Question About Getting The Motivation To Lose Weight

I am having problems getting motivated to lose weight.  I need to lose at least 50 pounds.  I know that it is bad for my health to weigh 230 and only be 5'6".  I have a stocky build and have not been below 175 in my adult life.  My trouble is I can not stay with a healthy eating lifestyle.  I seem to eat all the time.  I just do not understand we I am not taking this seriously.  I have a wife and two kids so I should have alot of motivation there.  It seems like the heavier I am the less I want to do to fix it.  I don't exercise at all.  Has anyone ever experienced this and can you offer any advice?

Thank you

I totally understand how you feel- motivation comes and goes.  Try being motivated by success.  You'll probably notice some small changes right away when you start reducing calories.  Try it for a week, and see how it goes.  Also- remember, the first 2 days of any diet are the hardest-just keep going!  Also, if you feel like you're eating all the time, realize that your body will keep working even if you don't feed it right away.  Next time you're hungry, try drinking some water and then in a half and hour see if you're still hungry. 

Chip,  First thing you should do is start out with some short term goals.   Create a weight goal and a fitness goal that you'd like to accomplish by a certain date.  Make the date realistic.   Don't expect to lose 50 pounds in 6 weeks,  it's just not going to happen.   For example, Lose 15 pounds and be able to run one mile.  Something like that.   With out a goal,  you have nothing to be motivated about.   Just saying to yourself you want to lose weight isn't a goal and it will be next to impossible to get motivated when you think of all the weight you have to lose.   Most people fail at losing weight because they don't set a goal and follow it properly.  Once you have your date set, stick to it.  Think about it constantly.  Obsess about it.   When you are sitting on the couch watching tv and not wanting to go work out,  think about that date,  think about how you cannot accomplish your goals unless you get up and do what you need to do.  Once you reach that goal,  reward yourself with something you want and set a new goal.

As far as the eating goes,  I can tell you that I have tried nearly every diet and gimmick known to man.  And only two things work, eating healthy and excersize.   Until you are ready to change your entire lifestyle, you will continue to have issues with eating.   I started seeing a personal trainer that tought me about nutrition.   For 36 years I'd been eating whatever the hell I wanted with no regard for my body.   The trainer gave me specific nutritional goals that he wanted me meet every single day.   How much protein,  carbs, sodium, fat and every other nutrient and macronutrient there is.   It wasn't until I learned about nutrition that I cared about what I was eating.   Being able to meet my caloric and nutrient allowances each day is tough,  every day is a struggle.   But it makes me look at everything I eat and in doing that I can watch everything I put into my body.  Generally speaking,  I eat the same exact thing for a week,  then change my meals around some the next week.   I know it sounds boring, but it's working.  

My god, Chip,

I swear I could have written that post word for word, and it would all be true (stats slightly different, but similar)  For a second I really thought I accidently stumbled on an old journal entry.

Sorry to say I have no words of wisdom as I haven't quite licked the problem yet myself.

I just thought I'd let you know that there are people out there who are having the same feeling as you right now.  Sometimes it helps to know you are not the only one.

All I can say is this-  There is no guarantee that you will lose weight if you try- but if you don't try, then you don't even have a chance.  So just get back on the weight loss horse, and if you fall off, get back on as soon as you can.

Hope this helps.

I want to say thank you for all of the replies.  I really appreciate the encouragment.  I did good yesterday.  I do not feel as miserable today.  I am starting my day with two boiled egg whites and a banana.  I have a better disposition today.  Thank y'all...... 

I noticed that when I was trying to diet a few times before, I wasn't really all that motivated and I mean some days, I'd be exercising and eating less and healthier, but then the next day I'd be a lot less motivated.  I think that when I wasn't 100% committed, I never was successful and always either gained the weight right back or just stopped dieting after losing 5 pounds.

I think that the minute you're ready to lose weight.. you'll know.  I was crying EVERY time in looked at myself in the mirror for quite a while.  One day, I just got sick of it and new it was time to stop eating so much.

I don't really believe in motivation, I believe in just doing it whether you feel motivated to do it or not. But, I guess the idea of motivation is tied to willpower, which can be affected by many things.

Make sure you get enough sleep. Being tired and having poor sleep habits makes it harder for your brain to make good decisions, as does having low blood sugar. So make sure you eat regularly as well. For example, having just two egg whites and a banana for breakfast means your body has only about 135 calories to work with from dinner the night before until lunch that day. You need more to function properly, or you are just setting yourself up for failure. Hunger is a great demotivator!

For me, one of the most important things was to change the way I think about food and my lifestyle in general. I don't look at is as having to sacrifice yummy food to be on a diet, instead I think of it as a challenge to come up with great-tasting, filling, low-calorie dishes. It's not about all or nothing, dieting or falling off the wagon...it's about making good decisions about food and my health MOST of the time, and working in a hgher-calorie treat now and then as well. I intend to keep this lifestyle forever, so it better be something I can live with and enjoy, you know?

As for the exercise, fin something you enjoy and fits into your life well. You won't want to keep it up if you don't enjoy it! You'll find that as you lose pounds, you will feel lighter and have more energy.

Just renew your commitment to getting healthier every morning. Sometimes it might go very well, sometimes not so much, but just don't give up, and soon you will find that being healthier is such a great reward you will want to stick with it for life!

Hi Chip!  Just wanted to put in my 2 cents' worth and say I totally understand.  I managed to health my way down to 172lbs ~ a 42lb loss ~ using just the tools on this site, a gazelle (Tony Little exercise machine), and then an elliptical trainer, coupled with powerwalking while pushing a double jogging stroller and pulling a wagon with 2 kids behind.  I felt great, had tons of energy, and always felt positive......

....then my 20yr high school reunion came and went, and I forgot to set a new goal for myself!  It was fall, and the weather was crappy and yada yada yada...I just kinda stopped taking time for myself.

But now I am back and I know I can do it.  I've done weight watchers, slim fast, south beach, and sureslim.  They were too limiting for me ~ I LOVE to cook!  It's great to be back here and reacquainting myself with all the recipes I created before, not to mention connecting with all the wonderful people here.

You CAN do it. 

You ARE worth it.

xoxo

Few things helped me.

#1 started when this guy called me fat. Forced me to really look at myself. made me realize I was finally obese and I was the fattest one of all my friends. I knew that all my health problems could be fixed w diet n exercise. & I was too young to be this big I should me bout their size not my moms

#2 "The Biggest Loser" book & show, if they r that big I should b able 2 do it 2. The diets super easy u eat all day n feel great. now i feel light, healthy, happy. whats crazy 2 me, I actually njoy working out

#3 were all in it together. my husband, grandma, mom, sis in law, brother stepdad and me all of us call eathother up, to see where were at with it. get your family involved, let them know what u wanna do, they love u n want u happy n healthy 

Hi Chip,

Try starting with the calories you need, your "burn calories" just to get your self started, and you'll see some things that you can elimiate, or even swap, like fruit instead of cookies! Log everything even if you have a bad day.

It's changes you need to make for the rest of your life. Take small steps.

Good Luck

Judy