What keeps you motivated?

kristibag81

I just want to be fit and healthy...I'm not terribly concerned with weight loss (maybe that's the problem?)...though I'd like to stay put and not gain. I just want to feel good about myself. I read all the health mags and browse here daily, but it's a constant battle with food choices and exercise. I know what to do and how to do it, but I don't do it 100%. I'll have a great breakfast and do horrible for lunch and dinner and overload my calorie intake. Or I'll burn 500 calories working out and exercising and then eat a huge meal out. I'm really struggling with balance.

How do you cope and what keeps you on course?

alimk43

I could have written exactly the same post - spend all day keeping count of cals and exercising and then blow it in the evening with snacks and wine! Only just joined MFP so hoping will get some support and motivation here too!

ElHombre23

You have to want it and want it bad....All goals are attainble with the right mindset...focus in on small goals that are easy to accomplish allow your confidence to build. I started with wanting to have four good days in a week then 5,6...and so on..after a month my healthy habbits have taken over my poor unhealthy habbits.

bradphil87

My best friend has been a personal trainer for a little over a year now, when I told him my plans to get healthy back in jan. he insisted on helping me. We work out everyday (alternating between cardio one and weight lifting the the next.) he keeps me motivated! I feel as though I do not want to let him down! (he trains me for free, on his own time, and he is very busy so the fact that he takes 2 hours out of each day to help me says a lot) when I first started, I think it was the second weekend, I had a bad day, going over by a lot. And he looked so disappointed (he didn't say anything bad really, because he only gives me positive encouragement) but I felt bad that I let him down, and said to myself that I never will again! (I do have cheat meals a couple times a month, and go over for the day every once in a while. But never that badly. And he encourages cheat meals every couple of weeks, but "healthy cheat meals" lol like on Easter I had a turkey dinner, and he said that that was good! He just doesn't like fast food type cheat meals.)

Jferg69

Fitting into my kilt for a wedding

simplykate09

That's awesome that your friend makes time to be there for you and if not disappointing him is your motivation, good for you! Just remember you're doing this for you, and keep up the great work!

Gargwin82

My Son was diagnosed with a disablity last year and it devasted me. I gave up on trying to take care of myself and ballooned up to 235lbs. The only other time I've been heavier was at the end of my pregnancy when I was 250lbs. I couldn't go up the stairs without feeling winded. He getting older and more busy so I have to lose weight to keep up with him. I also don't want to end up dying young because of something I could prevent (ie heart attack) and leave him without his #1 advocate and supporter.

Less noble reason....I'm too cheap to buy larger pants when I have perfectly good ones I bought a year ago and outgrew in the closet

JanetLM73

The support from my friends on here, the fact that all my jeans are swimming on me, and my husband is starting to notice me again.

RoboLikes

I look at myself in the mirror. If I am not completely satisfied with what is looking back at me, I get to the gym.
I want to be healthy and fit. Eating and drinking crap won't get me there, so I don't.
If you want to succeed, you will.

DANCHAN1

I know what you are saying. My modus operandi is that I work out and eat really clean until Friday night. Then I start with the wine. Once the wine or rum come out so does all the garbage. I usually start the week off having regained what I had lost and then some.

Until I can get the drinking under control I have to stop for a while. I have done this all my life and enough is enough.

If I was at my goal weight I would say hey if you eat good and work out 80% of the week and endulge A LITTLE on the weekend I can live with that but I am not there.

Here is what is keeping me on track:

Summer is around the corner

I am tired of being the "biggest" with my thin friends they are all skinny

It makes ME feel better at a lower weight

I visualize myself wearing a bikini or shorts and a cute top or a sleeveless dress with some definition in my arms

I deserve to be at a healthy weight. If this was my children or grandchildren I would do it for them so I have to do it for me.

I work hard and have sacrificed things for my job, my hubby, my kids, my grandkids but what am I saying if I don't do it for ME? That I am not worth it? How can that be, all of these people love me and are a part of me so if they are worth it then so the hell am I

THAT IS WHAT IS KEEPING ME MOTIVATE.

