Motivation

Hi All,

I know it seems silly to repost a title as such, but I find when I go through I only find people who have lost maybe 20-30 pounds. While this is certainly an accomplishment, I am looking to lose a total of 100 pounds. Done 27 so far, but it's slowing down and I would really like to hear from people who have lost 80+ pounds. How did you get over the emotional hump? I understand the physical tenchinques, but I'm losing all my motivation and it's completely messing with my mind.

Looking for some mentors.

I've lost 85 pounds and counting (25 left, I think!). However, I've done it slowly (over 2 years) which has been good in two ways:

1.  It gave me a chance to 'adjust' to losing weight.  Its socially and mentally and physically different to be closer to 'average'!

2.  Its the key to my keeping it off long-term, or FOREVER.

I didn't exactly lose very slowly on purpose, it just happened that way.  I've never been extremely strict with myself, I enjoy life and I know that if I deprive myself I'll get to that point of going off the deep end.

I also go through those periods where I don't care as much, and I don't lose.  Luckily during those periods, no matter how long, I haven't really gained.  Just a fluctuation of <5 lbs.  Then my motivation kicks up again, and I'm able to lose a good chunk more.  This has just recently happened - the last weight I lost was a few months ago.  I started to pick up the old eating habits, and I just got sick of it again and now I'm back on track.

I think motivation is something you need to find within yourself.  Everyone is different.  Some people are never able to find it, and others make it seem easy.  I'm in between :)  You've done great so far - if you feel like taking a break, maybe you can maintain for a little while.  When you're ready again, go!

120 pounds lost (and kept off) in 2.5 years.  All done through diet and exercise.

My motivation has come from different sources.  Some of it is reading or hearing about people who somehow inspire me.  For example, I watched that show "Everest: Beyond The Limit" on the Discovery Channel and was really inspired by a climber who had asthma.  His general attitude about never giving up really struck me, and I still think about him when I'm feeling like quitting.

Some of it comes from more personal sources.  My mom's side of the family, which is the one I tend to take after in terms of medical issues and body type, has heart problems.  My great-grandmother and grandmother both had heart attacks, and my mom has had a couple of minor issues.  My dad's family has serious high blood pressure issues.  A recent medical examination revealed that my blood pressure is perfectly normal, and, as the nurse put it, my EKG looked "Awesome."  That was a very good reason for me to keep on doing what I'm doing.

And this one sounds very superficial, I know, but I have a family member who has yo-yo'ed with weight for as long as I've known her; she's gone from being severely overweight to almost too thin, and everything in between.  People always talk about her, saying how "she looked so good, then she gained it all back."  I WILL NOT be like that.  I WILL NOT gain it back.  I don't mean to sound cold, because I know she tries so hard and has emotional issues that prevent her from succeeding, but I simply will not tolerate having people talk about me that way, so I won't give them any reason to.

As far as my advice - making a lifestyle change is an interesting journey.  Sometimes it's smooth sailing and sometimes it's a rough road.  There'll be plateaus and there'll be setbacks, but as long as you always have a plan and stick to it as best you can, you will win in the end.

m-c - thank you for posting this and congrats on your loss.  I am just starting with a loss of the first 5lb of 100. Through my current TOM and my wedding in 1 month (stress) i often want to give up. but posts like yours, just laura, and laschndr, are what keeping me going. I DO NOT want to gain any more weight! So sorry i can't yet help and answer your question, i guess i am just saying thanks!! :)

Oh man Comomo! I hear you. Don't feel bad that you can't post any success yet. The fact that you're on this site and looking to start a healthier chapter in your life is success enough for now. Doesn't "Aunt Flow" visit at the most convenient times? One thing to look forward to: I hear thinner people experience less cramping. (In general, or course there are always people who go against the grain) Anyway, congrats on your engagement, I bet your wedding will be wonderful, and I hope more successful folk pop in here to give us encouragement.

oh man - I can't believe I can post a reply to this! I am actually at 78lbs total weight loss but that's close enough to 80! I began working out in August of 2007 and watching my calories. It has been an amazing rollercoster of emotions, both positive and negative. Loosing this weight has allowed me to learn so much more about myself and those around me. This past year has been a complete paradigm shift. 


