I need some extra motivation!!

Darlajean - posted on 08/09/2009

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Alyson - posted on 04/15/2009

Hi Donna!!! Welcome :)
I'm gonna be blunt, and I don't want to offend you in any way BUT - here is your kick in the pants.... Your "want" to lose the weight IS your motivation. The only person out there that can do this for you is you. If you truly WANT to get rid of the sag and the back fat (I've got more than my fair share of it) you will get off your a$$ and on the treadmill (I so wish there was one in my living room). All it takes is 20 minutes a day to start. Put on your favorite TV show and walk at a 3-3.5 mile pace until its over. Then you are D-O-N-E for the day. It will be tough in the beginning, and you will probably want to give up, I know I did, and some days are better than others. You will get more energy I promise, but it will take a little time to feel that way. When you feel stronger you will up the time on the treadmill, or up the pace, incorporate some weights, and some abs.

I was 262 lbs at my worst, and I felt like garbage. When I got home from work all I wanted to do was eat, and watch tv, and then sleep. Any energy I had was for everyone else in the world, except me. What kind of life is that? What was I teaching my child? While it is true that we all have to work at something (you are either a homemaker or you work for the "man") you still need to make yourself a priority!!! You are important to the world, your existence matters!!! So I started to walk at lunch time 4 days a week. It was the only time in the day that I had for me, and I didn't care who I pissed off at work, or who was looking or laughing while I was out shaking my butt. It was for me. And I felt better. I didn't lose much weight, but I felt stronger, and more emotionally stable. I was a better wife, mother, employee and a better human.
I'm not working anymore (due to immigration issues) and I now have the time to focus on me. Do I do it all the time? No. It is still a struggle to put on my runners and get to the gym. It will always be a struggle for me. But when I'm done, I feel great and satisfied that I have taken care of me!

Things that I have used to motivate me:
Exercise magazines are a great place to start. I get SHAPE every month.
My daughter - I want to see her get old and gray, and I truly want to be able to chase her around the park. I am starting to get there...but its been tough.
My husband is also a motivator for me. When I get exercise he gets more *blush* sex and we are happier as a team when we exercise. Also, some day I'm gonna kick his butt in the gym...one of my goals is to out run him.
New gear. I get a new pair of runners every Valentines Day. I don't want chocolate or slinky things. I want shoes. And I get them. Any new exercise stuff is awesome!!!

Things I wish I had:
A workout girlfriend. I love my man, but there is something to be said for having a pal at the gym who is going through a similar situation. They can help you get to the gym or where ever you work out and be the extra motivation when you are down in the dumps.
A treadmill at home. I have read that people who exercise at home are more likely to keep off the weight than those that use a gym.
The motivation to start a food journal. I have food issues and somedays I just can't think about what I've consumed as its too depressing...

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Jenni - posted on 04/10/2009

Welcome Donna. Like you it took me awhile to finally get the motivation to do something about my weight. On January 5, 2009 I was watching the Today Show and there was an author on the show who has this 'diet' book. The way she talked about the diet I thought it was really simple and I could do it. It boiled down to drinking two glasses of water before lunch, having a snack, then having two glasses of water before dinner and have a side salad before you eat your main meal. Pretty simple I thought. So that day I went out and bought her book. I haven't turned back (ok, not really turned) since that day. I lost an atypical amount of weight that first month - close to 20 pounds and that was just by following the recipes that she outlined in the book. I figure I need to eat so what's the harm in eating in a different way for me (typically we did pre-made meals). After that first month I decided that adding in some exercise might keep the weight loss going, since I figure there would be a plateau at some point, so I began working out and today I've lost close to 45 pounds.



Start with the small things - drink more water, eat more veggies, have smaller portions, prepare healthier meals, etc. This may help as you begin to notice feeling better, you may want to then do more to keep the feeling alive and pushing forward.



Good luck to you and keep us updated.