DANCHAN1

My best friend has been a personal trainer for a little over a year now, when I told him my plans to get healthy back in jan. he insisted on helping me. We work out everyday (alternating between cardio one and weight lifting the the next.) he keeps me motivated! I feel as though I do not want to let him down! (he trains me for free, on his own time, and he is very busy so the fact that he takes 2 hours out of each day to help me says a lot) when I first started, I think it was the second weekend, I had a bad day, going over by a lot. And he looked so disappointed (he didn't say anything bad really, because he only gives me positive encouragement) but I felt bad that I let him down, and said to myself that I never will again! (I do have cheat meals a couple times a month, and go over for the day every once in a while. But never that badly. And he encourages cheat meals every couple of weeks, but "healthy cheat meals" lol like on Easter I had a turkey dinner, and he said that that was good! He just doesn't like fast food type cheat meals.)

WHAT A GREAT FRIEND....You are very lucky. I had a trainer for a while at $75.00/hour 3 times per week I used him for 2 weeks and got all the routines down but it is not the same. So thank him every day.

DANCHAN1

My Son was diagnosed with a disablity last year and it devasted me. I gave up on trying to take care of myself and ballooned up to 235lbs. The only other time I've been heavier was at the end of my pregnancy when I was 250lbs. I couldn't go up the stairs without feeling winded. He getting older and more busy so I have to lose weight to keep up with him. I also don't want to end up dying young because of something I could prevent (ie heart attack) and leave him without his #1 advocate and supporter.

Less noble reason....I'm too cheap to buy larger pants when I have perfectly good ones I bought a year ago and outgrew in the closet

Wow what GREAT motivation!

DANCHAN1

The support from my friends on here, the fact that all my jeans are swimming on me, and my husband is starting to notice me again.

Great reasons feeling clothing getting larger while you get smaller is amazing. Having hubby notice is very nice.

TheFitHooker

Well I use to be just like this, I was interested in the thought of getting myself in a better place, but I didn't have the drive or determination, Interest can only take one so far, it's commitment that has no boundaries. Commitment excepts no excuses; only results.

What keeps me going? Well when I first started out, it was the thought of diabetes. I already had diabetes in my pregnancy, and was pron to have it again if I didn't change. My dad had a heart attack and found out he was diabetic all in 1 day. So I needed to change. I'm about 90% sure before my last pregnancy, I was also a diabetic. I had all the signs of a diabetic, I just never got tested, never wanted to get tested. I nearly passed out one day because my blood sugar was really high, I know it was. I was with my Mother in law and I ate a donut and after I had it, I about passed out. I was going to go get tested after this, but ended up finding out shortly after I had that spell, that I was pregnant so I ended up having the test done anyway. Yup was diabetic, but it could have been pregnancy that caused me faint like? I don't know. After I had her, I gained 25.5lbs back from after losing 70 in my pregnancy. Went from 250lbs to 180 in my pregnancy, back to 205.5lbs. I'm now down to 138lbs. How? What kept me motivated? After I started seeing changes, I started liking it. The only time I've ever really been able to see true changes, is when I take photo's and compare. It's amazing and I am addicted to see my body change. When my husband puts his arms around me and can't keep his hands off me, that motivates me. When I see someone I've not seen in awhile and I hear how good I look. But the biggest motivator to me, is how good I feel. Putting my butt in a size 5/6 when I use to wear a size 20. That motivates me to keep going. I still have times I just want to give up. But then I ask myself "What the hell did you come so far to just give up?" And then I'm right back at it.

It's never easy, but nothing in life worth having is easy. We just have to choose what we want in life and then ask yourself if you want it bad enough to get it. It's a mind game, once you get passed the mind aspect of it all, the rest pretty much falls into place. Anyone can do it, but not everyone is willing to reach for it.

Mailmann504

I've just started about 2 weeks ago, so Its still new to me, one thing is for sure is that 300 lbs. is not for me.

bradphil87

I've just started about 2 weeks ago, so Its still new to me, one thing is for sure is that 300 lbs. is not for me.

I was almost 300 when I started too. Feel free to add me if you'd like, we will reach our goals together!

timadotcom

Honestly, all of my MF peeps keep me motivated. When i see them posting workouts and reading their energetic updates and weight loss, it makes me want to move....seriously peeps are the key to my success.

groomchick

Setting new goals and creating new challenges for myself are what keep me going! The support here is highly motivating and I find helping other people helps me keep on track!

