What keeps you motivated? Topic

Seattle_Carla 03/27/09
I keep losing 25 lbs or so and lose interest.... what keeps you guys going?

Rebecca 03/28/09
This is a really good question -- not because I've got some great answer for you, but because it really IS important to think ahead on this. What am I going to do to stay motivated?? At this point, I'm early enough in my weight loss program that I'm still pretty good about sticking with it. No doubt, though, I'll reach that same point you've been to. I think we really need to consider our changed eating habits and increased exercise as being a permanent, life-long change. Period. It's not just for losing weight. It's how we live.

Gwendolyn 05/19/09 replied to Rebecca
I have a size 12 and 14 dress hanging In my bedroom in front of my be. I want to loose the weight by August 1, 2009. So far 10 pounds lost , and 30 more to go. Pray for me.

Shecodes 07/29/09
I won't buy my wedding dress until I am at least halfway there. Hopefully, that will be motivation enough.

Siljel 10/12/09 replied to Shecodes
Same with me Shecodes! At least I wait for as long as I can before I buy it - remember they often need about 4 months+ to order it in for you. - Celia

Phizz1 10/22/09
I'm having real problems with motivation. I want to lose weight for myself, but when the husband looks "sideways" at you it's hard to have a positive image even when you have lost some weight.

I got out all my jeans and I have 11 pairs of way cool jeans from size 7 up to the 16s I currently wear. I have a feeling once I can get into the 14s, that will motivate me. And then into the 12s and so on.

IsaEricShaw 05/20/10
One of the things that I have learned is that motivation itself is an equation with three variables that should be considered. Emotion + Durability + Life Compatibility = Results.


Emotion - is the level of emotional impact your goal has on you. "Getting in shape to fit your wedding dress or your goal jeans." has a high Emotion score. You will be highly motivated to succeed. The "What other people think." reason for getting in shape really doesn't move us to get going with our weight loss. If your goal doesn't inspire you, then think of another reason with high emotional impact.


Durability - Goals should be durable. They should have a life even after our goal weight or size has been achieved. The "wedding dress" goal is over right after the wedding and we go right back to our larger selves. The "I want to be in shape to be a strong Dad and husband" goal has life long after we reach our desired level of fitness. This doesn't mean you throw away the short range goals that emotionally drive us. Keep them, but add durable goals to them.


Life compatibility - are factors of your regime (diet and exercise) that fit with or conflict with your life style. Someone who works 9 to 5 with a 30 minute commute each way will find it tough to exercise 2 hours a day, but I'm sure they can find 10 minutes at least 3 days a week. A vegitarian will have a hard time on a low carb diet or Attkins diet, but I'm sure calory deficet and/or portion control diets will do the trick.


Consider these factors when selecting your goals. Making sure that they emotional impact, durability, and life compatibility will ensure immediate and lasting results. - Isa Eric Shaw

IsaEricShaw 05/26/10
Often times we have the forward motivation right. We have chosen goals that have emotional impact, durability, and life compatibility. This is usually enough to equal results. What we don't think about is backward motivation that holds us back from achieving our goals.



What's motivating us NOT to reach our goals? Is negative self-image and body-image telling us that we don't DESERVE to become the new self that we are working toward? Is guilt from life choises telling us that we have no right to get the life that we want? Is fear of failure telling us "don't even try"? Are we letting others tell us what we CAN'T do?



Cut the crap! What we have always done is not an indication of what we CAN do. We were formed by the hands of God. We can achieve anything short of divinity. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be pretty or sexy, or handsome or hunky. If you don't believe this, then believe it on credit. You can pay it back later with your more capable self after you reach your goal.



Now get to it! -Isa Eric Shaw

Jloughlin 01/21/20
I was in a musical last spring. It was a fairly easy play with lots of singing, but not too much dance. I had one number where I was the lead and had a lot of dance. I was almost at my top weight ever at about 295. I could hardly do it. By fall I was up to 302. There is another musical scheduled for May. It looks to be a lot harder with lots of dance. So I made a promise to myself, that if I got the part I would lose at least 50 lbs by the play.
That had given me the incentive I needed. I have lost 32 lbs since Aug 19 and have till May 29 to lose the other 18. Of course each additional lb gets harder to lose , but hopefully when rehearsals start in March, I will be burning lots of extra calories ;)

Jloughlin 02/18/20
Running ahead of schedule on my goal. Hit 40 lbs lost today and only have 11 lbs to lose in 3.5 months. May need to change my goal soon.

What keeps you motivated?