What is the fire that keeps you going?

ldrosophila

To the people who consider themselves succeeding...

What kept/keeps you going when most usually have fallen away, quit and given up? What kept you pushing foward when the scale didnt budge, when you were totally off track and felt like an bottomless garbage can, when your world was falling apart and weight loss didnt seem that important, when you just didnt feel like doing it, when your body was still aching, or when you had those negative little voices in your mind saying what does it matter give up? What is keeping that little ember burning during the long haul, the actual years, and the life time commitment?

StormyGal8

For me, it's that I simply REFUSE to be beaten by fat. I refuse to let the temptations and excuses win. *I* am the master of my body, *I* will dictate how heavy or light I am, or how strong or weak I am. Those are all up to me and only me!

deb3129

Two things, I think. The fact that since I changed my diet, I feel SO much better. And the fact that I am 41 years old, and I know if I did not make changes, my health would have probably started to fall apart before too long. I am still young enough to want to enjoy life, and I was killing myself slowly with my fork. No more.

DocCollins_SFA

There are just TOO many things that I want so badly that I can't give up. I love traveling and I want to fit comfortably in an airplane seat! The same goes for roller coaster seats. I am a very outgoing and outdoorsy person. I want to hike and run and climb and bungee jump, skydive, and zipline and a million other things. My personality is made for all of this stuff but currently, my body and my weight is not. The weight and the inches are keeping me from being who I really am and I can't pretend to be the quiet, low key person anymore. I WILL run a half marathon next year in Houston and I WILL climb the Manitou Incline in Colorado and next time I go to Belize I WILL zipline through the jungle instead of just sticking to the cave tubing. When I feel strong, athletic, outgoing and adventurous, it is the best high in the world. Yes, I want good health and to be able to wear cuter outfits but nothing beats this for me. That's why I will never give up. Just thinking about it excites me!

hillbillyannie

For the first time since I was very young, I feel in control and I'm happy when I look in the mirror. I am not going back. Yes it's a daily struggle sometimes to not but I am going to win. I have given away all of my clothes that are more than one size bigger than I am right now so I don't have a choice, do I? I am in the process of regrouping and getting ready to push toward losing the last 25 pounds. I know I will have to buy more clothes but, yeah, I'm ready. And besides my mother who wears a 12-14 is going through her closet and giving me all of her large size clothes, well at least some of them. I told her I bet she never thought I would be wearing her sizes. I weighed what she weighs now when I was 12, 140 pounds, and was already 5 inches taller than her. She's 5'1" and I'm 5'7".

Gwenski

For me it's a feeling of totally being in control of what I do, and fear of wls. I highly respect those who have the surgery..they are far braver than I!

ThatDarnZach

I realized one of the motivations I have when I was flying from Chicago to Los Angeles yesterday. I want to be one of the people who you hope sits next to you on the plane rather than one that you pray passes by and sits next to someone else. It's a fine line but, to me, it's such a strong implication of so many different things that I aspire to be.

Jimmytreatingtons

Just keep plugging away, if you have a bad day today, make sure you have a good one tomorrow.

If you want it you can get it.

I have had a few problems on the way, a few things have put me down but I find the focus to do it and crack on with it!

MaryRegs

Feeling like I have the CONTROL...not the food controlling me. I sure wish I would have "discovered" this power many years ago, but it is never too late-onwards!

chinadoll725

Um, taking all of my clothes off in front of the mirror....and if thats not motivation enough, jump up and down a couple of times...naked...in front of the mirror...

trophywife24

I always, always think of my before and pic (that's my avatar). The before pic is just not someone that I want to be or am ever going to be again.

LarsyRagnhild

I think motivation can be fickle. I try not to rely on something to keep the fire burning, but rather just know that this is what I'm doing now. Don't let yourself question what you're doing, don't listening to any excuses your mind comes up with (and it will come up with many). Go fiercely in the direction of your goals. As Nike has said said "Just Do It".