SnazzyTraveller

didnt read all the replies but im in the same boat as the poster and the second person that responded. i "know" what i need to do, and i do well the first part of the day, but "mess up" at some point, usually right before sleep. it's frustrating becasue i always wonder why i had to do it.... usually i dont put up much fo a fight when food tempts me, but then always feel guilty afterwards.

lanzaroteblue

If I'm feeling a little unmotivated, I take a look through the Success Board.
There are so many examples of awsomeness that can't help but be lifted.

Also, I have 1 'Splurge Day' every week and I feel that that helps me concentrate
on being 'good' the rest of the time and I also feel more energized in the few
days afterwards.

Good luck on finding your motivation
Nicola xxx

xoxMandyxox

I started a daily goal chart. A list of healthy activities that I wanted to complete each day that I would be able to check off if I did it. If I wasn't able to check it off, it just makes me strive to do better the next time. Since you're not overly focused on losing weight, why not focus on healthier habits? If you eat right and exercise, the weight should take care of itself, just as long as you don't overeat all the time.

Have your goals be to drink 8 glasses of water a day, to be under your daily calorie limit, workout (just the word "workout"; you'd be surprised how motivating it is to workout harder when you have a vague word like that), and something fun, like, "go for a 30 minute walk" or something.

I also just got a heart rate monitor which lets me compete against myself for how many calories I can burn in X amount of time ^.^ If you're at all competitive, I suggest getting one of those.

Donnacoach

I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror, so that keeps me going.

leslieleet

old ladies who out do my workout at the gym

tigersword

I just want to be fit and healthy...I'm not terribly concerned with weight loss...

This is honestly my motivation. I couldn't care less about what I weigh on the scale. I only care about being fit and healthy, and I base that on the fit of my clothes, and how I feel when being active. If I fit into the clothes I have (as a guy, I wear a large t-shirt, and 34 waist pants) and I can keep up with my day to day activities without being constantly tired or out of breath, then I'm where I want to be.

Mikaylarae27

I can really get off track on my diet too. I've found that sticking with unprocessed food like vegetables and meat (not chips crackers bread) helps because as soon as I have those other things I want MORE of them. I've identified things in my diet that are "trigger" foods that make me want to binge and I avoid bringing those in the house. (peanut butter, sweets, chocolate milk, chocolate etc) find yours and stick to natural food for the most part and you will maintain.

susanswan

Well you are here! Step one! I've been at this for 5 years. It is a process and a journey. Where I started from mentally I have moved way past and beyond. I am at my goal. I have achieved a lifestyle change. Starting at day one is the hardest. But zigs and zags along the way all considered I have learned a lot. A lot about myself and a lot about what it takes. What it takes for me to stay focused is knowledge.

The first key for me was not quitting. What if I made the commitment to lose weight? I'd never done that before. Sure I tried to lose weight until I got bored with it because it was going to slow and i was starving! What if I really made the commitment? I already knew what happened when I quit. I just got fatter and fatter. But what if I stuck with it and could actually get to 135 pounds from 205? What if? That is what really happened to motivate me on day 1.

The second thing was what if I got rid of white flour and sugar? I'd never know if it worked until I tried it and followed through. I realized that eliminating those 2 things from my diet DOES WORK! IT TOTALLY DOES! Say good bye to those two things (including refined grains) and you will open the door to your own self control. I was completely addicted (still am) to both. When you stop pouring them into your body in about 2 weeks a simple calm comes over you. You don't feel the need to eat them any more. Sure, I'd still like to have them, and I do occasionally from time to time, but when I do, I remember the control they had over my appetite and I don't ever want to go back there again. I'd say that was the key that opened up the possibility for me to lose 70 pounds and finally reach my goal.

The 3rd thing was exercise. I hate to exercise. So what if I just walked 30 minutes a day EVERY DAY? I'd never done that before. What if it actually worked? Then I added strength training and now I walk twice a day!

