Motivation

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Motivation
14
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 12:04pm

What gets you motivated? I knew about 8 weeks ago, I needed to start losing weight. My goal back then was 20lbs in 18 weeks. Doable. Now it's 8 weeks later, well, almost 9. And I'm down to 9 weeks and want to lose 10-15. Still doable, but harder.


My question is, what get's you motivated? When I first met my bf, he talked about 5k's all the time. I decided I was going to run (I was at a point in my life where doing new things was the THING). I hate running. I mean. I hate running with a passion. BUT, I'm thinking, it got me motiviated last time, maybe I need to run one again.


BUT, since I know what a 5k is like, I do NOT wanna run one. lol. Ladies, it took me about 40 mins to run a 5k. I was the last runner....right ahead of all the walkers. I was proud to have finished, but embarrassed. BUT, although I only lost like 5lbs, I changed my body shape enough to have dropped one size. Yeah!


So, I'm thinking. Maybe I need to sign up for this one that is in late May. Basically, the thing that got me going...was pride. I have too much pride to 1. come in last, and 2. walk a 5k, when I said I'm going to run the thing (mind you, this is before I realized how long 3.2 miles can really be). I dunno. Because all I know is that I SAY I'm going to go to the gym. I am driving up the freeway to go, and then BAM, I head home instead.


I need motivation. What are yours?


~C




my pet!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2004
In reply to: cherbear017
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 12:33pm
Hiya Cherbear!

I mostly use the gym (classes) for exercise, but there are days I just don't feel like going. I make a deal with myself .. something like .. "okay, just go..do a few minutes on the treadmill and if in 15 minutes you're done, then leave." By the time that 15 minutes is up, I usually am feeling good enough to stick it out (and if I leave after 15 minutes, at least I went at all). Or, I bargain for little treats...a new book I want, a pedicure .. something like that. I get motivated seeing a difference in how I look or how my jeans fit ..or taking a buddy to the gym with me. Usually it's just me so I take the classes (otherwise it's too easy to quit).

These are some of the things that work for me, hope you find some good motivations that work for you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
In reply to: cherbear017
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 4:34pm
You make me laugh. I ran 3 miles one time in my life and it took me 45 minutes. I've walked a mile in 15 minutes. Catch my drift??lol. I'm with you. I HATE HATE HATE running.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: cherbear017
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 4:41pm

My original motivation was turning 30- it was a slow process to change my way of living! But it did change, the next BIG motivator was being a bridesmaid at my best friends wedding last June (the other bridesmaids were all sticks- you know the type!). THAT really did get me going! I lost 22lbs getting ready for it! Unfortunately some of that has returned, now my motivator is how I felt back then, you guys and

_____________________________________________________

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
In reply to: cherbear017
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 6:23pm
Boy that is definately a tough question... isn't it??? What motivated me was when I couldn't comfortably walk a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing and I could not bend from the waist and tie my sneakers, I either had to sit and pull my leg up by the pants or put my foot up on a chair!!! When I started to get healthy I found that every stage I hit helped to propell me to the next stage. I started out at 250ish after having my last child and a size 24 so when I dropped down to a 22 I was more motivated to get to a 20 or 18 and so on.

We are our own motivation!!! You have to picture yourself small and achieving your goals. It definately helps to write your goals in a book every single day. Keep a journal and keep it simple. If you write every single day, ie. I want to loose 15 lbs by June 2 it stays in your mind for that day. But if you only think about it at the end of the day, usually at night when you are trying to sleep and promising yourself that tomorrow I will do better, you will only get annoyed at yourself. Once I could walk 3m and not get out of breath or feel like my legs were going to fall off I started to run. It definately is not easy, I am not saying that!!! But the feeling of pride that I get from being able to run is so incrediable that it keeps me running almost every day. This pride is from within though. Not from anyone else because I don't usually say anything to anyone else about my running. The odd person that sees me thinks I am nuts (they are probably just jealous)so I just run along patting myself on the back!!! (LOL)

Whether you walk or run it dosen't really matter as long as your pat yourself on the back for each little accomplishment. This definately will help to keep you going and motivated to do an even better workout or eat better tomorrow. Hope this helps....KIM

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
In reply to: cherbear017
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 6:59pm

oh man Kim i couldn't help but laugh when i got to the part in your post about bending over at the waist to tie your shoes and not being able to breathe! seriously i am not

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
In reply to: cherbear017
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 9:33pm
yeh I hear you Paula!!! LOL

Sometimes I think the same thing!!!

KIM
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
In reply to: cherbear017
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:04am

LOL ~ Paula.

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
In reply to: cherbear017
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 4:39pm

Well, I'm glad I gave you guys some motivation. lol. Me, I'm still not motivated, but I will find something.


~C




my pet!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
In reply to: cherbear017
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 5:20pm
I want went away with my son for a college recruitment visitation weekend. I met another mom and we just hit it off and wound up spending the whole weekend together. She was on a low carb diet diet and had lost 108lbs in a year. I knew I had to lose weight (at least 75lbs) but just couldn't get motivated. She was my inspiration. We ate in the college dininghall, went out to dinner at a restaurant and she still managed to stick to her "diet". That was the weekend of February 7th. I have since lost 28lbs. I even managed to go on vacation to Orlando and still come away losing 3lbs.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
In reply to: cherbear017
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 5:25pm

Now that's motivation. I'm glad someone you met in person has "gotten it done". I think those are the ones that motivate me. But alas, I do need to find my own motivation inside myself. Hmmmm.............


~C




my pet!

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