I was just thinking about what motivates me since today was not such a good day. I became extremely aware of the weight that I am carrying around and felt so disheartened about being able to lose it. I gained nearly 30 pounds in one year and I am basically working to get back to where I was at this time last year. I would love to be under 200, but sometimes I feel like I have no control over foods and portions and won't be able to get to that point. So I needed to remember why it was that I decided to join a gym and ease out of all the bad foods I have been putting in me. The biggest one for me is health. I am so young, and shouldn't have to be concerned about osteoarthritis or cancer or diabetes or the myriad of other things we all hear about. I guess the second is self-esteem. I need to feel better about myself in order to socialize, because as it stands now, I barely know people to hang out with. So, I am posting because I wanted to know what motivates people. Why are you in here? Maybe I'll see new incentives I never thought of*that*I can think of whenever I feel like this...

i am just at a point where i am not happy with me anymore....i want to be the hot wife my husband deserves and i want to be able to go out with my kids and not have the feeling people make fun of me to them...
i DONT want to hear you look good for having 5 kids i want to hear wow you look great!!

When I was in high school, I wanted to lose weight so all the guys would want to date me.* Then, I got married and now I want to actually want to go to the Christmas Party at my husband's office so he can be proud and know that he has the hot-est wife.* Plus, I don't want to be embarassed when my husband sees me naked...

For me, I am less concerned about what other people think when I am out in public, etc.** My biggest motivator is my kids.* I want to make sure that I am demonstrating to them healthy eating and portion control, as well as the joy that you feel from moving your body the way nature intended!* I have a 12 year old son who reads labels and knows the difference between carbs, fats, and protiens.* He can tell you what vitamins and minerals are in different fruits and veggies, and why we need them.* I have a 2 year old who does yoga, and stretching with me, and even tries to ride the eliptical.* THAT is what motivates me...knowing that my kids are set with the knowledge to live a healthy life!

One of my biggest motivators is the cost of medicines and the amount of money I have been spending the past year due to high blood pressure, migraines and GERD.* All of these medicines could be eliminated if only I snap myself into shape and lose at least 30 pounds.* My total goal is 50.* It makes no sense for me to be taking medicines when all I really need to do is put myself back into better shape.* The next biggest motivator is the fact that I can not fit into my clothes and look good in them.* I feel like a slob and don't like myself like this.* Time to change!!!!

I think a lot of my motivation is in being healthy. Heart disease and diabetes runs in my family on both sides, and both are hereditary! So, I want to head this thing off before it gets to that point and to be healthier for myself. I also want to be stronger and healthier for my future children so that I can run and play with them without having to stop and gasp for breath like I do now when I play with my doggie, RayRay. Also, I'm going to be a teacher. And sometimes it feels like there are some activities that I just would not want to do with the kids cuz I'd get all out of breath and just suck at it. lol I love playing basketball, too and I'm actually good at it! So, I'd like to be able to play an entire game without feeling like I'm going to pass out. There are so many things that I have that I think of when it gets tough to help me hang in there and do the work so that I can lose the weight! I also think it's very important that we all have something to keep us motivated and that it should most importantly be something for yourself. If it's more of an extrinsic motivation then it's not nearly as strong a motivator as having intrinsic motivation to just do this for yourself!!! *hugs* to all!!!!