Namaste1983

When the man who raised me committed suicide I was 6 months into my lifestyle change. He was so proud of me and I was finally doing the hard work needed to lose the weight. I felt lost, hopeless and I stopped for a moment. I had to handle cleaning up the mess he left behind (literally) and getting the funeral set up. I had no energy to go walk, cook or function. I started smoking again and drinking liquor on the stairwell at night. My roommate walked out about a week after and said "what the hell are you doing? This isn't solving anything Sarah" and I screamed. I lost it. I had kept it together for everyone, I hadn't even cried until that moment and she cracked my case. She sat next to me and just held me while I mourned the loss of my biggest support net. I realized he couldn't handle this life but I can. I gave the cigarettes to my roommate and went for a walk to clear my head and it worked. It was a relief to get back in tune with my body and it reminded me why I was doing this. I wanted to live and I couldn't letyself waste anymore time delaying my happiness. It wasn't all smooth sailing and I had 2 back injuries the following year but by that point I was able to modify my diet and still lose weight without working out. I had to "give up" on intense training but I knew that if I worked hard and consistently I could get back to walking and pilates eventually. There will be times when there really is no point in working so hard for a few nbers on a scale but once you feel the changes on the inside I think you start to change the way you view the outside. It went from trying to be the smallest to wanting to be the healthiest. Haven't been sick in a couple years and my bloodwork is beautiful. I will take health over a smaller weight any day. Don't give up because there really won't be a finishing or stopping point. You will need to maintain and that is no small feat. It may seem less overwhelming if you make small steady changes that snowball into a weight dropping, health machine

cassiee1234

The thought of how much happier i'll be when I loose weight. I feel like I can be more myself when im thinner! Let my confidence over flow! I also keep reminding myself that I WILL be thin enough to pull off a bikini for the first year ever this summer! (about 4 months away for me) I look at the bikini's on Victoria's Secret and pick out the ones that im going to buy and imagine myself wearing them and being proud It's a little supperficial, but it's what keeps me going!

LuisZav

The results is what keeps me going. As my body gets lean, and the inches come off. Those results are addicting, and I want more.

taem

First, it was type two diabetes--done it, gone. Then high blood-pressure--done it, gone. Last winter, two people I loved died of cancer--I don't want cancer, that's a tough one. Over-all answer, my health is too important to me, I value it immensely. If you cannot respect your body and keep it healthy, how can you say you respect anyone else?

Chipmunk222

Because every woman in my family is seriously overweight, and I never have been until now... I walk into a room with them and they kind of smirk and say "Ahhhh you've finally put on a few pounds, knew it would catch up with you sooner or later"
Ummm, I don't think so, don't get used to it, cause it aint staying long.

JulieDerda

i am almost to my goal.. well 30 more lbs.. and I want to reach gosh darn it! I want to be not just skinny but as fit as can possibly be. I also love the way i feel after I work out. Theres nothing like it. So much fun.. OMG I cant believe I cant believe I keep saying that. That exercising IS FUN!!! its actually my life.. my obsession now. being healthy :drinker:

bushidowoman

There are several things.
My dad died at age 55 from a heart attack. He never did try to take care of his health, and never felt well enough to enjoy his life. When I am 55, I want to feel good enough to dance and hike a mountain trail with my hubby, to crawl around on the floor with my grandchildren and keep up with them at the zoo.
And I have other goals that I am working toward besides just weight. Right now, it's a healthy pregnancy and a smooth delivery (eating right and exercising helps that immensely!) I had just gotten into a size 6 for the first time in YEARS right before I got pregnant, and it felt great (was at a12-14). I want to get back there as soon as possible. I really want to reach the next rank (martial arts) in the next year. I want to go to instructors clinics and be ready for more when the guys are collapsed in sweaty heaps. I want to be able to do 100 consecutive pushups.

TheVimFuego

I believe that my dietary and exercise framework is both sustainable and based in science.

