How do you stay motivated??

[Elsie150]

Wondering how everyone stays motivated for a long period of time.

I started August 11, 2005. So it has been 3 months. I have been successful with a weight lose every week so far but the last 2 weeks I have been really struggling with eating properly. I am still eating legal but not balanced. My ratios are all over the place. I even haven't used fitday the last 2 days and couldn't tell you what exactly I ate. Have been really bad on getting the vegies in. Yesterday even my water intake sucked and I actually felt the first little niggily headache since induction flu.

[2big4mysize]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

sit down with your papaer and pen and your before pic. make a list of reasons you want to be looking like that and unhealthy again. GO ahead we can wait. pretty short list isn't it? Okay now make a list of why you don't want to be looking like that again and unhealthy? Sorry can't wait for that one to get done but when it is you will have your reasons why you won't go back to eatting high carb ways again. Now you got to figure out some positive goals you can say about how you feel about not being the old you again.

Here is the first one
I want to feel healthier.
okay your turn. then post the why not list and the goals you just created all over the place where you can see them like on your mirror on the fridge in your car at your desk on your screen oh and that pic should be motivating too as i ran from my 300+ pound self all the way to goal.

Happy low carbing

[cleochatra]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

You know...somedays I just don't feel motivated. But then I think of some of my favorite things...

Let me think now...oh yes.

Drinking my water
And hard boiled eggs
Thinning about
On my arms and my legs
Spicy cheese omelets
And Chix' chicken wings
These are a few of my favorite things!

Glycemic-low berries
And chopped up tomato
bratwurst with sauerkraut
And pizza alfredo
Walking 3 miles
And water drinking
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the carb bites
When my knees sting
When I'm feeeling sad!
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel so bad!

[Elsie150]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

ROFL!! Cleo....my friend...too funny..I can't even think of a reply I am laughing so hard!!

Thanks for the ideas 2big!! It is a really strange feeling I am having. I don't feel like quitting...I don't feel like eating the carbs...I still want to lose and become healthier. It is more like I am tired of all the planning and entering and making it all balance and just want to not think about it anymore for a bit. I will go look at some pictures...

[soliwit]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

I know exactly where you are coming from, sometimes I really go through the whole day with lead in my shoes, cause I am so fed up with being a good girl and weighing everything and doing it right.
BUT I still do it, cause indeed I never ever ever want to feel like I did before again.
The heartburns, the feeling ugly, the headaches, the blown up belly, the fat, the panting etc etc NO WAY !!!!
And then I just sigh and blame it on TOM and just do what I did for the last 9 months and well........I feel great in the end, for sure when I look at the hot momma in the mirror, heheeeee.

[2big4mysize]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

okay so spend one day a week getting things in right proportions and putting them in bags in the ridge then just open the door and grab the bags you want today thats what I do.

[k5commando]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

After you do this for a long time the motivation is sort of there without needing to find reasons for it. I always like the starting weight photos ideas, every time I see old photos of me it reinforces my desire to stay healthy. I no longer have any desire for sugar filled junk or for breads other than whole grain. It looks like by your progress your doing awsome, what more motivation do you need? Every day your closer to your goal. The longer you do this, the easier it gets untill it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it.

[iyamamaschke]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

How do I stay Modivated, Well some days I would rather sit on My A$$ and do nothing then I think where the heck will I be tomorrow how will I feel in a week in a month how will I feel if I stay this way. Then I put on my exercise clothes and walk around before long I just wanna RUN. It's an excellent modivational tool. Put on the gear then when you wanna you are already ready LOL.

Another thing I do to feel modivated is to look at my old pictures I go to my Yahoo and do the slide show and then it just about makes me cry I ahve come sooo far and worked way to hard to lose focus now. We all have days where modivation SUCKS the Big one the difference between those that want it and those that don't is the ones that want it don't make excuses they Just do it and get it done. I can't make excuses to not do it that's not me (sorry harsh) I have come past that.

