Unable to Grasp That Needed Motivation

I struggle with the same things. Somehow, the laundry, cleaning, etc. "win" over taking time for myself.... I just joined a Zumba class through the local community college. The fact that I had to pay for it (more expensive than the gym) and that it's a scheduled class time has helped me so far. It's only Week 2 of classes - so far, so good!

I’ve seen posts and heard of others talking about that moment when things finally clicked for them and they were able to put their time and energy into changing their lives. I’ve had more than one opportunity for that defining moment, and yet I’m not able to get the motivation and determination to get out there and work out. I track all my meals and what exercise I do, but even then I don’t have that motivation to make time for myself. Has anyone else struggled with this? What have you done to overcome it?

let me be blunt (maybe this will help)...

what is it about being overweight that you enjoy? obviously there's something great about it if you aren't making time for yourself to make a change. I mean, if you like being overweight, having less energy than you should, being at greater risk for diseases like diabetes and heart disease....well then I can understand why it might be hard for you to find the motivation to make a change.

if, however, there are things you don't like about being overweight...write them down. be brutally honest. review them OFTEN. if that's not enough to motivate you to live a healthier lifestyle, then perhaps being overweight isn't such a bad thing for you.

enjoy.

I'm struggling with this as well... except that sometimes I lack the motivation to track my food or do any exercise lol. Honestly though the people here have been supportive. The last couple days I didn't track anything and didn't log in out of laziness. Yesturday I opened my e-mail to see several people messaged me to get back on the site. So I guess having a couple good friends who will keep you accountable makes a difference.

I don't think it's as simple as a 'defining moment' for everyone. I have little moments of clarity here and there, and lots of internal battles with myself over getting exercise. I know that I need to get healthy - at my age it's a slippery slope and one of the moments of clarity was when I learned that I was going to be a grandma and this thought just popped into my head that at the rate I was going, I would die before the child would be old enough to remember me.

Another one was when I lost a whole weekend to fatigue - I did a few chores Saturday morning and was so exhausted by it that I slept the rest of the day and still felt crappy on Sunday. This is no way to live.

Or how about climbing one flight of stairs and huffing and puffing at the top of it? Then there's an older brother who's had two types of cancer, another older brother with diabetes and 2 heart attacks, a sister with chronic depression and thyroid issues. I was headed toward being diabetic myself. As the doctor put it, "You're a diabetic waiting to happen."

None of these by themselves compelled me to do it, but cumulatively, they amounted to the feeling that I had a guillitine hanging over my head. The only way to turn it all around was to get serious about my health.

The calorie counting part was easy, although the first week I was hungry all the time. It's the exercise part that was difficult to get going. We got a used treadmill and I started at 2.0 mph and 1.5 incline. After 1/2 an hour, I was sweating buckets and totally wiped out. I HATE to sweat by the way, and at first, I had the same kind of reaction as to the chores. It would exhaust me and I would need a 2-3 hour nap to recuperate. (answer - do it before bed.) Gradually over the past several months, I increased the incline and distance. and now I go for 3 mile walks in the neighborhood a couple days a week. Another problem with the walking was that my feet would become VERY painful, and the pain would increase cumulatively if I exercised for days in a row. (answer - good shoes, aspercreme on my feet to take the edge off the pain and take a rest day every third day.) Do I still have foot pain from exercise? Yes, but it is gradually improving. I think by the time I'm down another 20-30 pounds, it won't be a major issue any more, but if it is, I'll deal with it.

I also spend 15 minutes several times a week on stretching and flexibility. I often do this while I watch a favorite TV show. Ditto for strength training. I use light weights and my own body weight and increase my reps as I can. I go at a pace that works for me - maybe when I'm closer to a normal weight I'll get more into the whole 'workout' mentality, but that would absolutely demotivate me at this point in the game.

I celebrate every success, even the little ones. Every day I'm not over on calories. Every day I get even a 10 minute walk in (and the extra calories I earn from exercising.) Every day I wake up refreshed instead of tired. Every decrease in blood pressure and resting heart rate. Every pound lost. Every compliment I receive. I celebrate baggy clothes, and donating the ones that are too big to charity. I celebrate going down a size. I celebrate the new glow to my complexion, the new brightness in my eyes. I celebrate getting to the top of the stairs without being breathless. I celebrate my increase in energy (and use it to do housework, therefore burning more calories...) If I have a bad day, I celebrate the coming of a new day where I can start over again with a clean slate. I celebrate the successes of my MFP friends - their progress and example is a huge motivator for me. I even celebrate sore muscles - they mean that I am getting stronger and they sure beat the aches and pains of old age. I celebrate the 'hints' of bones I'm starting to see - ankle bones, hip bones, collar bones - these have all been hidden away for decades. These are the things that give me motivation to keep going forward. No epiphany for me. Just a daily effort to do the best I can in that day.