What is your WHY?
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For those of you just catching the beginning of this "'part 2" of this topic that was started, and haven't seen the original post, here you go.
"More often than not, I see the same statement come from a lot of people about their fitness journey. "I started up, but then I quite xx amount of days later." Or, " I made it 2-3 months, but couldn't keep up with it." So I started thinking, what is it that keeps people from continuing on? What was it that kept me going on? I read or listened to a small segment by Darren Hardy called Making the shift, I believe that was it, and he touched on the subject of what is it that drives us to pursue something. The main reason, your WHY has to be strong enough.
Imagine that you are on a high rise building and there is a skinny platform about 30 feet long going from your roof top to the building across the way from you. You are asked to cross to the other side. Chances are, you probably don't want to. Now imagine there is a $10 bill on the other side. You might be more tempted, but is it enough to really make you want to do that? Probably not. Now, imagine your child or loved one is in danger on that other side. I'm willing to bet that you are going to do everything you can to get to that side. What changed? Your WHY changed. Crossing a 30 foot platform just for the thrill of it or $10 wasn't a big enough reason why, but a loved in danger might be.
Now, imagine applying that same mindset to your fitness journey and life style change. Is your WHY big enough? I believe one of the reasons why some people don't make it past that few day or couple month period is that there WHY isn't big enough, so the willingness to stick it out and achieve their goal isn't really there.
My why goes beyond wanting to look good in shorts or have 6 pack abs. Mine is to avoid a hereditary disease and live long enough to see my children's children grow up. My family has a history of diabetes. Both great grandparents, my grandfather, mother, and uncle all have or had diabetes. My uncle was just diagnosed a few years ago, and my mother, god bless her, lost the fight a few months back. A couple of years ago I weighed the most I ever had, didn't care what I ate or drank because I assumed I would be one of the lucky ones that the disease skipped. I then realized that was a bad mindset, so I changed it. I made the choice to want to eat better, exercise, and prevent the possibility of contracting diabetes and being insulin dependent. I did not want to leave it up to chance. Sure, I would exercise a little, go for a run here and there, eat something healthier, but my WHY wasn't defined, Therefore I was inconsistent and not really doing myself any favors. So, I changed my WHY.
I understand that at times, life can get in the way and slow us down. An injury, drastic change in your lifestyle routine, but when it boils down it it, your reason will remain the foundation for your success. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or you have been making a lifestyle change for years. Do you truly know why you are exercising? Do you really know why you have chosen to eat a little cleaner? When you understand why it is important to YOU, you are more likely to succeed and stick with it.
I hope this has you thinking a little bit. If so, then what is your WHY?"0 -
My why is to feel like myself again. I want to enjoy life like I used to and quit feeling sorry for myself.0
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Had a great day today with my family. My wife ran a 5k this morning, then turned around and did the mile race with her girls from her running team, my daughters included. I ran the 1 mile race with my little man. He came in just over 11 minutes. Not bad considering how many kids there were. With there parents. Came home and took a small nap, then busted out a 35 min cardio routine. Now to relax!0
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My why is my overall happiness. I've always struggled with weight growing up, and like most girls, always wanted to be that prettier in better shape girl in the back of my head. Of course, I've dieted on and off for as long as I can remember, but never changed anything the right way, and unfortunately fell back as many times as I've moved forward. Now, with my new relationship feeling like it's "the one", I am compelled to live all the life I have been making excuses around. I want to go out, travel, have fun, be active, feel good. Finally in a position to start, and keep, a new health/life change. Now to keep myself mentally on track. That's why I'm here, because I feel held more accountable if I know my progress is tracked.0
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My reasons are
- feeling confident in myself again (went from being the most confident I've ever been last summer, to the least this summer)
- looking my best for the boy
- not ending up unhealthy like so many of the women in my family0 -
My why is a life-long journey. I was badly bullied as a teenager. To make the bullying end, I didn't want to be noticed anymore. The best way I found to be under the radar was by being overweight. Over the years, those deep wounds slowly began to heal and I have made great personal improvements over the last few years.
Weight loss is the next step in this journey. I began to exercise daily and watch what I eat about 3 weeks ago. I feel great. Physically and psychologically. I have a better attitude, I smile more, I'm more at ease in the office, I walk faster, I sleep better. Nothing but positives.
I no longer want to be part of the background. But mostly I don't want to look at others and feel inadequate, like they have something I don't have. I want to be the best I can be.0 -
Zombies. I don't like my brain that much, but it's mine.
Okay, serious answer: I don't want to commit suicide with food and lack of physical activity anymore.
I've been battling with depression and anxiety for several years, and I was almost constantly dealing with suicidal thoughts for quite a while. Very few things made me feel a little bit happy at the time: music, my dogs, and food.
