Where did you find your motivation?

EllieElla2015 · February 2017

Hi guys!

I had a phase where I logged and exercised and all that good stuff but it's honestly been 2 years since any real productive efforts. I hate calorie counting and I hate exercising and I hate feeling restricted. I've also tried all sorts of exercising- sports like skiing, or running or weights. Now I'm down to walking on incline while watching Netflix. I really just need to lose 10 pounds.

When did you finally say enough is enough? What caused that motivation?

kommodevaran · February 2017

I have stopped calorie counting and planned exercise too. Just eating regular meals made up of anything I like but in appropriate amounts, and moving every day (I walk too, and dance), is enough to maintain a healthy weight. I finally figured out that this is for life, so I have to make it liveable.

rabbidchicken · February 2017

For me setting a healthy example for my children has been my continued motivation. But it just has to be a decision every day which you want more to lose ten pounds or make a small sacrifice to make that goal thats how i have lost the last 75 pounds just set it into small increments of 10 here 5 there etc. So maybe might help just focus on making a small change to lose one pound and maintain that loss for awhile then another etc. Your mileage may vary but i find it super effective for myself

NorthCascades · February 2017

Like you, I hate being restricted. All of the most scenic places are hard to get to. My couch is easy, but not very exciting. I'd rather be on the mountaintop.

rsclause · February 2017

When my son poke my beer gut and asked "when is it due". That is when I started on a mission and lost 53 pounds.

kittykarin · February 2017

I found exercise that I really love and I still track about 80% of the time but by now, I pretty much know what I eat in a day and what my allotted amount of calories a day looks like. If you feel deprived, restricted or hate what you are doing, you will eventually quit... even if it's years later. You aren't going to sustain it for life. Find foods and exercises that you love and there is nothing wrong with walking! If that's what you like, keep doing it. I know this sounds cheesy but listen to your body! For me, if i don't feel like running one day, I don't. I'll walk instead or do yoga or take a rest day. Find a place where your healthy lifestyle feels normal, not something you are doing short term and white-knuckling every day.

KatyBell164 · February 2017

I'm pretty superficial in my goals

Buy the bikini you'd like to wear this summer, put it on, take photos = motivation

Machka9 · February 2017

This jacket ...

Gallowmere1984 · February 2017

I'm not motivated; I am disciplined. The difference in compliance is huge.

Stupiidbility · February 2017

Zombie, run! app is literally the only motivation for me to exercise

DietVanillaCoke · February 2017

When my GP looked at my blood results and told me if i don't get out of being morbidly obese i will die. That was a nice wake up call. I didn't have diabetes or PCOS yet (Which all the women in my family do), I didn't have high blood pressure or bad cholesterol. I was born with Leiden Factor V a blood clotting disorder and being even overweight can increase the risk. I'm also deficient in a few things because i stopped eating real food full of vitamins and nutrients and started eating calorie high crap.

The initial doctors appointment wasn't even the start of everything though. My partner broke down and said he was worried that the path I was on I was heading to the grave. That's what made me see my GP.

Seffell · February 2017

I just hate being fat.

BonnieDundee78 · February 2017

For me it was turning 39. With my 40th a year away, I stood on the scales for the first time in forever (and got a shock) and took a long hard look at myself in the mirror (equally horrifying) and said "NOPE. I'm doing something about this."

vikinglander · February 2017

It was in my lower dresser drawer the whole time.

victoria_1024 · February 2017

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

I'm not motivated; I am disciplined. The difference in compliance is huge.

Absolutely!! I lost 90 lbs and I've been maintaining since last year. I'm almost never motivated. Maybe at first I was motivated to not be obese anymore, but it got harder as I went along and in maintenance it can be near impossible to be motivated. But I have my habits. I log my food, I exercise every day, and I weigh myself every morning to make sure I'm staying on track. I usually don't want to do any of those things but I just do it. Because I know I will gain all the weight back otherwise.

everher · February 2017

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

I'm not motivated; I am disciplined. The difference in compliance is huge.

This. My motivation ranges from zero to less than zero on any given day.

I think it's harder though the less you have to lose and the more satisfied you are with your appearance.

EatingAndKnitting · February 2017

I'm obese (291 pounds). I'm diabetic and have high cholesterol. Both of those shorten your life span, and I want to live a long time.

I didn't get serious about making a change though until I saw what my future could look like. I was surfing YouTube, as you do, and ran across some vloggers that were as obese as I am. One of them was wearing a sheet, presumably because she was too large for most clothes. I'm not judging them, or casting aspersions on their character, or trying to belittle them. I wish them the best, and wish I could do something for them, without coming across as a concern troll.

I just realized that at the rate I was gaining weight that could be me in a few years, if I didn't die of heart disease or diabetes complications first. I finally realized that my health needed to come first. Everything else, even vanity, is second. I'm doing this so my husband can enjoy having his wife around for as long as possible. That's all the motivation I need.

I know I've only been doing this for 36 days, and I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but this isn't my first rodeo. I lost 70 pounds before, but gained it back. I am determined it'll be my last rodeo though.

clags301 · February 2017

Vanity. I stopped and took a good look in the mirror. That motivated me to want my body back. Discipline is what got me there, though, not motivation. The mirror now motivates me to never go back.

JessicaMcB · February 2017

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

I'm not motivated; I am disciplined. The difference in compliance is huge.

Completely agree with this. A caloric deficit gave me weight loss, running has gifted me discipline- I suffer a complete refusal to eff with my goals haha

Do you have any fitness goals OP? Or even just active fun (like white water rafting with friends!) goals? That might help ground your efforts better

snowprincess502 · February 2017

After I had my second baby, I decided I wanted to keep the weight off and continue to lose more to get a healthy BMI. Plus having gestational diabetes during pregnancy made me motivated to keep weight off and watch carbs.

I hated the gym at first. I felt pathetic. Kept on working out. Now I love cardio and lifting weights. If I miss a day at the gym, I feel guilty. My body has changed so much.

Have kept the weight off for two and a half years.

Now my next goal is cleaner eating and low carb.

Bones2Toned · February 2017

God and Trusting the Process
TD Jakes
People telling me I can't and I know I can.
My Fitness Pal community
The results will be worth it.

Where did you find your motivation?

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