Thursday, January 19, 2012

Motivation...where does it come from?

I have been asked a lot lately where I get my motivation from.  I've been thinking about this for a few days now and thought I'd try and answer that question.  In the beginning, I didn't have a lot of motivation.  To be honest, I didn't think I'd be able to lose weight.  It was so overwhelming.  I started slow and after a few weeks, I started to see results.  That got me a little bit motivated.  A few more weeks went by and I noticed that I could walk for longer periods on the treadmill.  That was also motivating.  My husband started his weight loss journey a few months before I did and I got a lot of motivation from him.  Still to this day, when I look out the window and see him jogging into the driveway, I get motivated!  After 21 months of healthy living, it has become habit and I don't even think about skipping my exercise. My Leslie Sansone Walk at Home Dvd's keep me motivated.  She uses "real" people in her workouts, several who have lost a lot of weight.  I have become friends with many of them on Facebook.  It's motivating to walk with them and hear their stories.  Do I ever think about unhealthy food?  Oh yes...I'm a food addict...I've learned to live with my addiction, but I will never be "cured" of it.  I get my motivation from hearing other people's stories.  I have a network of friends on Facebook that I keep in close contact with.  A lot of us have struggled with our weight and have made some healthy changes and seen results.  I get my motivation from small things as well...how good it feels to cross my legs.  How good it feels to slide into a booth at a restaurant and not be afraid of not fitting.  I'm motivated by looking at old pictures of myself and remembering what it felt like to be unhealthy.  I'm motivated by being able to wear smaller sizes and no longer having to order my clothes from catalogs. I'm motivated by the sight of my son coming home from the gym, drenched in sweat...=)  I'm motivated every time I run up the stairs and remember when I couldn't make it up those stairs without huffing and puffing and hanging onto the bannister for dear life.  Healthy living in itself is a motivation.  Healthy feels SO good.  I've heard people say, " I wish I could lose weight"...or..."I don't have the willpower to do that"...or..."I'm too busy to exercise"...or..."Healthy food costs too much"... or... "I don't have time to make healthy food".  These are all excuses and not good ones either!  You can do anything you put your mind to.  I don't have a personal trainer, I don't have a cook and I'm not rich.  I'm just a typical 40 something year old, stay at home Mom who decided she was worth it and made some changes.  =)

8 comments:

  1. Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going. Love your blog

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    1. Tracy,
      Thank you so much...I enjoy your blog as well! :-)

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  2. I am so glad you are doing this! I look forward to following you and trying some of your recipes!

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  3. You are simply AMAZING and I love that you motivate me to stay on track..Keep walking my friend and walking buddy:)

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  4. Noreen,
    Thank you for your friendship, my walking buddy! I love that we can motivate each other....:-)

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  5. What a beautifully written testimony. You're doing it. I completely understand the overwhelming feeling of looking at the whole picture from the beginning! 120 pounds? That's another person! But if I can look at today and make the right choices today, eventually my todays will add up to a healthier, thinner me. I'd lost sight of that way of thinking. Thank you for reminding me!

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  6. Michele,
    I'm so glad that my words can and experiences can help others. You absolutely can do this...one day at a time. Those days add up quickly and before you know it, a year will have gone by. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog...=)

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