Another thing I do is I have a picture in my head of what I want to look like and I think of that when I run when I do anything I think of the hot littel dress that's gunna be adorning my new body and feeling sooo fab in it. It gets me through the day. With each day there is a new challenge but, if you Just do it each and every day that's one more day down till you're really where you wanna be and you don't need modivation cause you have found it within yourself. It's you that will do it. LOOK inside there's your modivation

YOU CAN AND WILL DO IT!!!

Sarah

[cruiser gal]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

I have to agree about the before picture thing. I look at them almost on a daily basis, and that's enough to keep my motivation going. Then I look at my closet and see all new clothing in small sizes! In front of my computer, I have a collage on the wall, that my daughter made for me one mother's day. It is pictures of the 2 of us over a span of about 15 years. I haven't been this weight in over 25 years, so that is a constant reminder, and motivator, from morning to night!

[Momtofour]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

All I have to do is look at my rear end in before pictures and then look at it now. That's enough for me.

[BabyDreamer]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

YOU ROCK!

Deb

You know...somedays I just don't feel motivated. But then I think of some of my favorite things...

Let me think now...oh yes.

Drinking my water
And hard boiled eggs
Thinning about
On my arms and my legs
Spicy cheese omelets
And Chix' chicken wings
These are a few of my favorite things!

Glycemic-low berries
And chopped up tomato
bratwurst with sauerkraut
And pizza alfredo
Walking 3 miles
And water drinking
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the carb bites
When my knees sting
When I'm feeeling sad!
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel so bad!

[BabyDreamer]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

Honestly,

I struggle with my motivation on a daily basis. I LOVE food. In reality, I would rather eat than do almost anything else. But, I just keep focused on the fact that I want to get to a weight where I am off the diabetes meds so I can have a healthy baby.

I stare at pictures of babies (Anne Geddes is all over my computer) and I think about not having a baby. I mean, how selfish am I if I never have a kid because I wanted a ho-ho more. Give me a break!

Then, I think, well, if you have a child, then you better stay healthy or you will die and leave the kid with Josh to raise it-- no! He could have the kid playing Poker, eating cheetos and skipping school by age 4 so I have to be here to raise him/her right. That is my motivation.

Deb

[slimndown]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

Today is day 23 for me. Needed motivation - came here and got the kick in the tushy I needed. Thanks everybody!

[higgies]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

Hey there! In the beginning, keeping motivated was easy...dropping weight like crazy is really na eye opener. Even if you're not dropping quickly, the anticipation of dropping kept me going. After a while I don't consider needing motivation. This is now my life and my lifestyle. I'm not denying myself anything, I just prefer to eat this way because I feel so much better than I did when I chowed down on french fries or carby food.

Keep at it, and in no time you'll find it hard to remember how you ate like you did before! Keep up the good work!

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: How do you stay motivated??

People have asked me, "Man, what is driving you so hard?" The fact is, I struggled for years restricting fat and calories while exercising every single day .... only to remain several dress sizes larger than I am today. Everyone around me who pursued a weight loss goal accomplished pounds lost (be it temporarily or permanently); but I just was never able to lose any weight to begin with.

Then I found Atkins, and once I cut out the sugars and starches while increasing my fat and caloric intake, the weight abruptly came off in 5 months. I was never spoiled with easy results; but now that I have found my ace in the hole like so many of you, I'm not letting this go. No more back fat. No more tummy rolls. No more drumstick arms. No more inner-thigh rub. No more feeling hot all the time - not to mention self-conscious because of not only my weight, but that, too. lol All that garbage is history, and I am never going back. So, when someone asks me where I get my hard-core motivation for keeping in shape, it is all that it has brought to me, my soul and sense of well-being.

But on a softer note: take a long, hard look in the mirror and smile. This is you. This is what God has blessed you with. Now spend the rest of your life making the best of every single solitary aspect of yourself. Now how on earth could you go wrong?