So I did three brand new things in my life that I have never ever done before to see if they worked. They did. I lost 70 pounds. And the real secret is which is no secret now is it is much easier to stay on track than to allow myself to get sidetracked and find my way back. Over 5 years ago I started out to lose 70 pounds. I lost 53 and then decided I didn't' need to track calories any more. Big mistake. Old habits came back to some extent and I put on almost 20 pounds in 2 years and I spent one solid year "Trying" to get back on track. I knew what to do, I knew exactly what to do and I just couldn't make myself do it!

Luckily I found www.fatloser.com to give me a motivational kick in the butt and that helped me for some reason. So finding that and MFP in the same week was a killer combo for me. I got my motivation back and I began serious tracking of calories in & out.

So today I reached my goal of 135 pounds and what motivates me today is knowing what happens to me when I don't stay focused. Okay sure I had a handful of peanut M&Ms last night. But it was a handful, not the entire bag or half the bag or a quarter of the bag. I can handle sugar in that quantity every once in a while. Not every day, or every week.

So knowing my own personal limitations and weaknesses also motivates me to stay on track.

The 4th key for me was finding Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I was wide awake in the middle of the night and saw his PBS presentation and it intrigued me. I simply LOVE that eating program. I am aiming towards vegan but you don't have to go there. The changes I've felt in my body since I first even attempted to try to start the program in October are just incredible. And feeling so incredible is what keeps me on track. No more dragging myself out of bed. No more slapping myself around in the morning to get my day started, No more puffy face in the morning, no more stiff & painful fingers in the morning, no more pots of coffee or wake me up, no afternoon slumps, no watching the clock to see if it is time to eat yet. Sometimes I forget to eat "on schedule". You focus on the abundance of food to eat instead of the junk food that is missing from your diet. I am stuffed after every meal! When you get such nutrition into your body it operates on an entirely different level.

This is what motivates me today. I wouldn't trade my diet for the world! I have achieved the new healthy lifestyle that I was aiming for. It takes time and it takes growth and awareness on your part.

Best of luck to you. Keep searching for what works for you!

mznisaelaine

My dad and brothers are so healthy, it really is just great to see them live a very healthy lifestyle. I fell off the wagon ever since I stopped playing sports. So, now I am even more motivated more so since I met my wonderful friends on MFP. They all have different stories and experiences and I am so happy to be able to witness them reach their weightloss goal. Yesterday, I took a picture of myself and was looking back at all the pictures of myself at 135lbs (the good days) and pictures of myself when I was in the 190s. So the picture I took of myself yesterday (profile picture) is me at 179lbs. I am making progress but the overwhelming support of my friends that I got yesterday is just making me even more motivated to lose the rest of this weight and get back in shape. I feel very good about losing this weight, this time around.

mtcHavingItAll

Bump

SexyCook

Man it is so much..But to reflect back to where I came from...Looking at that Steph makes me sad..the energy I feel now I can describe compared...and so much I can and will do with this new lifestyle...PLUS MY PALS...OMG Inspiring and SO motivated.. Some we have traveled this journey together since the beginning and the change is WOW...but all my friends keep me motivated day in day out...

nafajo

I totally agree.. you have to want it.. and want it BAD! I do it for my my husband, myself and my kids! I've been married 20 years, we have 4 kids. We had 2 right out of the gate... 15 mo. apart... then 5 years later we had another one and THEN... 7 years later another one! My oldest is 20 this year, then 18, 12 and 5!!! LOL
My Motto is...

FIT Moms R FUN Moms!

And having a baby at 40 was tough on the bod! This is a weird and kind of terrible thought.. but I think it often.... If something ever happened to to one of my kids and it was up to me to save them.... Would I be able too? Would I be healthy enough and strong enough??? THAT right there is MY motivation! Crazy thought I know.. I wonder why I think like that myself! But I do. I want to be able to do the same things with my 5 year old as I did with my oldest 15 years ago! My 12 year old thinks it's great that his mom works out and is healthy.
Moderation is key.... I used to use the "workout card" too. But I don't anymore. I just try to be consistent and diligent in my efforts.

It will pay off! I promise!

SueStubbs

Well most of my family is over weight. And I know that i don't want that for me. Plus I have back problems and know that taking the weight off will make that better. But most important for me is teaching my children the healthy lifestyle.