Come and Talk to Me

Fit4Life (8) 16 May 2006 04:41 PM

Hi Heather,

I am brand new to the site, and I felt compelled to comment on your question regarding what motivates one to lose weight. Although I understand your disappointment in not receiving more responses, I also understand why it's hard for many to write down the motivations.

You often hear people describe their motivation to be returning to a desired dress size or losing a loved one to an obesity related illness sparks the motivation. Those are good catalysts, but they should be short term motivators in a much larger goal. I believe your question begs for a far deeper response than most are prepared to give. The reason isn't necessarily apathy, but many of us really don't know or have a deeper reason for losing weight. I believe the inability to dig deeper for a motivational spark is what keeps us in a perpetual cycle of dieting and discouragement.

I'll share my motivation in hopes that you understand what I mean about reaching inner depth, which is basically self-love and entitlement to happiness.

I have dieted all my life until I gave up on ever being a normal weight. That occurred when I was about 70# overweight. I eventually got as heavy as 200# overweight before I received my first motivational spark, the will to live rather than waiting to die. After losing 200#, I was in a serious car accident with a 4 year recovery time, and I reverted to overeating with no activity. I gained 90# again, and I felt I couldn't lose it another time.

Then I realized that I had to kick my first motivational spark into high gear. it was no longer good enough to want to live rather than die. I had to realize that I was worthy of living life fully with ENJOYMENT...that I was born to have a good time with life, and not just be in the back seat, letting life happen to me. Instead of wishing I could camp, bicycle, and swim like I once did as a child, I made up in my mind that I would restructure my life in order to get my due happiness. That meant being so good to myself that I eat nutritious, well-portioned meals. I exercise my body everyday in some way so that I enjoy the stamina and strength that my body has built up. I drink plenty of water for hyrdration and proper digestion. I sleep enough and take time to relax my mind and body.

All of these things are essential to motivate me to do it all again the next day. One thing builds on the other, but the important part to remember is that I'm motivated by my desire to enjoy life while I'm living. Whether overweight or not, there aren't many people who actually enjoy the life they live or even feel they are ever capapble of truly enjoying themselves. Our society is filled with those taking a back seat and letting life happen to them. It's hard to motivate yourself to even breathe after you've been in the back seat for so long.

I know as well as anyone that it's not easy to motivate yourself for weight loss, but you have to find your own way. The alternative is remaining unhappy, unhealthy, and larger than you would like to be.

The bottom line is this...each person MUST be important enough to him/herself to give tender loving care to oneself, which is necessary to lose pounds. There are no magic pills, surgeries, or exercise videos that can motivate you. Self love is the key. The weight itself is secondary.

Heather Long (16954) 20 May 2006 07:32 PM

Your comment is out of this world fantastic! Thank you so much for saying what you said here. I couldn't have said it better myself and I didn't say it in so many words in this post. It is very important that we love ourselves and that we care. The weight is a symptom of a much greater issue -- and thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. I hope you come back!