If you'd like more fitness and health sites and boards to visit for more support and info feel free to PM me.

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I literally hate the way I look. I complain all the time about it but yet I can't seem to keep myself motivated. My best girlfriend and all her sisters, whom I frequently hang out with, are all tiny and I feel so gross being with them. We all went to a concert together and when the pictures got sent to me I was horrfied. I look pregnant! DS6 has asked me twice now when I'm going to have the baby I've had to explain to him that i'm not pregnant just big.

I just did my BMI today and it's estimated that it's 24.25 and that I'm 26.46% body fat! What the heck! I was 148 pounds this morning. I can't fit into my clothes for work. I feel horrible. I can manage what I eat most of the time but then I get bored and we have junk in the house and I devour it.

So then I have all these great plans about getting up early, I put out my iPod with all my good music, my workout clothes and I set my alarm, then it goes off I get up and turn it off and go back to sleep. I am exhausted all the time and I'm grumpy because I hate myself so much. So what do you do to keep yourself from falling backwards? I have a subsciption to Shape and I always browse through it and then put it away. I could just kick myself.

I have a big conference in October and I want to be at least 130 lbs. by then but I need to stay motivtated! HELPPPP!!!!

Listening to you is like hearing myself! I'm sick of being too tired to do anything. I'm tired of weighing 230 pounds. But apparently not sick enough because I am too lazy to do anything about it. I get up at 4:30 am and when I get home a sit on the couch! Several years ago I got super motivated and lost 50 pounds and I just want the motivation back!! I know how you feel because I am grumpy with my nearest and dearest because I am unhappy with myself and have no energy......just like you! My intention is to do a workout video when I get home from work this afternoon......wish me luck!! Maybe we can talk and try to help each other!

~Amanda~

 

[preshi]

Thank you for your responses. Apparently I won't be doing anything for awhile because last night I broke my toe into three pieces and will probbaly need surgery! GAH! Now it's time to really start watching what I eat and the exersize will have to come later.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It is extremely irritating that there are people in this world that can eat a whole bag of Oreo's every day and never gain a pound. But everyone is different. Everyone in my family is overweight and now that I'm getting older genetics is starting to head my way. I have to be concious (sp?) of what I eat at ALL times. Being concious is THE most important part. It's so easy to mindlessly eat a bag of potato chips when you feel down, bored, or watching TV. If you're concious of what's (and how much) is going in your mouth at all times, you will lose weight. Last November I weighed 170 lbs. (not obese to other people but that's what I felt like in my mind). I now weigh 155 and am trying to get back to the 135-140 I was a few years ago.

My biggest motivations are pictures of what I used to look like and pictures in my mind of what I want to look like. I picture going on vacation and being able to wear whatever I want to and be confident that every picture taken is going to be great (unless I'm just rolling out of bed ). Then slowly my motivations are turning to just being healthy. When I go out to eat with my family and everyone else devours the bread that is brought to the table I envision a little cheering squad (kind of like Cranium Command at Epcot ) inside of me doing a cheer for having willpower and caring enough about myself not to load my body up with unneccesary junk. It gets easier as you start to see and feel the affects junk food used to have on your body. I also love magazines, like Shape, for looking at the pictures of other women as motivation to be healthier. I know I'll never be a size 2 but just looking at other people's healthy toned bodies makes me want to work harder to have one too. This is especially helpful when I want to pig out and then I look at the magazines and tell myself if I still really want junk food when I'm done looking at the magazines, I can have one (chip, cookie, etc.)of whatever it is I want. Usually I don't.

Also, I agree with everyone else that it's so much easier to start small. Don't give up everything at once. I gave up salt for 30 days. I couldn't put extra salt on anything. At first it was really hard (because I LOVED salt) and then after a couple of weeks, I didn't miss it. Then when the 30 days was up I gave up something else that was unhealthy. I switched from regular soda to diet soda. And then after that 30 days, I switched from diet soda to water/sugar-free juices. Next thing I knew, several months had passed and I wasn't addicted to any of my unhealthy habits. I always gave myself the option that, at the end of the 30 days, if I couldn't LIVE without something (salt, soda, etc.) I could have it again occasionally. But I never did. I didn't care for it anymore, but I never told myself I could NEVER have it again.

Losing weight and being healthy is a 24 hr. job. It's a lot of work. There are some great days at work and there are some bad days at work. But in the end you get the best reward.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Good luck with your goal. I think it is a reasonable one and one you will be so happy to achieve


They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words, so here is my 2,000 word essay

January 2004

January 2006

I lost 85 lbs and ran my first marathon at Disney last January. I have since suffered major illness and injury and gained 12 lbs back. I carry these photos to remind me of why its worth the constant battle with food. You can read my story at www.livinglively.com if you'd like

Sunny

 

[keenercam]

The thing that is keeping me motivated right now is knowing I'll have to drag all these extra pounds around for 13.1 miles come the day of the Disneyland Inaugural Half Marathon on September 17. That is literally getting me to the gym or out for a wlk/jog 5x/week and keeping me from eating everything in sight.
But, it is really hard. There is always so much temptation. I have realized and keep reminding myself that I have to want that goal every single waking minute of every day. If I have a whole hour of binging at night, it is enough to blow everything I've done right all day. So, it's not enough for me to do fine for all but a day or two each week. It is hard to adopt and stick to that mindset, but it is VERY necessary.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. I am in a motivation slump.
So, here I am talking to myself and hoping it may help you too.


What I have learned is that motivation is ALL about you. It is something that only you can give to yourself. Whatever it is that is your trigger, stay with it. You can make it and know that you can. You are not alone.

Make a small commitment at first and try to build upon that. A few minutes of movement, a day of planned healthy eating. Make it FUN! Smile while you make things happen.

Once those first steps are made, it is not enough to make it to the first or second goal. It must become a lifetime commitment. Making healthy choices is not something that is for that "D" word then something that can be left aside. It is forever! Sometimes people fall off. It is real; get back up and get on with the good choices as often as necessary.

Everyone here on WISH is willing to be helpful! This is the greatest place.

Keep on keepin’ on.