Being fat is just easier..

If your eating sugar at all...it is very hard to stay on track. At least that is how I am. I had to give it all up! All processed, pre made & fast foods. I know if I eat junk, I might not stop. I make the choice not to eat it!

Find a pic, a song, a old pic of you thin, something or someone's pic that keep you on track.

Good luck

Have you tried searching for a running club in your area?

look.. if i lose weight.. i will lose the moobs.. and i ask pray tell what will keep me occupied at night?

You know, I used to think that also... until I realized how much pain internally I've felt being fat. NOTHING can take that pain away other than being the person I want to be.

So really, you have to change how you view things- yeah it's easier to grab fast food.... but wouldn't it also be easier to go shopping and be able to grab an article of clothing you like without worrying about "how" it will fit? Or, later on in the years will it be easier if you develop health problems associated to living an unhealthy lifestyle? No, it most certainly wont.

It's easy to become discouraged because this is not something that you can change overnight. You have to keep reminding yourself that YOU are worth it and all the reasons why you want to and need to do this.

Good luck, and know that you're not alone!!

bump

Keying in on the motivation piece, I have found that the more days I go without exercising, the less I want to do it. My solution? Whenever possible, go every day. Even if I just to a short 20 min of cardio or go for a walk. Sometimes life gets in the way, but, then I have to force myself to get back to it as quickly as possible. I know I feel better when I exercise consistently.

It is the same thing with food. I've found it easier to avoid refined sugar all together (well once I'm through the "detox" stage). If I eat it, I'll want it again the next day. The more times I eat it, the more I want it. So, I try to be as strict with my food choices, sugar, fat, junk v. "real" food as possible because it keeps me motivated longer.

That said, over time, my motivation does wane. I'm trying to get re-focused now after about 4 - 6 weeks of less than pristine (for me anyway) eating. So, I know I have about a 3 - 5 days of it being harder, then it smooths out.

Maybe you're just not ready for this. Weight loss is a major commitment.... and living a healthier lifestyle is an even bigger one. I had to be fat for a while before I was ready to go for it. If you're not ready, no judgement... you cannot force yourself to do something you don't wholeheartedly want. Take you're time.... process it.... regroup... and attack it on your terms.

Being fat is easy.... You know what else is easy? Nothing in life worth having.

In my own personal opinion the key is to lose the weight quickly then stabilize at your new lower weight and figure out how to stay their. It seems to be much easier losing 4-5 pounds a week to stay motivated then just losing a pound or two. I go against the traditional advice but never the less the important parts are staying with the plan and maintaining the new lower weight. Lose the weight fast that will keep you motivated.

How does that work out for you? Have you lost your weight and kept it off?

I have been the Queen of losing motivation so many times! I have tried and failed to lose weight for YEARS! I too thought that being fat was easier. It was easier then finding the will power to eat right, because I *LOVE* food! It was easier than finding the energy to get the exercise I needed. I hated that walking only 5 minutes on my Elliptical made me want to die. Being fat *was* easier. Then almost 7 years ago my Mom passed away at 52 years old from complications of her Diabetes that would have been non existent if she was so horribly over weight. My Grandmother died at 67 from heart and lung problems from her obesity too. I continued to "ignore" the fact that this would be my destiny if I didn't take control. I wasn't near as heavy as my Mom and Grandma...yet. I knew I could easily gain that weight in time. Then I had a baby two years ago at the age of 37. He was my beautiful little surprise and all I could think of was that if I died as young as my Mom did, he would only be 15. My other two boys would be 19 and 30. I know that sounds morbid, but I felt heartbroken and knew I couldn't do that to my kids. It was really hard losing my Mom when I was 33.

So long story short. My motivation is my family. I have had times over the last year where I have cheated like crazy, felt terrible for eating that piece of Cheesecake or eating that whole plate of Nachos....but I knew it was just a hurdle I had to get over. I didn't gain all that weight in one day, with only one meal, so I knew messing up once in a while wasn't going to make me gain back all that I had lost. I just know that I can' t do it all the time.

Don't feel guilty for losing motivation. Just find what it is that keeps you motivated, If its your family, look at a picture of their loving faces everytime you feel like you want to give up. If its just to fit in that dress that you are dying to show off....take it out and look at it. Don't give up! This journey is hard as hell, but it is worth it....you are worth it!

eh, some aspects of being fat is easier.
most suck. maybe when you get older you'll realize it!

i do low carb. i know it works, so i stay motivated. losing inches and seeing the number on the scale go down is the best motivation.


''being fat is hard.
losing weight is hard.
pick your hard.''

may not apply to you, but i repeat this over and over when i workout

That's good advice. Also, I feel like crap with this extra weight, my joints ache I get out of breath etc. Oh and I used to be tired all the time. With my diet change and exercise I feel tons more energy.

I was going to respond but so manypeople gave such awesome advice! Love MFP! All I can say is "You CAN do it!"

Why do I lose my motivation so quickly?!?? I have my days where I get so pumped up to exercise and eat healthy but then a few days later or even weeks I just completely lose it. Idk if anyone can help ('cause I'm sure this is more of a mental thing) but, why can't I stay motivated? And what keeps you motivated??

I definitely know where you're coming from, as im sure a lot of people do.

I've gone back and forth for the longest time-- one week I'll work out like a maniac, and the next week I'm lucky if I get myself to go on a 30 minute walk.

Since Ive joined MFP and gotten myself some friends, it's much easier to keep each other motivated-- I find it's easier than with real friends!

Feel free to add me if you need some extra encouragement!

For the same reason I lost my motivation quickly for 30+ years. Being fat IS easier. Losing weight takes effort. Being fat only means you get to eat more stuff and feel better today.

But living is a lot harder when you're fat. Stairs are harder. You can't do things you'd like to do.

It cost me being able to ride a mule down the Bright Angel trail into the Grand Canyon. It cost me being able to use a smaller and far less expensive aircraft while I was earning my pilot's license - it damn near cost me said pilot's license on top of that. It cost me missing out on so many of the things I now love to do.

And it cost me all those things for 30 years. If I had lost the weight when I was 15, or even 25, or even 35, I can only imagine the things I would have done in all that time. My "midlife crisis car" is a new body, and it's certainly well-used, but it can do a lot of things my old car couldn't.

Being fat is easier. Today.

Being thin is easier. For life.

Don't wait until you're middle-aged like me and have a lifetime of things you DIDN'T do be your motivation.

Mmmm...yes and no. It is easier to give in to bad habits rather than discipline ourselves to eat right and exercise (even when we don't feel like it). However, when I was at 297lbs I was MISERABLE 24/7...physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was in pain, I could barley breathe, I was always angry or crying (aka depression), I was embarrassed to be seen in public, I couldn't stand getting dressed to go anywhere because most clothes didn't fit and the ones that did looked hideous on me...the list goes on. I've lost nearly fifty pounds, and, even though I still have a long way to go, I feel infinitely better all the way across the board. An hour of misery once per day when I'm at the gym is totally worth it if it means being happier, healthier, and pain free the rest of the day. As I said in my profile, sure, I have alot of weight to lose, but I have far more to lose if I give up on myself. Keep trying. Thirty pounds from now, you'll be glad you did. Take it from someone who's been there.