It's not transitory, it's on-going and there is no feeling of deprivation so 'keeping going' isn't a issue.

There is no goal, I end up in whatever physical shape I end up in, it's just living.

Sidesteal

I like picking up heavy *kitten*.

CynthiasChoice

Lately, for me it's spiritual journey, focusing on forgiveness. First, accepting God's forgiveness for all my faults...those in the past, and those that continue in the present. Understanding and feeling the life-force of that grace...living in that grace...has made me realize that I want to forgive others also. As I've started to think about all the people in my life that have hurt me at some point, I've realized that I carry around a lot of grudges.

All those grudges are weighing me down - literally! But I'm not letting them go for my benefit, I'm letting them go because it now feels right. I'm craving harmony.

If God can forgive me, and I can forgive others, then maybe I can begin to forgive myself. That's what it takes to get back on track over and over and over again. Remorse is OK for a moment, but it has to make way for forgiveness, a peaceful heart, and hope for the future.

mustgetmuscles1

Losing weight makes everything look bigger. :glasses:

Freyja2023

For me it has been the fact that I am just too stubborn. I can sit on an idea for a real long time, but once I make up my mind to do it I won't stop till I have. It is like a challenge for myself. I also love the results.

UNTOLDSMILE

Mine came from wanting something more. Then when I really and truly applied myself to weight training, I began to love it. It's therapy for me now. I reflect on all my issues in my workout and feel much better after it.

Starla_

I want to keep living

stubbysticks

It's pretty simple: I like my life now. More specifically, I'm actually LIVING it, instead of sitting on the sidelines hoping no one notices me & reminds me of how fat I am, whether it's intentional or not. I don't always make healthy food choices but I am always aware of them & the nutritional value (or lack thereof). That in itself is far more responsible than I've ever been about my health.

I live an active lifestyle. I work out almost every day, even in planned rest days I WANT to do active things like walk with friends around the lake or go play racquetball. I still have the occasional lazy day, but I'm proud of the fact that they are few & far between.

When I don't feel like being responsible about my nutrition & fitness, I remember how easy it would be to slip back into my old fat habits then wake up one day in my old fat body. I've worked too hard for too long to take my new life for granted.

I don't have to convince myself to do what I do. The consequences of NOT doing it are motivation enough. Sucking it up through a halfass workout is better than not trying, because then I'd have to deal with the guilt of knowing I didn't do everything I could to keep this new life I've given myself.

You shouldn't have to look for reasons to improve your health. Do you have any good reasons NOT to?

ggof

iiiiiiiiiii am in control and iiiiiiiiiiiiiii decide .. not some suger-addicted, swimming-in-fat wimp who lives in my stomach or is it my brain LOL !

i can be my best friend or worst enemy .. i tried the latter and didn't like the results, so as the saying goes .. *if u don't want the same results, stop doing the same things* .. so i tried the former and it worked ..

i am happier, lighter, have more energy and confidence .. THAT in itself is my motivation to get to my goal (and stay there) !

MOTTO : THIS is your life, not a dress rehearsal !!

CyberEd312

That is an easy one...... This time it was a Total Lifestyle Change and nothing more..... Once you establish this as the rest of your life then you have no reason to fail....... Atleast that has been my approach, I began my new life in May of 2009..... Best of Luck

vvanm

It's bad enough getting old; I can't help that, but I am not going to be the old, fat lady. My health problems predispose me to gaining weight and then the weight makes my symptoms worse, in a snowball effect, so I refuse to continue that cycle. I don't want my daughter to wonder if she will be fat, because her mother was. When I was tempted to eat more, I thought about the setback, and how much longer it would take to reach my goal, and I wanted to not have to worry about being overweight as soon as possible!

blakhitman

It's so easy for me now. What poster above said is true, once you leave the "temporary weight loss diet" mentality and make it about changing your lifestyle it becomes what you are and then it becomes hard to leave it, missing a workout is painful now.