What are your greatest motivators?

nasus

nasus

New member
Is it a person? Video? Quote? Before and after pictures? A thread here? Just your own goals?

Basically, where do you go when your motivation is low and you need a pick me up. Please be specific and share links and examples so we can motivate each other!

For me, it is definitely the threads in this forum and the before and after, as well as the community at Calorie Count. I also look at older pictures of myself at low and high weights. Sometimes I look for Biggest Loser videos and the like.
 
I honestly can't remember what it used to be when I started, but now it's clothes.

I have been able to buy some of the cutest clothes since losing weight and right now I have 2 size 8 summer dresses in my closet that are just a HAIR tight ... and being able to fit into those is a huge goal for me. When I get there, I'll buy something else that's just a hair tight ... and it'll be my next goal.
 
Ohh good one. I'm flat broke since I've been studying abroad, but my first paycheck is totally going to clothes. Hopefully I'll have lost a couple more pounds then!
 
I like to take a walk in the park or garden. It seems to clear my head and help me refocus. A sort of cleaning the slate and having the energy to move past it. I too find that forums such as these are great motivators when you read success stories of other readers. It's hard to stay positive, but I'm sure with all of us working together, we can keep each other going.
 
That's cool that you take walks, Wendy. I find it hard to actually do what is generally reccommended for binging urges. You know, the whole call a friend, take a walk, read a book etc etc. I think that's because I'm usually supposed to be doing school work or something like that which I really don't want to do (I'd rather eat eat eat!) and I'd feel guilty "wasting time" doing something to distract me from eating. I just need to remember that mindless eating wastes time too! This summer I'll have more time to myself when I'll be doing personal projects on my own time, so hopefully I can have the flexibility to distract myself when I want to eat when I'm really not hungry. Either that or I'll be too busy at a part time job or out with friends to chow down.
 
For me its thinking about the quote that's in my signature. Whenever I have a thought about how long this is going to take, I just think back to that quote and I remember that I am not getting any younger and while I am still young I need to do this.

Also, everyday I have gotten into the habit of searching online for clothes, just to look and dream, of clothes are a smaller size. That way I can look forward to it.

Also, I look forward to losing a few health problems that I have.
 
God, and the whole death at a young age from a heart attack and my kids not growing up with me thing. I decided I wanted to get old. :)
 
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My primary motivation comes from the fact that I'm not getting any younger, and I really wanted to do something to help myself. Now that I've started, I just feel better. It has made a huge difference, so it's become a cycle of I feel better because I'm exercising and eating better, and since I'm feeling better, I'm exercising and eating better. It's a catch-22, but a good one!

Secondly, I've done it before and it really angers me that as hard as I worked to lose the weight I did a few years ago, I just put it back on over time. I want it gone again. I know I can do it, and I'm going to.

Thirdly, I've got some new friends, and they are lots of fun to hang out with, but I don't want to embarrass them. That may sound petty, but it gives me some inspiration. These are also my workout buddies.

Fourth, it may be wrong or petty, but sometimes I just get the attitude of "I'll show them!" Sometimes when I work out I almost get mad...I get real fired up and then I just take off. I figure if it works, I'm not going to question it.

Lastly, and this is related to #2, I found some old pictures of how I used to look after I lost my weight, and I want to get back there. I know how to do it, I know I can do it, and I know I'm going to do it. It's just that simple. I know it's not going to happen overnight, but I'll get there. You can't just look forward to reaching your destination, you've got to enjoy the journey.
 
My motivation

When I need motivation, I look at pictures of myself when I was at a much lower weight than I am now. I know, it sounds a little selfish, but that's what I do. Or I look at my twin. She's my inspiration. She's at my goal weight. Unfortunately, she can do what she wants and not gain weight, but we won't talk about that... keep positive! I will get to that weight again, won't I?

WillLose
 
WillLose60 said:
When I need motivation, I look at pictures of myself when I was at a much lower weight than I am now. I know, it sounds a little selfish, but that's what I do. Or I look at my twin. She's my inspiration. She's at my goal weight. Unfortunately, she can do what she wants and not gain weight, but we won't talk about that... keep positive! I will get to that weight again, won't I?

WillLose
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You'll make it! You just have to keep that positive attitude. Like the old saying goes..."How bad do you want it?"
 
My inspiration is my newborn son. When hes old enough to play outside, and go on guy trips like camping with me - I want to be able to keep up with him. My ankle is still healing from when I was mugged and shot over a year ago - doctors order say I cant run or jump. But I am able to use elliptical machines. :)

I feel like if I loose the weight, I will be able to get around better, and strengthen my ankle.
 
I find my greatest inspiration to be my mirror.
When I look at myself in the mirror and I see something I don't like, I instinctively get this urge to go out and do some activity.
I've put mirrors all around my house, especially the kitchen ;-)
 
My inspiration is remembering how I use to feel and how I feel now.

When I was at my biggest weight, my mother took pictures of me in some shorts and a sports bra. I look back at that photo when I need a bit more motivation to get on that treadmill and run. To help motivate me more, my boyfriend said he will take pictures of me now, dressed the same way, so that I can see how far I have come.

Also, another motivation for me is clothing. I am planning on going to a discount store and buy some cheap pants. Now, if I don't have a belt on, my pants start sagging and show my underwear. That's a style left for the boys, not us women.

Also, this might be inappropriate, but now I'm not afraid to let Sean see me the way I came into this world. I'm not so much in a hurry to cover up. So I guess that means that I'm not embarrassed about my body.
 
My husband and I are both overweight. He is deployed in Iraq right now. Left in January and will be back in Sept. We both promised that we would work out and lose weight while we were apart from each other. We aren't sending each other pictures or anything. It's just going to be a surprise and we'll see if we can recognize each other when he gets back!
 
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