After way too many rounds of what I called "medication roulette," I landed on a combo that seemed to help. Suddenly, I felt happy again. I didn't want to kill myself anymore. And I was slowly doing that with too much food and too little activity--not consciously, but whether it was unconscious or not didn't really matter. I needed to become healthier, and I wanted to become healthier. I finally wanted it seriously enough to go for it.
Eventually having a better chance of surviving the zombie apocalypse is a definite plus, though.
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Heck yeah, gotta out run the zombies. As long as they are the ones from The Walking Dead. If they are the ones from Resident Evil or I am legend.....we might have to up the cardio a bitZombies. I don't like my brain that much, but it's mine.
.......
Eventually having a better chance of surviving the zombie apocalypse is a definite plus, though.0 -
My why is to feel like myself again. I want to enjoy life like I used to and quit feeling sorry for myself.
I could have written this word for word...0 -
Why?
1. To maintain/improve my health that gives me freedom and choice.
2. To set and achieve goals.
3. Create some ME time.
4. Be part of a great community with similar mindset and goals.
5. Set an example to my family and friends.
6. To help and connect with others.
7. To improve all other areas of my life.
8. To create purpose and direction.
9. Happyness.0 -
I posted this a few months back, when a similar question was asked.
My hope in sharing this is that some of you younger couples on this site decide to make a change in your health/lifestyles before you end up on this same path as I.
"July 25th, 2010 I stepped on the scales and weighted 282. 27 days later my wife of 33 years died. That day ended her 10 year battle with breast cancer and her life-long battle with obesity. Like me, she had been overweight almost all of her life, she had been 100+lbs heavy since she was a child. She had all the weight related health problems; type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, joint problems, reproductive issues, stomach problems, etc. In my heart I feel the weight kept her from beating back the cancer that eventually took her life. Met her at when I was 16, moved in at 17, married her at 18, and now she was gone. Everything we had planned and saved for, to do later in life was gone too.
I felt that if I didn’t change something, I was next; and both of our lives would have somehow been a waste. "0 -
I beat myself up on a regular with the why's, trying to figure out why i choose a cheeseburger over chicken, why i drink soda, why i sit around instead of working out, i love healthy food and excersise and am learning to like water, but why do i choose the bad over the good? Sometimes its money sometimes its being lazy and other times its what i have programmed myself to do, so its subconscious decisions. I fight this everyday, i have been up and i have been down, and i am sick of it..... my Why is what i search for and i know part, im tired of being the fat guy, im tired of being angry all the time and feeling like i dont deserve any better, im tired of sweating when i go to the grocery store. I fear the diabetes and heart disease that runs in my family, i want to get married and have kids without fearing that i wont live long enough to truly appreciate it. I want to be a role model to my family friends and coworkers and to feel like i can finally beat the monster that holds me hostage. Every where i look there is a why and finally i will let he why's bring me through and help me succeed.0
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My WHY:
1. To have more energy and be happier on a daily basis
2. To be the healthiest I can for when we are ready to start a family.
3. To make pregnancy & labor as easy as possible on myself
4. To be able to perform aerial silks one day.
5. To live a longer & fuller life with my soon to be husband.
6. To prevent as many diseases as possible.
I think that is a good list! I've only been doing Keto & working out for a week and I am already reaping the benefits! More energy, generally happier, getting things done around the house is much easier, experiencing these small joys can help keep me going!0 -
I think you have some solid reasons why listed there. Let those fuel you to better yourself. I challenge you to take it one step further. What will it "feel" like to you to be able to go to the grocery store without sweating, to be happy instead of angry, to be that role model for your family? Really think about this, write it down if you have to. It has been my experience that when you understand why you are doing it and how you will feel when meeting those personal goals, you will have more drive and excitement to keep going and push yourself.
