Wednesday, August 26, 2009

What Motivates You?

I have struggled with my weight ever since after Kayla was born.  I gained entirely too much when I was pregnant with her…70lbs to be exact.  Told you it was too much.  Anyways.  It took me forever to lose most of it.  Of course the “baby” part just fell off, but the “fat” part stayed behind. 
I finally (2 years later) had lost a total of 50 of those 70lbs.  A few more years after that I was pregnant again but also I was 20lbs heavier!
While I was pregnant with Kelsie I gained the right amount of weight 18lbs and lost it within just a few weeks after she was born.  Fast forward…I gained 15lbs and along came that awesome Spring Fitness Challenge and in a total of 8 weeks, I lost 23lbs.  It was sweet!
Now to date, I have gained 10lbs back!  Argh!  Where did I go wrong?  Well, I stopped exercising.  I mean hello working out twice a day for 8 weeks sorta gets OLD quick!  And I started eating whatever whenever…Big NO NO! 
So what do I do now?  Well, I am back where I started.  Not with the weight but with the gaining and not knowing how to start or where.  I want to start working out again, I want to stop eating junk, but it’s like I can’t.  I love food SO much!  Do you know what I mean?  Do you really know what I mean?  Cookies, I can’t eat just one…Chips, same thing…Chocolate, oh don’t even get me started! 
So if you’ve lost weight or losing it now, what motivates you to keep going or to keep it off?

6 comments:

the undomesticated wife said...

Don't be so hard on yourself! I'ves seen your pics here and I think you look great! But I know what you mean...we see ourselves differently when we look in the mirror. I also think that it really stinks for us ladies as we get older and our hormones change, heredity sets in, etc. It's a huge battle.

I hate going to the gym, so I fit in exercise in smaller ways. I'll walk one of the dogs for 2-1/2 miles each morning. If it's summer, I'll swim 20 laps. I always take the stairs. Maybe I'll fit in 100 crunches every couple of days, etc. Hubs and I will ride our bikes for an hour. Bike riding is one of the best exercises, and since it's fun, it doesn't seem like exercise!

I think if you start it slowly and try to do things that are fun, it makes it easier. Still, some days I do nothing. And that's ok too. But then I go put on that skirt I wore last season and it's tight...then I want to kick myself. ;)

Georgia Girl said...

Girlfriend don't get down on yourself!!!

I have dealt with this also and I have figured the only option is to exercise and if you do that then you will stay fit and eat what you want in size portion...remember that is the key....

If you walk everyday at least one mile then you should be ok...I think one thing for me is that if you can have a friend do it with you...if not available then do you have a ipod to listen to music while you walk...

As far as different exercises...I don't believe all those different machine or situps or crunches is any better than walking...every book I have ever read says that walking is the best exercise to stay fit with.

Now once I got used to this regiman I started leaving at least one day off which was usually Sunday to rest but start back the next day.

Don't give up cause you did so great back in the spring fitness thingy cause I kept up with you on that and you WON...woohoo.

Heatherlyn said...

I'm not the best person to talk to about weight loss because I have the opposite problem, I lose it too quickly.

But I think weight loss or maintaining weight is a true life style. You can't just do stuff to lose weight and then expect it to stay off if you stop doing whatever you were doing to lose it (eg, special diet or exercize).

I've heard that weight watchers is great for changing the way you look at food.

I actually love to eat ... but when I'm busy and involved in a project I don't eat as much.

So, stay busy, stay active. Be healthy. Make the commitment you need to make in order to have a lifestyle change that will stick.

Tiffany said...

My story is almost identical to yours! First baby, 68 lbs. lost all but 20. Second baby, 28 lbs. lost all, but was still very heavy. I lost 33 lbs on the south beach diet. I loved the diet, but what motivated me was my husbands 10 year high school reunion. I wanted to look good. After that though, I gained back 10 lbs., so I immediatly went back on the diet. The hardest part is keeping it off, and for that, I have no advice really. I just try to remember how I looked at my heaviest, and that motivates me sometimes. But I'm actually pretty happy with my weight, and mostly myself, which is the most important thing. :)

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

I dont know, but I'd love to find out! I gained a lot with my son also... somewhere around 70 as well. Lost most of it, but not all. Gained 30-40 I think? with
#2. Lost most of it, but went up & down a lot. #3 I only gained 25, but I gained weight after my 6 week check up! I am the biggest I've ever been NOT pregnant, but I just dont know what to do. I am very picky when it comes to food, and I dont like salad or many veggies, so most diet plans seem impossible.

schwadette said...

I'm on my own personal weight loss mission, and I've found that having a buddy is great. Today for example - I've been trying to do an hour of cardio everyday. After 40 minutes... totally ready to quit. Then... one of my "buddies" got to the gym... I was able to pull another half hour!! Just having someone to chat with helps the time fly.

I think small goals are great too.... whether it be with food portions or food choices, exercise (how much, how little)... or weight amount to lose. If it's a HUGE goal... it seems unachievable... little goals are SO much more realistic...

You CAN do it... it's hard, but you can. Keep your chin up!!