What motivates you?
 

Sorry if this has been posted before but just thought it might be interesting to find out what motivate us all.

For me it is several things.
1)I'm not happy with the way i look in the mirror and as i grow older the weight is slowly going up and i need to put and end to that.
2) I am a nurse and I see everyday the results of not being healthy. I want to live a long and health life so I need to eat right and exercise.
3) And this is probably the biggest motivator for me is I love to scuba dive. I do what is referred to as technical diving, where we go much deeper than the average recreational diver and in this process our bodies are exposed to the stresses of decompression. Decompression Illness or Decompression Sickness otherwise know as "the bends" is tricky in that we really don't have a handle on it yet. We know sometimes why people get DCS and some basic parameters but at other times people get bent when we don't know why. Cardiovascular fitness and low body fat is believed to help the body decompress most effectively. So for me staying fit helps me to do what i love safely.


So what motivates you?

Similar to you kimbur96, I don't like the way I look in the mirror so I stay motivated by that. And I'm going to school to be a nurse so I have also seen the negative effects on health from bad eating habits and lack of exercise. I want to be healthier and a good example for my future patients. When I'm healthy, I'm happy!

So much can be done through exercise and diet to combat diabetes, heart disease, htn and many more so cudo's to you for working on that.

I hear ya on over doing something and paying for it with muscle pain later. I just got back to weight training after a long hiatus. I hit the gym like i used to in my 20's and 30's and what use to make me sore for two days almost crippled me for four. It was a painful lesson but I'm not as young as I used to be and have to learn to take smaller steps when easing back into the weight training.

Excellent. Congrats on the nursing school. It's a rewarding career. And I agree, I feel like i set a better example for my patients when i am in shape and eating right. It's easy to tell some one what do and eat when you are eating whatever you want and not exercising. But when you are eating health and living what you preach, so to speak it carries a lot more weight. Keep at it!

Oh man, I hear you about not being as young as we used to be. BUT we do have experience and wisdom on our side :D.

My motivation comes from several different places depending on the day.
I too want to live a long and healthy life.
I love the strength I have gained from weight lifting and hope to continue well into my 70s and who knows.. 80s
I have never been a very competative person, but now that I am in my 50s I just love to show the 20-somethings "how it is done"
Runner's/hiker's/biker's high - it is real.
I run because so many cannot - who am I to waste that blessing
I frequently work with college students. I want to be not only a mentor in science, but a mentor in lifesyle.
And many times just reading the posts for all those who struggle and triumph inspires me to get moving again.

Totally agree, 20 something says to me if I want him to take off some weight, I said no I need to put 60 pounds on. Loved the look on his face and my trainer loves it when I do that.

My motivation comes from the people around me. A lot of family members are unhealthy and with simple modifications they could throw away the high blood pressure pill, get off the insulin.

Also, I do not want to go in to old age in pain and bellyaching about my poor health. I want to live with my husband for a long time and not be separated for something I can control.

Finally, my grandchildren inspire me, I want to see them married. I want to meet their children.

I've gotten bad health reports from my doctor for 2 years: high cholestoral, high blood pressure, extreme obesity and orders to go on the DASH diet (low sodium). My mom took me to meet up with a dietician when I was 30, but I felt slightly belittled when I had to explain why I ate both Pop Tarts in the package. I'd been getting told to lose weight for decades and I never bothered, mostly because no matter how much weight I lost, it was never enough.

Christmas 2011, I met one of my husband friends from high school. The friend was visiting for 3 months, so we hung out together a lot. He's an attractive, fit academic and slightly stuck-up and serious (he works at a university as a lecturer). I spent the time blatantly flirting with him because it seemed to shock him. I had no idea he'd taken me so seriously until he said he couldn't do anything because I was married.

I've had a lot of turndowns from guys and the usual answer is 'too fat'. He was the first man to not say that. (He is also extremely polite, but I'm keeping my mind on the silver lining. ;) ) It's been such a moral booster even though I see how many people would tell me I should lose weight for myself rather than someone else.

Lots of little things motivate me, but I'll be completely honest... the thing that got me off the couch and starting was seeing how I was buying new pairs of jeans every few months - either because I needed to go up a size, or because my thighs were rubbing together and making a hole in the inner thigh of my jeans.

One of my relatives noticed and I was completely embarrassed.

I also had someone I used to work with meet up with me at a conference in San Diego. He took a picture of me next to the San Diego skyline, and I couldn't even recognize myself and how big I'd let myself get. I think he noticed too, because he quickly put the picture away after we looked at it and things got a bit awkward.

Now, I'm motivated by the results, my energy level, my boyfriend's constant compliments, and rediscovering food and clothing!

i cant post what motivates me cuz ill get banned. haha :D
but 4 months in and 20 pounds down id say its effective for me ^^

My D day was when I bought the next size up pants, because my favorite jeans had ripped in a place where jeans arent supposed to!!

I have been insulin dependent for about a year. I am motivated to have good diabetes management after a year of being in denial because I was so angry about carrying on the family tradition of a poor pancreas. My mom died young to cancer after being diabetic with poor control for many years. I do not want history to repeat, I love exercise, and am learning that healthy, clean eating can be just as fun as that sugery donut.

The scale moves slowly, but I am patient. Small goals that are attainable motivate me to continue.

Chris S.
start wt: 171 lbs Dec 2011
current wt: 157 lbs
goal: 140 ish whenever I get there.

What motivates you?
 

Great topic.

When I first started trying to lose weight (a few weeks before I found FD) it was because I had let myself go too far with too many bad foods. I started to notice that I just didn't feel good anymore like I used to. I noticed I was getting a little tired from just mowing the lawn. But the worst was just feeling sleepy all day. So my first motivation was to lose weight in order to feel better.

