What keeps you motivated?

Hi everyone!

Lately I have let myself go, I haven't been eating very well, and I haven't been exercicing. I need a little boost, something that will help me get back on track and stay on track.

I was just curious what is it that keeps you motivated?

My motivation (besides being healthier) is to fit into all of the clothes I wore before I gained this weight. They are hanging in my closet just waiting for me!

My kids - I want to be able to play with them, without saying "Mommy's tired."

Knowing that if I slip up, it could literally mean a coffin for me.  I had some big health scares this year, and it all stemmed from being morbidly obese.

Fashion. Being able to wear anything, being able to rock the stillettos, fitting into sample sizes. 

My running is better the lighter I am.  My shoes last longer, my joints don't complain anymore, I feel like I am flying.

I am told I look much younger than I am, but no one ever said that until I lost these last 30 pounds.

Mirrors.

Fat doesn't go away over night, but it sure feels like it piles on that fast! Whenever I walk by a mirror, it's a constant reminder. The fat's still there, and I'm still pissed off about it. Therefore, I go for a walk. :D

There's several things that keep me going: 1) I'd like to look better in a bikini next year. 2) I want to be able to fit into clothes that aren't labeled plus size. 3) I want to be able to keep up with my kids, 4)I want to look amazing in my wedding gown, and lastly? I know it's rather silly, but I want to look better than his exwife did on her wedding day!

I definitely agree with Ro, fashion for sure is one of the big ones for me.

I want to be able to look good in the fashion I like, not having to wear things because it 'isn't for my body'.

Mirrors as well like jaefuma said.

My mom too. Mainly because I want to prove to her that I can do it.

But I know it's for me. Eating good is feeling good, and feeling good is looking good.

He's nine years old and I'm all he's got in the world.... that's my motivation to keep healthy.

The muscular guys in the gym who are doing pull ups. I may be a female who is beginning to get fit but I plan to be in this little unofficial club of lifting, as lame as that sounds. To be able to say, "Yeah, I hang with the big guys."

Oh, and looking at myself shirtless. Seeing the progress. Flexing my arms and actually seeing some definition. It's cool.

well first i have to think about why I started this journey in the first place. what do I want my life to look like long term? For me, seeing both of my parents quit smoking, balloon to really heavy weights because of their horrendous eating habits, and then each have to have major back surgery. That's motivating. I don't want to be the cause of any health problems. I know they happen, but if I can prevent it, I want to. I plan on having children someday and I do not want to see them struggle like I did. ALso, the lady "ruby" on her show on the style channel. SHE inspires me.

Original Post by jaefuma:

Mirrors.

Fat doesn't go away over night, but it sure feels like it piles on that fast! Whenever I walk by a mirror, it's a constant reminder. The fat's still there, and I'm still pissed off about it. Therefore, I go for a walk. :D

 I know what you mean. It's tough for me late at night so often I'll just look in the mirror or grab my stomach to remember why I'm doing this, haha.

Knowing that I can be as hott on the outside as I am on the inside; it's just going to take some work.

My 1st 5K is the first week of December.

I will, for the first time in my life, wear a size 8...and soon too.

Knowing that I'm only 30 lbs. away from a normal BMI.

Knowing that between losing 100 lbs. and quitting smoking, I am not only improving the quality of my life, but potentially extending the time I'll spend with those I love most.

yep, mirrors.

also, the mental picture of myself starting grad school 1 year from right now, feeling confident to meet everyone, and not being embarrassed by my first impressions.

My ex boyfriend of 2 years who recently just crushed my heart, my family, my friends and definatly my skinny clothes that i cant fit into anymore!

2 items of clothing from when I was skinny in high school that I hang at the front of my closet.

Also getting naked in front of a mirror...

For my company's christmas party I want to fit in the black suit that I bought five years ago and only wore once...

Another really nice thing I am planning to do is to give myself a Pandora bracelet for Christmas and for every 10 lb lost I'll get one new pearl or charm. It should be quite a pretty bracelet by Christmas 2010. :o)

Oh and I promised my friend that once I have a healthy BMI we are going out to bars again, flirting and man-hunting! :o) She is skinny but shy and I am outgoing but fat... in about a year we should both be fit enough for dating! :o))

Whenever I have a lack of inspiration, I go out to the mall or some other public place and just go people watching. I see the skinny girls that I wish I was, and I see the overweight people I don't want to be. It helps me a lot, keeping those skinny girls in the back of my mind all the time.

And I think of all the skinny girls who picked on me because of my weight. The skinny, skanky girls who I know I can be better than. So I will :)

My motivation is how far I have come already! I have just 10 pounds to get to a normal BMI and then I can officially say "I am NOT Fat" After that, I think I will work on the parts of me that make me unhappy - belly, hips and thighs. Not sure what my final goal will be - when I am happy being me, I guess.

Also, being able to help others loseweight is a big motivator for me. I have been running a forum called Schmooze and Lose and it has really kept me from giving up. I can't quit when others look to me for guidance!

Several things keep me motivated. My children,i want to be able to play properly with them ,and be around longer for them. To be able to go to cloths shopping and have more choice, and not feel a freak trying things on and feeling like cr*p when you realize you need the next size up and your already in the twenties... To feel confident when out and about and not feel like the whole world is staring at you in disgust . oh and one last one, to be able to have a bath and then let the water out without leaving a reservoir of water behind my back...........

Just a few there, main one is for the children.x

Lots of things...but one thing I use for motivation is music. I love to dance so much, but I have never had the confidence to dance in front of other people. I am always thinking about my weight. I love all music...but my new favorite song is Say Hey by Michael Franti and Spearhead. There is a girl in this video who shows up a few times, in a white top that shows her belly. She is so beautiful and looks so carefree dancing. I want to feel like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8