What motivates you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
What motivates you?
22
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 7:05pm

I thought it would be fun to share what motivates people to stay on track when your cravings or your laziness clearly want to derail you?

~Overall what motivates me is to have more energy for my kids. I have really been lacking energy since gaining the extra 30 pounds.

~A guilty motivation (and probably not a very positive one) is a neighbor of mine that teases me about putting on weight with my last child. She is stick thin with three kids of her own and for some reason she likes to talk about other women who have had a hard time taking off weight after kids. Maybe she is just really proud of herself..hmm? Her "teasing" really got to me last year and I would love nothing more than to show her I can get back down to a healthy size.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 7:18pm

Well, I have dozens of things that motivate me. Mostly nothing terribly impressive, lol. If I'm having thoughts of derailing...I remind myself of some things I want for my future:

1. to be "tiny" again. It made me feel more feminin.
2. to wear super cute clothes this spring/summer.
3. to feel more disciplined.
4. to show off to the "friend" of mine (much like sunnyhunny's neighbor) that is stick skinny and loves to talk about overweight people like she is way better than them.
5. to be able to wear a swimsuit and not be embarassed (we have a beach trip this summer)
6. to impress my husband.
7. to stop being controlled by food and my emmotions.

lots more things I guess. Those are my motivations *now*. My motivation back when I first started included: getting my MIL to stop gossiping to everyone about how I had "let myself go". She said it about every other female that gained weight during a pregnancy and didn't take it off...so I *know* she was saying it about me too. I was sick of not fitting into my old clothes, and I was sick of feeling bad and having no energy.

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 7:26pm
I am going to cut and paste some of your motivators. I didn't realize it but you have some on your list like fitting into cute clothes and feeling more feminine that I think about as well but just didn't realize it! It helps for me to post my motivators somewhere I can see them each day (like on the bathroom mirror) because I have a tendency to forget these things at the end of the day when I am tired and just want to sit down with some cookies in front of the TV.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 7:47pm

Well first off-- that neighbor of yours! What I'd have to say to that lady can't be written here- the nerve of her. Sorry, but I have NO time for people like that. Who do they think they are......argh. OK, I'll stop and get on with my answer, lol


Couple of things keep me motivated



  • Being happy with how *I* look (to myself!)

  • Being able to go shopping without having a hard time finding tops that fit correctly, or pants that close!

  • Being fit and happy

  • Feeling healthy, and not like some slug

I'm sure there are others....but that's what comes to mind straight off the bat.
Thanks for the reminding- Good question!

~IslandGirl


*** Moderation Is Key ***

Getting Fit In Your 30's
cl-vi_islandgirl


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 8:34pm

Sunnyhunny, I did something like that too. :) I tore out pages in clothing catalogs of outfits that I would want to wear...and I taped those pages up on the cabinet doors in my laundry room (a place I am in very often, every day). I chose that place because the laundry room is sort of "my room" and I think a lot while folding clothes (lol) plus, others that come into my home wont' see them (therefor I won't have to explain or talk about it if I don't want to). I like your idea of taping a list to the bathroom mirror! :)

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 8:51pm
Thats a really good idea!! I would tape current pictures of me in my bathing suit right beside it so I can see how far off the mark I am but that might be too discouraging for me :( I always see pictures of stuff I would wear if I were thin enough. I should start taping those up. I knew this thread was a good idea!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 8:57pm
She's a real uh...character lol. And it's always under the guise of "teasing" so it's really hard to pick a response that doesn't sound defensive and hostile. She once said if she were as fat as another mom on our block she would wire her mouth shut. And she always asks me if I have been eating alot of holiday goodies when she sees me, and warns me not to eat too many ...hardy har. She is stick thin but she doesn't have any sort of muscle or shape kwim? I would love to be thin *and* have muscle definition this summer which is when I see her ALOT.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 9:11pm

Oh I know what you mean about someone having no definition...but being stick thin. I think I'd rather have a bit of shape ;-)


.......maybe next time she speaks ill of someone (or even you) you could mention their great a$$ets or something, lol!!

~IslandGirl


*** Moderation Is Key ***

Getting Fit In Your 30's
cl-vi_islandgirl


_____________________________________________________

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2005
Wed, 03-30-2005 - 6:38am
We have a mom like that in our little area. The funny thing is, she's brutal to EVERYONE. Thin women are TOO thin, heavy women TOO heavy. If she can't pick at your weight then she goes for your husband or kids. Most people just avoid her.
She once made a comment about having her jaws wired shut and I followed up with "it's not only a way to lose weight, it's a fantastic way to keep your foot out of your mouth." She didn't get it, but everyone else did.
I'm motivated by my subscription to Muscle and Fitness Hers. I keep a copy around even though I've read it for quick pick me ups about why I want to be healthy!
Karen
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Wed, 03-30-2005 - 7:03am

LOL!!! I would have been on the floor laughing if I was in the room when you said that! LOL. I *wish* I was witty enough to come up with a comment like that! It's not a strong point of mine though, lol. Thanks for the laugh!

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2004
Wed, 03-30-2005 - 8:31am

I'm a creature of habit, so that helps. But what motivates me when I just don't want to do my workouts, I guess the three things would be 1) my family history of heart disease and high blood preasuer, 2) my sport - I need to keep in shape and increase my strenght and endurance for HKD and 3) my form of stress relief, usually when I get going I am OK, and I know I will feel better and more energized after I am done.

As for eating, it's a bit tougher, but I am getting better. I am not opposed to "treats" once in a while. My problem is still trying to add more frest fruits and veggies. I am also working on eating smaller portions. I know I feel better when I do those things so that motivates me to just try daily to eat well.

Lorie

lorie6-26-09.png Lorie 6-26-09 picture by runningwomen

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