Day 4: Motivation
Sometimes I feel like the least motivated person in the world. It’s easy to get into that rut, though, especially when what you want seems so far out of reach. My husband often reminds me that I am much more motivated than I give myself credit. He’s good like that. He’s what keeps me going some days.
Since my surgery, I have definitely been more motivated to eat healthier and kick my butt to exercise, but MAN there are days that I just don’t want to do it! When this happens, my inner two-year old is having a major meltdown temper tantrum. Luckily on the outside I am mostly under control and people don’t notice that I’m slightly crazy in the head. It’s so much easier to just not track my food and skip the exercise, but then I remind myself that behavior like that is what got me to where I needed the surgery. By the way, weight loss surgery is NOT always the answer and it is definitely not the easy way out. I still have to work at it to lose the weight, and it’s not just magically falling off over night.
I have been overweight all of my life or at least as far as my memory goes. I don’t know what it’s like being a normal-sized person. You would think that is reason enough to motivate me, but it’s also what scares me. What if I can’t do it? What if I can’t make it to that point? What if I do make it then slowly get back into old habits? When thoughts like this pop into my head, it just makes me want to take the easy way out and give up. I don’t want to work so hard for nothing.
But it IS something, and I HAVE to keep going! Lately what motivates me the most is that I have stopped concentrating on how far I have to go and started looking at how far I’ve come. I am one-fourth of the way to reaching my weight loss goal. When I look at it that way, I realize that it’s something in which to be proud. I am going to keep going!
“You have a masterpiece inside you, too, you know. One unlike any that has ever been created, or ever will be. And remember: If you go to your grave without painting your masterpiece, it will not get painted. No one else can paint it. Only you.” — Gordon MacKenzie
What motivates you? Does it take a little or a lot to get you going?
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Frogdiva Dot Com 
Lots of good topics going on here 🙂 what motivates me is connecting with other people and having the support of friends and community. Easier to stick to things sometimes when you have people to keep you in check. Good luck with your weight loss goal. I have never experienced the type of surgery or weight loss journey you are on, and I know it has to be really diffcult. The part I can relate to is seeking comfort in food, because when I had lots of losses in my family, I often wanted to bake or cook and eat comfort food. I did gain weight as a result and have about 20 lbs to lose now. Keep on going for it-you can do it!! You will have to reward yourself with cute new outfits as you progress. 🙂
Having friends to help motivate you is definitely a good one, Rebekah. I have 3 friends who also go to the water aerobics class with me on Thursday, and it’s a much more fun class when we are all together. I also track my food and exercise on My Fitness Pal, and the community there is great for motivation.
I want to go buy clothes SO BAD right now, but I am trying to keep it to a minimum since I will probably only be able to wear some clothes for a couple of months before dropping down another size or two. Last weekend I finally went and bought some new pants at the Goodwill because my other pants were literally falling off of me as I walked. I figure if I can find good second hand clothes cheap, it won’t be so bad when I only wear them for a couple of months. I have friends and family also handing me down clothes that no longer fit them. I am SO loving having a new wardrobe of cute clothes that fit well. So far I’ve lost 38 pounds since my surgery in July, and 51 pounds since I started the journey a little more than 2 years ago.
Wow! you are doing well! Good job! I actually won’t spend lots of money on clothes either, since I am trying to lose 🙂 I get mine new, but I shop online when stores have mega discounts and it works out pretty well. I just got a skirt for fall for around $12, and some jeans for about the same price. It probably isn’t as cheap as Goodwill, but another thought is that I can sell them on Ebay later if they don’t fit. Don’t know if you have ever done that but it can help get some money back!
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