Motivation-That (to some) dreaded word

I find that just coming to MFP keeps me going. There were a few times in the last few years that I just did not have it in me to log my foods or exercise.

Despite that, I continued to come onto the forums at least once a day - regardless of how I was feeling. This way, when I was ready to get back on track...it was easy.

I want to be "not-fat" more than I want to be fat and I am determined to do whatever it takes to be "not-fat."

The benefits of being fat include eating indulgently and experiencing the instant gratification of that extra helping of lasagna. OTOH, the benefits of consistently working towards "not-fat" are becoming more healthy, more fit, looking better, having adventures that were impossible for the fat-me, and experiencing a deeper satisfaction with the way I live my life. I don't need to "love" myself, but I do need to respect myself. And respect is earned.

It is a personal choice - to take the more challenging path to a better life or stay on the easy road.

The things that keep me motivated to lose weight are:
- The main reason is that I need to lose weight for health reasons - to ease the pressure on my lower back/knee and ankle.
- Allowing myself an Indulgence now and again to keep me motivated to continue eating healthy most of the time.

I don't want to be a "fat" mom. I want my son to have a mom he is proud of and can look up to. He's only 7 months now but they grow so fast! It'd be hard to encourage him to live a healthy lifestyle while I sit on my fat *kitten* eating Oreo's all day..

I threw away all my fat clothes and bought better fitting clothes and I just can't afford to do that again in reverse!!!

I am pretty sure, at my age, that I don't want to go through this again. Maintenance is tough enough.

I want to look decent and be as healthy as I possibly can. That's my motivation.

Wait... I thought "cardio" was the dreaded word.

Wait... I thought "cardio" was the dreaded word.

Hahaha I swear if I could lift all day and get the same results I would

To be blunt: you dont. The feeling of motivation comes and goes. What you need is determination. You need to make the choice to do it whether you feel motivated or not.

I just posted this on my Facebook. It will give you some idea of the past five years I've had.

"I cannot even TELL you how NICE it is to have two weeks put together that DON'T FEEL LIKE CRAP.

For once, for once, for ONCE:

1.) Nobody's DYING.

2.) Nobody's in the hospital.

3.) Nobody needs a ride to visit somebody in the hospital.

4.) I don't need a colonoscopy or some damned thing. I'm not in the ER with bladder spasms.

5.) I'm actually losing some weight and my feet haven't gotten injured again. (Yet.)

6.) I got enough sleep. I actually feel better.

7.) I had time to make some headway on this MESS that is my living space.

8.) I am not stuck behind the computer doing reams of paperwork for somebody who needs Medicaid, or stuck at Kinko's copying reams of documentation for somebody who needs Medicaid, or stuck at the post office mailing reams of documentation for somebody who needs Medicaid. (Soon, but at least now I have a break.) No handicapped people need moving into a new residence this week.

9.) I ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING NICE. Even if it's just sit at a sidewalk cafe and work on some writing.

This week it really hits me that life has been so, so, so, so hard, for so, so, so, so long, that just simple little things like it being NORMAL feel like absolute heaven.

And it also hits me that overall, things really have to change. You cannot live like I've had to live the past five years and remain happy. You cannot live like I've had to live the past five years and remain HEALTHY. At some point, the stress and the wear and tear are just gonna kill you.

Can the universe just please sustain this period of things being not so bad all the time, please??

And people who are having it normal, please look at the list above one more time. Do you have any clue how much I've envied you over the last five years??"


This past year, my award-winning author husband died of a brain tumor, and I've been dealing with being POA for a couple of sick elderly handicapped relatives.

There really, really are times when life is just, just too much. A couple of times in there I just didn't do anything because I literally dragged home from work and *could not* get up out of the chair.

Then, of course, I gained weight. I've only lost about 11 lbs or so right now, but it's a-m-a-z-i-n-g how much better I feel. Motivation=I want to feel physically better, not crappy like this past year.

P.S., losing weight doesn't mean you can never, never, never have lasagna. Just use the calorie tool to make sure you don't eat too much more than maybe once a week, or to adjust your calorie intake elsewhere in the day so you can have the goodie and not be over your count. Life eating only carrots is pretty crappy and blah.

Even though I only lost less than 30 lbs. the difference for me has been how much better I feel. More energy, less aching joints, etc. So the motivation for me (at 56) is to enjoy life that much more simply by being healthy. Excess weight really does impact our bodies more than we realize. Good luck to you!

I decided when I started it was a lifestyle change, not just a "I need to lose the weight" exercise. I lost over 45 lbs. and after starting an incredible relationship, gained almost 10 back. It's mostly I want to stay in my new wardrobe and I don't want the flabby belly and cellulite dimpled legs and butt. So now it's about the body fat % and how my clothes fit instead of the scale weight.

Is my diet perfect? By NO means, but I try and keep close to my macros.
Workouts... I'm a fiend. I like to beat my body and make it my slave. I do some sort of activity everyday. Some more strenuous than others. Lately I've laying it on thick because of the Tough Mudder I'm running this weekend.

I am a sick pup. I like walking in to the gym and seeing big guys, throwing up sick weight. (Not that I want to get THAT big, but I do not mind healthy size and my six pack back.) But then I walk into the dressing room to change and see that I have work to do. For some people I know that it is a turn-off the see others doing that, or guys throwing up poses in the mirror for competition, but to me it tells me that I need to put in the work, and it fires me up.

Now why do I do it. Because of a two and a half year old that I want to be able to keep up with. And when she was born, I was out of breath just jogging a hallway. I want to be there for her, not just sitting in the stands.

Plus now a days I find races and stuff that help me push myself with.

I want to be "not-fat" more than I want to be fat and I am determined to do whatever it takes to be "not-fat."

The benefits of being fat include eating indulgently and experiencing the instant gratification of that extra helping of lasagna. OTOH, the benefits of consistently working towards "not-fat" are becoming more healthy, more fit, looking better, having adventures that were impossible for the fat-me, and experiencing a deeper satisfaction with the way I live my life. I don't need to "love" myself, but I do need to respect myself. And respect is earned.

It is a personal choice - to take the more challenging path to a better life or stay on the easy road.

YES YES YES

There's a really hot, sexy, fit person inside of me. I see her when I'm not looking in the mirror. I would like to see her in the mirror as well.

I want to finish a half marathon by next December to raise money for a hospital that means a lot to me personally. That helps me to run. When I run, I don't want to eat crap. That's pretty much how I am getting through this.

Also, when the scale isn't showing progress, I look for non-scale victories (NSV). When the NSVs are not there (like today with my run), then I look to the scale (seems to be showing a 2 lb loss). I'm hoping this lasts. If not, I'll find another reason. I'm not giving up on myself. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself any longer. I made myself this way, and I can change it. It's only a matter of time, and the time is going to pass whether I do anything or not.

boyfriends and husbands can be the worst, while trying to be the best. We are so use to saying I love you through food and nice dinners. I have been trying to cook healthy and then my husband will walk in the house with papa john's pizza (my favorite).