Now that I've lost the weight and I'm maintaining, my motivation has changed. I've now focused on getting into better shape cardiovascular wise. I used to have it, and it's been too long now since I've gone backpacking. So that's my new motivation. To be in top condition so that I can go backpacking again this summer, and do it comfortably, without getting so tired that it's not fun. I figure when I can run 4 miles, non stop, pretty comfortably that is when I know I'll be ready. I think by the spring I should be there. So that goal is motivating me as well.

1) I have really bad digestive problems when I eat poorly and I got really tired of feeling sick

2) I am tired of being tired

3) I want to be a good example for my son

4) I want to be a good example for my hubby

5) I feel embarrassed when I look in the mirror or see pictures of myself, not because I look "ugly", but because it's evidence of how badly I've been treating myself the past couple of years

6) I have a bunch of "before" clothes that I really love, that I want to be able to wear again

Welcome, good to see you jumping in on the threads. Those are some great reasons.

Small Steps
 

I began looking at various weight loss options last summer, as I spent most of the summer embarrassed to remove my shirt or go to the pool etc...

I was 39 and after a look in the mirror I was disgusted at what I had become..
Began at 6'2" 359, around labor day, now down to about 295 and still going strong.. my motivation is looking in the mirror and knowing that my long term health will be better and that this summer I will not be embarrassed to go out in public in swim trunks.

One good thing is that looking back I can laugh at myself a bit....knowing the future is better ahead..

This speaks VOLUMES to me...I have (had) 3 female cousins with MS (one has been gone over a year now at the age of 55) and have watched how that alone steals some of their joy.

I don't run; but I exercise regularly, or did before 2012...I'm having a rough time keeping up a regular schedule for some reason now. I work out a week, take a couple off, start back in slow - work out for a week or two, and take off again.

I'm disgusted with this pattern. Thank you for reminding me of one of my own personal favorite motivations.

How dare I waste the good health so many others would LOVE to have...

-mirror for sure
-back problems
-watching my Mom (89) and Father in Law (88) age. One active & one not, this is a big motivator. The less you do the less you can do.
-wanting to be healthy

I'm so glad this thread got bumped - I hope other's will post their motivations.

Mine remain the same. And everyday I thank the powers-that-be that I am alive, active, healthy, and looking forward to tomorrow :).

Today I have begun to track my macronutrients. I Hope that I am able to keep this up and truly master this art as I have master chess and several other things in my life as well. I started today off by arising at 6 am to go to the restroom then to get my usual 32 ounce cup of Coffee with a cup of creamer in it. so far today is looking good. I just Hope that I will have the best day today that anyone can have as this is the day where I start my seven day workout plan over again starting with day 1. I have begun to get Hooked on this FitDay.com workout of which I am already seeing results. I did a body measurement and suddenly noticed a change in several measurements which indicates to me that this Dash diet plus this seven day workout plan is working out tremendously. My glucose readings are looking good also, dipping down as low as 97 mg/dl. my blood pressure is down to 151/80 my pulse is at 66 so this is a good sign that this diet is working. I wouldn't really call this a diet but more of a eating change. to me the word "Diet" indicates that one need to starve themselves. The DASH diet simple has you to use proper portion sizes and change some foods around to where your eating more of the healthy ones and hardly any fatty ones. Im down to 194.4 lbs from 200.6 lbs I think Im doing good. Im still working on torching this belly fat though. I need to get rid of it so I will get off the Levimir Flextouch needle. If I keep this up I know I will be lookiing lean in about 6 months or so. Today i am prepared to do some extra torvhing at club fitness. Of course this would be easier if I did have a Trainer to guid me but My trainer just seems more interested in Girls than in anyone elses best interests. SO I will do what I can using Fitday.com and Fitday PC to help me along the way. All i have to remember is that this is not a wham bamm thank you sam journey but a slow steady life style like Christianity. it takes time to adjust my life to this way of life. So I will seek out the mor=tivation of my nutritionist at my work adn the help of some of the fitday users using the dash diet to help me accomplish this.
So some of the Keys I will need during this Journey are as follows:
1. God's Help.
2. Motivation from fellow Fitday users.
3.Ways to Kick my Metabolism into High gear using the DASH Diet from other Fitday users on the Dash diet.
4. Regular advice from my Nutritionist at my work at Fresh Thyme farmers Market.

The way my bicep evolve and pump!
The way my body shines and looks good just like a prince!
that motivates me!

Have a pic of any female with an amazing body and look at it when you feel demotivated. Regular exercising really requires lot of motivation, so have an idol to follow. It is great trick to stay motivated. One trick my trainer has adviced is to train in pair. This brings in some competition and can make you reach your goal quickly.

The motivation speech and thoughts motivate me a lot.

I think it is more difficult to find motivation when I think of long term. i never managed to go for a jog thinking "this will make me live longer." I prefer to set smaller, more achievable goals for shorter time periods. This way I also get the feeling of success more often and it helps me keep going.

the opposite sex

love of course!

the future vision of myself I have crafted in my head that is stronger, more successful, and more fulfilled on his journey.

It became a lifestyle, something to look forward to, just like walking my dog everyday. I've read somewhere that to keep being motivated, you have to find reasons beyond losing that extra pound and looking hot. The athletes often say that what the...

6 Meals a Day for Weight Loss. You've probably heard the advice that eating small meals throughout the day is how you win the battle of the bulge. The claim is that frequent snacking, as long as it's healthy, keeps your metabolism humming, staves off hunger, and controls blood sugar.

The beautiful natural scenery here in Perth Western Australia is a massive motivator for me. I just love getting out on the trails running or hiking the hills, kayaking the Indian ocean or just a simple bar workout in the park. Get out there are enjoy it