Lack of Self Motivation
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Lack of Self Motivation
| Tue, 02-21-2006 - 4:44pm |
I'm so depressed. I'm trying to lose the weight that I've gained over the years, but it's so hard. When dh found out he had kidney disease, I resolved to make the whole family eat better, exercise, etc. It's working fine for everyone but me. I just can't get into it, no matter how hard I try. I bought myself a Gazelle freestyle evolution so that I could use it throughout the day since I'm a SAHM, but to no avail. I leave it set up to try to force myself to use it, but I just ignore it. I have tons of healthy food in my fridge, but I'm not interested in it. I just want a burger and tiramisu from Maurizio's. How can I motivate myself to continue on the path to good health? How can I convince myself that roasted broccoli and hummus are good? I can give great advice to my dh and prepare healthy meals that he'll enjoy, but when it comes to me, I'm my own worst enemy.

Hi there. I read your post. It all came together for me at my brother's house on Christmas Eve when I got on my neice's scale and got quite a surprise! I decided that I would start journalling what I ate and feelings associated with what I ate, how much I ate etc. It was a chore at times but I shocked myself to see a trend: boredom eating!
I was home with my husband and children for the week at Christmas and I just relaxed a bit too much! Smiles.
Anyhow, I feel for you. I can only share what I know for myself. So here is my thoughts for you!
I was thinking why dont you write yourself a letter explaining what is in your heart of hearts. Sometimes I find that there are things hidden to me until I put the pen to the paper and I realize the root of why I feel the way I do. I have used it successfully for the past 5 years and I am suggesting that perhaps you can do the same thing to figure out some of the questions you have yourself and posted.
This is not for public viewing, but something you could just write down and burn it if you want afterwards.
Then perhaps you may want to share with your husband, choose a time when he is free and available and share your heart with him. He may surprise you.
You sound like you are doing a great job caring for the health of your family and this is a wonderful thing. You are a blessing to your husband and family.
I prayed for you.
Hugs
Hyacinth
First I want to congratulate you for taking care of your family and putting them on the right path to healthy living. They are very lucky to have a loving and caring person like you in their lives.
Don't try to overwhelm yourself by doing everything according to the book all of a sudden. We didn't gain the wait overnight and we didn't gain our habits overnight, so it makes no sense to expect yourself to undergo a total change overnight. Don't make over enthusiastic goals cuz you'll only be setting yourself to failure.
Why don't you try to make gradual changes? If you want to go for that burger and tiramisu from Maurizio's, go ahead, but make it a point to eat a green salad first. Maybe you won't need to finish that burger. Try making healthier choices, switch to diet soda instead of regular soda, cut the amount of butter you use in half, downsize your take-out meals, and when you feel ready, maybe eliminate the fries. Make gradual lasting changes. Don't force yourself to eat something you don't like. And please don't force yourself to exercise. It makes no sense to exercise as a shore. Because eventually, you'll ditch it and hate exercise altogether. Instead, make an appointment to get on it maybe for 15 minutes a couple of times a week?
This is very good advice, I think I will follow it too, cuz I am having a BIG problem cutting out the fast food, so far I have still lost weight bot I cut out french fries all of a sudden and like to have went crazy. I am addicted to french fries....ahhh sigh. I think I will try your method of thinking and see if that helps. I have a BIG problem with willpower myself, I don't have any and it is a struggle. Right now I am trying to wean myself back off my sweets that I get attached too when I am sick, then I will work on the fast food issue a little more. I eat it at least 3 x a week, and yesterday I was so bad, and paying for it today cuz I can feel the water weight back, I ate sonic then went to cracker barrel for supper. I done okay at cracker barrel though, I ate veg soup to start then I got country fried steak but only ate half of it, and only 1 biscut whereas I usually eat 2 or 3. But I ate most of my veggies. Anyways, sorry I am rambling, my point was you have some good advice there. Thanks even though it wasn't directed at me.
Angela
Angela
My thanks to you and hy2006 for your wonderful suggestions. I'm going to try to take this thing one day at a time. I'm still not used to being overweight, although I've had 8 years to get used to the idea, and I'm finding it shocking to keep realizing that I'm considered "morbidly obese" by all the charts.
I don't want much out of my weight-loss. I just want to be able to wear a size 12 again. (I never was a small girl. went straight from a size 14/16 girls to a misses 12) I used to be able to walk for miles without getting tired. I remember walking all the way from Adams Morgan to upper NW DC/Chevy Chase just to see Muriel's Wedding at one of the theaters there. Now I'm lucky if I can walk 2 blocks uphill without getting winded. Oh well . . .
At least I love whole grains.
I would give anything to walk 1/2 a block uphill without collapsing.
I am like you I haven't been small since I was a teen, but I would be thrilled to be a 12/14 again. I think I looked pretty good that size, and like you I could work out and walk anywhere without it killing me. I was always a big walker when I lived in the country but I just don't feel safe walking here in the city with my kids alone. hence I am a treadmill walker now. LOL!!!
Good luck to you!!
Angela
Angela
I've learned, the only time I can lose weight is when I decide MENTALLY that I AM going to do it. I get in "THE ZONE", the weight loss zone and NOTHING can make me stray. NOTHING. NOTHING will make me stray.
You need to find healthy foods that you WANT to eat. There's no rule that says you have to LIKE roasted broccoli and hummus. You need to find healthy foods that you will enjoy eating.
Trust me, when you decide that you really want to lose weight, you WILL change your eating habits, you WILL exercise every day and you WILL lose weight.