Thank you for sharing!I beat myself up on a regular with the why's, trying to figure out why i choose a cheeseburger over chicken, why i drink soda, why i sit around instead of working out, i love healthy food and excersise and am learning to like water, but why do i choose the bad over the good? Sometimes its money sometimes its being lazy and other times its what i have programmed myself to do, so its subconscious decisions. I fight this everyday, i have been up and i have been down, and i am sick of it..... my Why is what i search for and i know part, im tired of being the fat guy, im tired of being angry all the time and feeling like i dont deserve any better, im tired of sweating when i go to the grocery store. I fear the diabetes and heart disease that runs in my family, i want to get married and have kids without fearing that i wont live long enough to truly appreciate it. I want to be a role model to my family friends and coworkers and to feel like i can finally beat the monster that holds me hostage. Every where i look there is a why and finally i will let he why's bring me through and help me succeed.0 -
Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't been on for a while. Been dealing with the whole house selling, buying thing. Definitely time consuming and stressful. How is everyone doing out there? Are you sticking to your goals and moving forward?0
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Good evening MFP! How was your weekend. I hope it was fun and relaxing. I found myself troubled this past weekend, as I was starting to lose some of my drive. I'm sure a lot of it is stress related and not taking or making the time to exercise like I normally do. So I started thinking a bit broader. Sure I have my why, which was the main start of this conversation and sharing it all with you, but then I started thinking about how. How do you pick yourself up and do what you must so that you can fulfill that greater why? For me, it was trying something new. I have my usual group that comes together and we share our triumphs and stumbles, but sometimes you have to really switch it up a bit. So, after talking with my wife, my boy and I signed up with the local running team. I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into, but it was different, with a group of people that I kind of know, along with some kids to be a role model for and inspire to be young and active. It was great. I haven't pushed myself that hard in a training run in a long time. What's even better is that it re-kindled my drive and passion for being fit and healthy and lifted me back up.
My point is this. If you find yourself slowly drifting down that path or "Not today, maybe tomorrow," find something or someone t0 switch it up for you. That little change might just be enough to show you how to get back on track.
Have any of you experienced or done something similar?0 -
Well, it looks like this thread might have finally reached its' end, but that is okay. Thank you to everyone that shared your reasoning for why you want to better yourself. If your reasons have changed, please continue to share. You never know if your story might just inpsire others.
Have a great day everyone!0 -
Hey Everyone, Just checking to see if anyone's "why" has changed or if they have discovered their true why to making the choice to live a healthier life.0
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I've jumped from the wagon a few times but this time my motivation is different. I've been put on medication for acne that could increase my cholesterol and because I'm overweight it was already on the high side. If the medication makes my cholesterol go too high they'll take me off it and after doing 7 months of antibiotics that didn't help I need to see if these tablets help. So losing weight and using the app to trace the saturated fats will really help me.0
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Wow, reading through these posts, such encouragement. My why is different. I just started with MFP today and I want to remember why. Years ago, I was in high school. I dated a superficial man and he broke up with me because of my weight. I said I would show him. I would show every man (my father, brothers loser ex-boyfriend that called me fat) and I did. I lost it all and then some. Met a man and married. Gained most of it back and he threatened to leave me. I left him and lost it. I dated a few men. One was an alcoholic, and one night he was drunk and mad at me and called me a fat *kitten*. I left him and lost it. Met another man and gained all of it back and then some. The heaviest I have been in my life. He told me I was fat last night. Everything changed. I am so sick of living this way. I am so sick of society dictating to me that my weight is everything. I am so sick of being called fat by every man I have had in my life. I know I can do this. I have done it before. I am in pain but I needed that as a wake up call. Our relationship is over and this will keep playing over and over in my life until I choose to do something about it. take control. I know that this is my why now. I know that this will not be my why in the future. I need to get healthy and be around for my children. I have a long way to go, I have a lot of desire and motivation, I will get this under control once and for all.0
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I had just gone through a really bad break up and I was feeling really unhappy about myself. So I decided I was gonna take the time to focus on myself. It kind of fueled my drive because I was in the mindset of 'oh you'll see what you're missing'. Along the way I gained so much confidence. Two years later: a healthier me and a healthy/happy relationship.
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It seems like every single time I'd get a good steak going, some Big Thing would happen in my life and made it difficult to keep going. Last year was rough... Went through about 5 different jobs, fixed up and moved into a house, went through a lot with family and my father's suicide attempt, started and stopped school...The list of excuses are long and unpleasant, but it's hard to focus on yourself and your needs when so much is going on around you that needs your attention.
Things are more stable now. But going from retail to a sit down job plus being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and gaining a whole mess of weight hasn't helped my cause.
My WHY is the same as the beginning. I just think now I can apply what I know and DO IT.0 -
I want to live longer and be a role model for my kids.
I'd also like to cosplay 0 -
My why is pretty simple. About ten years ago after the birth of my son, I developed fibromyalgia. I sort of let it defeat me. I became very depressed and made some very poor choices in the depths of that depression because my whole life changed and I wasn't ME any more. I was less active (I had never exercised and I was overweight, but not by much), and couldn't be the same type of mother to my kids that I had been.
Life went on and my family adjusted to our new normal, but the scars remained, but I had put on a great deal of weight. Then, well... my thyroid tanked, I put on more weight, 2 deaths hit our family and I developed psoriatic arthritis and I just couldn't. I couldn't let another medical condition defeat me again. That diagnosis was my wake up call.
