Hello all I have been with the forum for 4 or 5 months now! I have enjoyed this journey although it is hard. I love the fact that I have been able to see progress and enjoy all the great comments. But I have seem to fallen out of the loop. I need to get motivated and keep my head in this game.

I have not really followed any one dieat plan. I just have been eating better and not drinking as much and really trying to stay active. I now think I really need to start counting the cals and making myself go exercise. I know I can do this I have come a long way. But how do most keep their head in the game? I could use some advice on recharging my system. Thanks Tina

Motivation is a deeply personal thing... and what works for one doesn't always work for another... but my own trick if you want to call it that.. is ask yourself why you want to lose weight/get fitter - ad get to the really honest reasons.. not the generic - oh i want to be healthy for my grandkids ya know that's bunk -if you want to go to a topless beach next spring or sashay by the guy who broke your heart and say eat your heart out asshole... well then - that's damn fine motivation.. (maybe not realistic but who's to say motivations can't change down the road) One of my original motivations was to wear lingerie from victoria's secret -Ok so now I have a wardrobe of pretty bras -moving on

Write it down and put it somewhere you'll see it every day

That is wonderful (and humorous) advice. I was so tired of being the frumpy troll among my friends. They would go clothes shopping and try on outfits for fun and the situation would be utterly humiliating for me. I couldn't find decent fitting clothes in the stores they visited because I was of Lane Bryant proportions. For once, I wanted to be able to fit into my friends' clothing. So, I started to exercise. I've exercised religiously so it has turned into a habit-- I do not need motivation to do it. It's just something I now automatically do. I crave it; I'm addicted, if I do not do it every day I feel like a slob.

I still can't fit their clothes... because I'm smaller than they are!

Thanks! That seems to be my problem I reached my goal of wanting to get into a Nike bathing suit I bought. Well I wear the top and the bottoms not to my liking (but they fit). So now that I reached that goal I really need to come up with something else to keep me focused.

I did enjoy the reply and there is a ex that I would love to see now. And I also have very thin friends who can eat what they want any time of day. Bitches lol. So I will take the advise and I will put it in writing what I want to accomplish. It is the same as I did when I started this process. I guess I just needed to hear start over fool. Thanks Tina

Motivation is really difficult. I guess you have to think about what you want to achieve, and what would be a good sub-goal to celebrate as you work towards achieving it. Another way to stay motivated is to find activities that you love doing. That way exercising will come naturally and be a part of your life, not a chore that you have to do (I ended up loving running so I run at a gym 3 days a week). Also, you need to find foods you love eating that don't make you fat. The more you can make your diet and being healthy part of your regular life, the less so-called motivation you'll need. Hope that helps!

any food can make you fat...

I do eat better than I have before. I enjoy my veggies and such that is not the biggest problem I have. I do sometimes say well they are just carrots I should be able to eat the whole bag. But that is not good either. I like allot of food(at once) and I need to work more on smaller portions. My down fall is I like to drink. So I limit that to one day a week and then not that much.

I exercise more also than I ever did and I find that it is a great way to release any stress from the day. I walk/run after work when the weather is good. I should go in the rain but he weather in Maine is very cold when it rains. But that is just an excuse. I should go and be done with it instead of saying I will make up for it at a later date. That never works with exercising you have to do it everyday to make it count.

I think I realize now what my funk was. I have not been able to hike due to the bad weather. It has rained here for a week! Man that is depressing I am solar powered and I need sun!!! When I hike on Sundays it carries me thur the week. I build off of that. So today I hiked 6.5 miles (3 mountains) And now what ever was in my head that was asleep is now awake. I can't wait to go for my run tomorrow. I now believe that exercising is better than any pill they can give you for depression. Thanks to everyone and the advise I feel like I am ready to start phase 2 of my journey. Tina

so easy to be 'inspired'
a simple glance at a photo can inspire one to change. but to be MOTIVATED -especially when so many overweight people are depressed- how do you get motivated to go out for a walk!?!

I only found ONE thing in this thread (on this entir forum so far, although I've just joined today) that started to work...

everyone seems to want to add feelings and insight....


is there any advice on getting MOTIVATED MOTIVATED??

There are always going to be a litany of reasons to NOT do something... Replace those reasons/excuses with reasons to go out and do it?

Why can you go out for a walk? You have two legs right? they work right? One foot in front of the another and soon you'll be walking out the door.

geez, you might thinnk differently had you read my introduction post in the new comers thread.

i read it.... and i'm sorry for your loss.. truly..

but would your spouse want you sitting home feeling like you do - and not being proactive about your weight and your heath?

You want to walk... What's preventing you from doing it?

it's so hard. missing . it's so horrible. going outside. everything reminds me.

we used to workout together too. at the gym.

It seems to me the choices are clear cut. You can do the things that the two of you used to do and enjoy the memories. Relish in them. Relive converstions. I assume they are good memories.
Or you can find an activity that you did not share. Maybe take up bike riding or a karate class or something totally not out of your past.
Either way, if you want to get past the depression and on with your life, ultimately it is up to you. Noone else can do it for you. There is no magic pill or secret to be revealed.

uh-huh
yeah, I heard that about 3 years ago.
and two years ago
and last year

it's not very inspiring. especially when the person is violently ripped from you in the prime of your relationship - when it's just taking off.

*big deep breath*

*and exhale*

would it be rude to ask how old you are?