What keeps you motivated?

[Karista]

I swear, I keep losing the same 10 pounds over and over again. For some reason, that's where I start to lose my motivation - even though I'm feeling better and things are starting to fit better. So now, for the umpteenth time, I'm back at square one and ready to give it a go again. What do you do for motivation to keep going?

 

[Lesli54]

I don't stay motivated all the time. It's probably impossible to expect. What I have done though, is to make a decision that losing weight and becoming healthier would be a top priority. Not all days are good and I have not achieved all the skills that I will need to keep it off in the long run, like exercise, but I am working on it.

It's like a job. You don't have to like it all the time and you don't have to be excited about it all the time, but if you really want this, then you do need to get up every morning and begin again. Many times, my weeks are full of 7 days of beginning again, or so it seems. It works and then you will find that you are excited about seeing this journey through again.

For me, it is not so much motivation as it is a decision. But having said that, I do enjoy the increased energy, the decrease in physical discomfort, the decrease in depressed modes, the increased feeling of control in my life, and the smaller sizes.

Hope this helps.

 

[PatricenPete]

My son keeps me motivated. Not wanting to be the "fat mom" at his soccer games keeps me motivated. Being able to chase after him in the park keeps me motivated. There are days that I want to throw in the towel, but then I look at my boy and remember that I want to be here, healthy and happy, for him.

 

[KimRaye]

2 GREAT replies, and hard to add to that, but personally, Success has kept me motivated . I never imagined I'd be where I am right now, and loving my new look/size/shape/clothes (hate the wrinkles tho ), but 80 lbs is a lot different than 10, and I truly think that when you have a small amount to lose, that it doesn't become a 'change', and it's more of a 'diet', something you think is temporary. For me, after 80+ lbs, it's a life change, and I understand that. I can't go back to eating like I did before - just can't - no way, no how. I guess even with 10 lbs to lose, you have the same battle tho. Think Change, not diet. jmho

 

[VelvetGloves]

I agree that it is making a decision and accepting that you are choosing a healthier lifestyle. If you treat it as a diet, you will think of it as temporary. My hubby and I are trying to lose weight. We do not need to lose a lot, but it is enough that if we don't do something about it now, we never will. It's annoying when people ask us about our diet; it's not a diet, it's a life style change. It's permanent. I think when you make it a constant thing in your mind, you can succeed.

Good luck.

VelvetGloves

 

[Karista]

I guess I should have been a little clearer in my original post. I have more like 35 pounds to lose - but it's the first 10 that I keep losing over and over again. I don't know why, but after I lose those first 10 pounds, I sort've fall off track and before I know it, those 10 are right back on - aargh! It's so frustrating. This has been a battle for years and I'm SICK of it - so what I was wondering was how people get past that "honeymoon" phase of dieting (or lifestyle change) and get down to the serious changes that I know I need to make.

 

[lovinaz]

Karista, do you keep a journal? I have about 10 lbs to lose, but I have found that keeping a journal has helped keep me accountable (and the support from everyone at WISH is SO helpful!). Plus it is nice to be able to go back and read how you were struggling with such-and-such and how you overcame it. I think maybe that would help you stay on track and when you lose that first 10 lbs you can read how far you've come and hopefully that will become a motivator to continue doing what you are doing and not fall back into your poor eating/exercise habits. Hope this helps! Hang in there, you can succeed!

 

[Lesli54]

Karista,

I have been at this for almost 5 months and the "honeymoon" was over a long time ago. That is why I said that it important to just make this weight loss journey a decision, a priority. Have there been days when I slipped, yeah, but the next day, I just got back up and started again with eating better and moving more. Having a journal does help you become more aware of why and when you are eating. Also, you have to try very hard to not take the "all or nothing" approach. So a few days are bad, just keep going, don't give up at that point. You may also want to figure out if you are bringing in foods that you shouldn't and tempting yourself unknowingly.

Alot of it will be about assessing your lifestyle and making the changes that support keeping the weight off. A better stocked pantry, a better exercise regimen, new hobbies during the boring times, etc. We have all been where you are, but the decision and becoming accountable are two of the biggest factors in getting to where you want to be.

 

[LuvTigger]

I can definitely relate to everything that's been said so far. I too am starting anew and I am totally committed to losing the weight, and KEEPING IT OFF this time! Why? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I have written my goals down: how much I want to lose total, and incremental goals along the way. I keep a daily journal of what I eat, how many steps I walked (I wear a pedometer daily), how much water I drank, and vitamins I took. Every day I look at a picture of myself in my skinny days to remind myself that I want to be that way again. I have also written down a goal to read something and/or listen to something health related every day. Reading "Health" magazine (or whatever health-related book or magazine I have on hand) helps to remind me of my goals. Coming here to WISH keeps me motiviated too. I don't always post, but just reading everyone else's posts helps remind me of what I am trying to achieve.

I think you'll have to find something that really hits home for you in terms of what will motivate YOU, but hopefully one of us says something that will trigger it. You can do it!!!