By the time I was diagnosed, I was walking with a cane. And that's how I started exercising. By taking walks with a cane. I've moved on from that. About 3 months after I started exercising, I joined a gym, and someone recommended MFP and I discovered just how pathetic my own attempts to watch my intake were. I know that exercise and a smaller body will help me keep ahead of my medical conditions and keep me out of ever being in the state I was before.0 -
A very thought provoking question: "Why?". I am in my mid 50's, I woke up one day and realized that I am 60+ pounds overweight. I have no medical issues, no food allergies, or anything like that. There is no reason I am this weight, other then I let it happen. I am not married and do not have children. All of my "why's" are all about me! I have not thought about why I let this happen, but I will list some "why" I will change this:
• To look, feel and be healthier. Why not?
We only have one body, it's not like we can run to human body parts store and get a replacement part and fix it immediately. I need to maintain the one body that I have. I maintain my car better then I maintain my body. That is ridiculous.
• I would like to live to an active, ripe old age without the health problems associated with being overweight / obese.
I want to be active until the end of my life. I don't want to be old and setting around remembering the good times. I want to live the good times right up to the end of my time.
• Eliminate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the CPAP machine that I use to treat it.
• So I can better do the things I enjoy doing in life and not be a safety hazard to myself and other participants.
(Diving, Cycling, Kayaking, Hiking and maybe one day running and climbing.)
• I am embarrassed by my body.
I want to be indifferent about my body. It should not be something that I have a reason to give thought to.
Thank you for making me think about "why?". I am sure it will help keep me motivated and focused throughout this journey.0 -
My why has changed in the past few months, for years it's been about me. My struggles, my recovery, my choices. It's not anymore.
I was raised in households by women who loathed themselves and were always willing to go to extreme and desperate measures to lose weight, but never willing to follow or even attempt the healthy path. They make disparaging remarks to about themselves and others. While it's not uncommon for someone to make a comment about a toddler or a young child's 'fat little thighs or giant butt.' However it's not really the norm to let those sort of comment continue far into their teens and then on adulthood. I am in my 30's now and I am still greeted with a weekly reminder during my visits of my flaws and downfalls.
I don't blame my family for making me the way I am, I did that and I own up to my mistakes. I only credit them with making me feel the way I did. It took a lot for me to learn to not be hurt by hurtful things from the ones I love. It was difficult batting with anorexia in my teens when my primary caregiver encouraged it. I can not and do not blame her, because I genuinely believe she was too blinded by her own pain and the toxic environment her own mother created for her and she reproduced for her daughters and granddaughters.
Now I look at the (preventable and self-inflicted) suffering they are going through and I make a promise to myself. I will not allow my own daughter to grow up in an environment like I did and they did. I will make the right choices even if they are not the easy ones, because I want to live by example for her. I will not let her get to the level of shame and desperation that I've witness in my family. I want so much more for her.
I am so thankful each day that she choose to wait to come into my life after I was at a point where I was finally able to love and respect myself. She is my why.1 -
While not in the ballpark of the wonderful people above, I need to preserve what I have. I have always been physically active and slim. I got my black belt at 52, and was looking forward to continuing. Unfortunately my arthritis kicked in big time. My feet have deteriorated to the point where I need a joint fusion soon or I am faced with having problems walking, but I am facing a 2 year wait for an appointment to see someone who does feet here in Ontario, and a longer wait for an op. I now have it in both hands and have problems picking small objects up. Ihave hip pain from it, and problems with my right shoulder from it. Controlling my weight and staying active allows me to stay fit and active. I am stubborn and continue to run, and I am in love with lifting weights with my sons as work out partners. I can see my future but I am fighting it, and loving the fight. Stay positive all you wonderful peeps!!!!!
edited to add thanks to the op for starting this thread, and to all who have posted for their inspiration.0 -
Such wonderful and rejuvenating responses to what would seem to be an easy question. But as the many of you have discovered, it is not that easy of one. Continue to fight on. Harness your why, think about how good it will feel to accomplish your goals. Tie those emotions to your why and let it drive you. I look forward to reading how your journeys continue. as always, please feel free to add me as a friend.0
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My why starts with why I became fat. I was raped and found comfort in food and than found comfort in being fat because no one noticed me and I could hide behind it. I realized the only way to stop being a victim is to stop hiding. I also had a bad hospital experience: I had a million gallstones that had backed into my liver and I couldn't keep food down and I was in severe pain. The surgeon didn't want to remove my gallbladder because I was too fat, even though two doctors, one a liver specialist begged her to do it. It took her five days and me threatening to go to another hospital for her to do it. I never want to experience that again.
My last why is my son at 12 is now overweight and I want to set a good example for him. I don't want him to go through his childhood and adulthood overweight and making bad food choices.0 -
If I don't get healthy, I'll die. How's that for a "why"?0
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