What's Your Motivation?

[eclectikat]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

for me... there are a few motivating factors.

I am single and tired of being single. As a fat woman, I just was not able to attract the kind of man I want to spend the rest of my life with, So as Dr Phils says... "how's that working for you?" The answer was... being fat was not working for me. I think a successful relationship has never come to me because the inner me and the outer me were a contradiction... as the lbs melt away I become less of a contradition. THAT is very motivating.

I am turning 40 next January. I decided last january.. I would be FIT BY FOURTY. Simple. I made the decision. I am going to do something special for myself on my birthday. I hope to make it a double celebration... fit by fourty and 100lbs lost... THAT is fantastic motivation.

the most important... is my health. before starting Atkins I was riddled with pain issues, skin issues, digestive issues... probably unstable blood sugar issues, and heart issues... I was just to much in denial to find out from a doctor that these were real issues for me....despite everthing pointing in that direction.
My movement was restricted, I slept all the time, I was cloudy and fuzzy and could not function very well at all... clearly I was on a downward spiral which was gaining momentum each and every day... when I woke up one morning... and was wheezing... and continued to wheeze all day... and could not catch my breath...I knew it was time... when I could not inhale the full extent of my lungs presumably because of a large volume of internal fat... I knew it was time. When I could not reach my nether regions to clean myself without throwing my back out... (sorry for the visual... sad but true)... I knew it was time. When I found myself preparing for a lifetime of long term disabily and planning my renovations around my physical limitations... I knew it was time.

The health and overall wellness I have regained after only 65lbs lost is astonishing... and in and of itself is SOOOO motivating... My skin is clearing up, I have NO DIGESTIVE issues... NONE!!!!, I can breath easy, I can sing again, My heart is stable, and my blood sugar is perfect. I am sharp as a tack and can do fine on 5 hours of sleep... I have at least 75lbs to go to reach my goal... and I KNOW i can do it because I have done what I have done so far...

I MOTIVATE MYSELF...

[Asclepius]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

Absolutely fabulous! What a remarkable group we have here, wouldn't you agree? Eklectikat: your piece is especially moving and should be published somewhere to inspire others to find your type of courage.

Keep them coming!

[momtomany1]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

My motivation is to shed limitations. Too many 'can'ts' when you are fat, can't bend over, can't cross legs, can find clothes, can't run, can't keep up with kids, can't can't can't can't and I say, that is over.

[rhiannonwins]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

YOU, Robin are such a ray of sunshine to me! I needed some control back over what I was putting in my mouth and Atkins gives me that. No other diet or WOE has ever ever worked for me long-term and the lifestyle of yo-yo diets has frankly, made me worry about what I was doing to my body.

Sure, I've gotten super skinny in the past but it always comes with an upswing again. So I wanted to find the way to do it RIGHT. So I'm doing this for my health and so I can find a way to maintain a good WOE for life. How to I stay motivated? All of YOU, my daughter, my husband, and how I feel most days. Not EVERY DAY but most days!

I have some skinny jeans that I try on as a gauge too.

thanks for the post, sweetie!

[Brook]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

Like the majority of you, I'd spent my fair share of time trying gimmicks, quick weight loss plans, low fat, low calorie diets and the same thing happened to me that happened to most of you. F. A. T.


Stress? No one here has the corner market on that little fact of life. When I started this way of eating, I was still living part time at the hospital with my daughter, and when she wasn't admitted, I was running an average of 3 specialist appts a week - some of which were 2-3 hours away from our home & included lots of over night stays. That doesn't include the time we spent in OT/PT/Speech/Feeding Therapy/Neuropsychology. Talk about stress?! Egads. I also had older 2 kids in public school and was investing lots of time learning about homeschooling - which I took on in October 2002. I had a husband who had extensive health issues as well, and who died in a motorcycle accident in May of 2006. I even remarried and gained a step-son in 2007. I have a company that I have invested blood, sweat, and tears in to get off the ground and that's been many things, but unstressful isn't one of them. I have a mom who is a cancer survivor, but has had some major scares in the last couple of years. We've had several deaths in the family, a birth, lots of family functions, holidays, etc etc etc - all since I started this WOE.


Okay- We've removed the myth that I haven't had any life issues to deal with while taking on this WOE.


I spent 2 years having absolutely zero control of the scariest thing that I've ever encountered - the health of my youngest child. Zero control. It didn't matter how hard I concentrated, how hard I tried, how much I fought, how much I read, how much I studied - I had no control over making her more healthy and still don't. It was a realization that impacted, and continues to impact me greatly.

It dawned on me one day how unhealthy I had allowed myself to become. I was smoking 2 packs a day. I weighed 230+lbs. I was beyond stressed. I hated where I had landed in my life, but unlike when I looked at my daughter, I figured out I *did* have the power and control to improve my own health.


That's how a No -Excuse-Fanatic was born.

The rest of that essay can be read here : No Excuses

[Velcrocat]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

My motivation is to become healthy and to prevent a cancer recurrence or mets. Brook you are an inspiration.

[Lisa]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

Great question!

My answer? The pictures in my siggy. I've lost over 50 pounds since that picture. I never want to find it again.

2004............2008

[atkinsbeliever4ever]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

my motivation would have to my 5 yr old daughter, iam tired of her telling me moma you've got a big butt! kids are so honest. she hasn't said it in awhile. me losing 47.6 poundsmighthave somethingto do with it!~renee!

[IrishSarahHB]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

My motivation is to shed limitations. Too many 'can'ts' when you are fat, can't bend over, can't cross legs, can find clothes, can't run, can't keep up with kids, can't can't can't can't and I say, that is over.

I agree !!! and i CAN'T be fat anymore !!!!!

[Big Papa]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

1. my own health
2. an 8 year old princess and a 2 year old ball player
3. vanity

[MadamPhoenix]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

I have to say I had tears running down my face from laughing at your post, lint? hahaha funniest post I have found so far, thank you for such wonderful way with words.

In regards to motivation at first of course I am doing it for health reason, I don't want to go down the diabetes way since I am PCOS. Second for my daughter, so I can be healthy enough to care for her, third so I can fit into clothes instead of flour sacks, but for right now my energy is all put into getting myself in away that when I go to my divorce hearing I want to stick it to my soon to be ex-loser, I can lose the weight but he can't lose the ugly...how sweet it is

[2 B A HAPPY ME]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

I am totally motivated to get back out in the world and start living again. I have been hiding from my old friends that don't know that I have put on 50 lbs in less than a year. I lost my bubbly personality and I used to be the life of the party...a fun chick to hang with. Now....I just don't answer the phone.

My motivation.... to party again! To find my old self! To be a happy me!

[caseyconnelly]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

Get back to my pre-miscariage weight so I can try for a second child and a healthy pregnancy.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

my inspiration...
-to be healthy so i won't die of a heart attack at 64 like my dear mom did
-to have the energy to do fun things with my children who are 12 and 21 and busy
-to feel good again after living for years with an evil ex in a sad and fat body
-and, well i admit it....good old SPITE. the evil ex is now married to a toad while i get to sashay around in size 6 clothes. imagine the pure joy that courses thru my being when he does a double take and his family comments all the time about the way i look. it IS the best revenge
-my loving husband who thinks i am the best thing since sliced bread. sure makes things "funner" when i feel good about me!

[gman]

Re: What's Your Motivation?

----- Survival ------------------- ------------------- Bliss* ----- >

* We are PG or PG-13 here right?