Is this weird motivation: 

I attended a weight loss surgery seminar. Hearing my options on choices gave me a reality check - I made the decision that I would so much rather make my own choices on what to eat compared to only being able to eat what the doctors tell me. Every time I get discouraged, I think about my options...I can either learn to eat healthy and make choices, or I can learn to live with weight loss surgery.

    I AGREE WITH EMMERJ1. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO REPLY TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS .  ON HALLOWEEN 07 I WAS 5'6" 260 SEMI ALCHOHOLIC 2 PACK A DAY SMOKER . I HELP A FRIEND MOVE AND IT KILLED ME SO I DECIDED TO WORK OUT A LITTLE . A LITTLE TURNED INTO ALOT WITCH RESULTED IN ME QUITTING SMOKING AND DRINKING  AND ALOT OF DIETING BY 4/27/08 I WAS DOWN TO 150 SO NO IM JUST MAINTANING MY ROUTINE GETTING STRONGER AND FITTER ALL THE TIME .BUT EVERY ONE HAS BAD DAYS AND YOU JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THEM.   HOPE THIS HELPED.

I've lost about 40kilo so I guess I am one to talk. I have done it in a relatively short period of time - 6 and a half months since January '08. I do not have any experience with "maintaining" a weight loss (since this is the first time I have lost weight like this), but have been reading up on that for the past few months [since before my first intended "target" weight].

I have used calorie and portion control, good foods (fruits and vegetables, things that do not have unpronounceable ingredients) and exercise in combination. I make it a point to eat healthy fats (nuts [2 or 3 walnuts or brazil nuts; 10 almonds], seeds [pumpkin or sunflower 1TBSP], avocado [1/4 of an avocado]; olives (5); olive oil (1Tsp); chocolate (VERY Dark [>70% cocoa] 20grams) at almost every meal or snack. Portion control has been important for me so that I get to eat everything I want to eat in a day. I try to eat 6 or 7 times a day, so the next meal or snack is never more than a couple of hours away.

I have been really good about the exercise (pats self on back). It has become a habit. Everybody has reasons why they cannot exercise - too busy, not enough time, don't feel like it, too tired after work, etc. The only thing I can say is that if it is a priority there will be time for exercise (whether its taking the stairs, getting off at an earlier bus stop, spend half of lunch hour and all breaks walking, parking further away at the mall or office, walking the dog, taking a family constitutional after dinner, or more formal exercise stuff like putting a exer-bike you got from GoodWill in front of the TV or running in place every time there's a commercial, or turning off the TV altogether and going to teh gym). But nobody can be forced to put exercise in their life. If it is a priority, it will be done.

In line with priorities, I did make getting to a healthy weight a priority for me. I had nothing better to do (though in retrospect I LITERALLY HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING BETTER TO DO FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, BUT JUST HAVE NOT DONE IT). I am busy at work, but was unsure of whether I would stay at my current job or be transferred, between girlfriends so unattached and therefore did not need to compromise on food or activities. So I can hit the gym at 5AM and nobody cares . . . except me. I care. I care about me, and I want to live as long as I can. The reason why you do not see a lot of old (I mean really old, not just 40's like me but 90+) really fat people is because really fat people tend to wear something out in their body and never get to be really old. To remind myself of this, all I need to do is carry around a backpack with 90 pounds of weights in it and feel my heart rate increase and my muscles start to get sore. Yet I was doing that 24/7 less than 7 months ago.

I have written a lot of posts about methods - from either my journal or also in a a 15 pound by August 25 weight loss group, and other places- but what it comes down to is making that mental shift by making your health and weight loss a priority with a goal in mind, getting in touch with the foods and exercise program that works for you, and creating the new habits that will propel you to your goal.

Feel free to add me as a buddy. Best of Luck!

Mike

These are great stories. Durgy: 88 pounds in six months?!? That seems a bit ambitious for myself, but certainly inspires.