What time of year motivates you to lose weight?

Hey all. For those of you that have been trying to lose weight for many years, have you found a pattern in the time of year you want to lose weight the most? Do the changing seasons make you want to make a change? Does swimsuit season motivate you? The start of the school year and more time indoors? Knowing you'll see family at the holidays? New Year's resolutions?

I feel like I am more focused on weight training and sculpting my arms when I am seeing myself in tank tops in the mirror a lot. However, the start of fall and a more regimented school year allows for a more regimented meal plan.

I'm trying to find a way to hold onto that motivation all year!

Good question. I was feeling a lot more motivated in the summer, and swimsuit season definitely had to do with it. Now that's it's fall and things are getting so busy for me, counting calories and exercising are falling to the bottom of my priorities.

It's always in the back of my mind, but I haven't been good since September started - and I'm not even in school! But I'm working two jobs, and the second job has just picked up lately. Plus, now that it's practically winter already (it snowed in New England today, ick!) my instinct is to climb into bed!

I'm different than most, I feel like I always gain weight in the summer. I think its the lack of a consistent schedule because I exercise alot in the summer so I don't know. I actually find fall a good time to lose a few pounds. For me, the weather is perfect for running, so I don't mind staying out there a little longer b/c I'm not sweating my **** off, or freezing either. And I get into more a routine with school and everything. Same with spring. Winter, it depends. Last year was good, 2 years ago was bad.

Hoping I follow my usual trend andf have lost a few by the time I am home for thanksgiving...

I loose weight in the summer, not b/c of how I look in the bathing suit, but b/c I want to spend 1hr+ every day swimming laps so I burn a lot of cals, sadly when winter comes and it gets dark at 5pm I get crazy depressed and just want to eat potatoes and hibernate.  I can't help it, I'm solar powered, but this winter I'm going to try and take 5HTP to see if more serotonin will help me not get depressed.

swimsuit season and "gotta get back in my jeans season" which is going on now....

Original Post by amber_poole:

I loose weight in the summer, not b/c of how I look in the bathing suit, but b/c I want to spend 1hr+ every day swimming laps so I burn a lot of cals, sadly when winter comes and it gets dark at 5pm I get crazy depressed and just want to eat potatoes and hibernate.  I can't help it, I'm solar powered, but this winter I'm going to try and take 5HTP to see if more serotonin will help me not get depressed.

 Ah, that, too, is me. When it starts getting dark early, I also lose motivation, get depressed, and eat to stay happy. Crazy cycle.

It's always been a struggle for me during that time period from Halloween (too much candy everywhere) right through till New Year's. I would gain 10 pounds every year. I felt like I had to "stoke the furnace." Then in the spring, when it gets warm and gets lighter outside, my motivation kicks back in.

Ironically, I am beating that now by counting calories in and calories burned, and paying attention to the food pyramid. I am not driven by external factors as much any more. I get outside to walk in the daylight as much as possible. However, I will look into the 5HTP idea.

I tend to be more motivated in the fall.  During the summer, when it gets too hot to cook (my excuse), I tend to lounge around with a cold beer or four and order a pizza.  Once it starts getting colder, I'm roasting veggies in the oven, craving healthy soups and warm salads, etc.  Plus, while it is a PITA to drag myself out of my nice warm bed in the morning, I do jump right into my workout in an attempt to warm up (and just generally move around more for the same purpose).

I'm very much influenced by the sun as well. I'm from California originally, so I always took it for granted. Now that I'm in Pittsburgh, every sunny day we get in the fall and spring is a miracle to me! Boosts my mood like no other.

I like the idea of getting yourself to work out to warm up in the morning, I'll have to try that in my peptalk to get out of bed tomorrow!

I also have that same problem of attacking candy around Halloween-or at any social gathering with food in the winter. My brain seems to think free food has no calories and you gotta load up!

Ahh I live in Pittsburgh too and I just want to say the weather is seriously terrible. I always make jokes with my friends that every time I go running I get rained on. B/c I seriously do. Other than today!!!

Ooooo solitary, I hear ya on the free food!  Not so much Halloween candy, but anytime I see free food I suddenly turn into a Hoover!  Oh, and I sympathize with you re: Pennsylvania weather.  I'm from Harrisburg and I always dread the occasional work trips to Pittsburgh because the weather is ALWAYS terrible.

I find that I am most successful at my fitness goals in the winter. I live in Canada so it is COLD in the winter. Because it's cold, I don't do anything so I have lots of free time to work out at home and cook healthy meals. In the summer we are busy out doing things so summer is mostly maintenance I suppose.

I do better in the fall/winter because I prefer to run outside. No humidity and no chance of getting too hot. Plus I feel like a badass, bundling up and taking on the weather. The cold puts a spark in me. :)