Momma's on a Diet: Same Diet - Different Motivation

by Katie-Anne Gustafsson | More from this Blogger

For my marathon weight loss saga, I'm going to be following the point system at Weight Watchers. What can I say? Been there, done that previously - didn't buy the t-shirt but have the gadgets and books to ensure that I'm going to be successful! Ahem! Ok, scratch that bit of negativity. I will be successful. Why? Because I'm motivated this time.

In the past my motivation to lose weight has always been sketchy at best. Usually it had a lot to do with other people and their opinions, and nothing whatsoever to do with me. This time, it's about me, and my opinion. Granted it's more about my opinion on something external - namely my medical team - but it's still my opinion that's motivating me on. It's not that I never saw the need to lose weight in the past, or that I set out each time with a view of failing, but somehow the opinions of others weren't enough for me to do what needed to be done.

I feel differently about it this time. Excited somehow. I think blogging here will help with that. I'm being held accountable in a public arena - how's that for motivation? Just because there'll be very few people who read this and know me, doesn't mean that I won't feel ashamed if I fail in my goal. So this is an added motivation that I didn't have in the past.

My sister had weight issues even as a child, and a nutritionist eventually told my mom that my sister would lose weight when she wanted to, and only then. Thinking about that, I think the nutritionist was probably right. The time wasn't right earlier in my life. For me, the time is right now.

Unfortunately the rest of my body is not agreeing with this. Losing weight requires energy - energy that I don't have. I'm not even talking about exercise yet, not going there for a while, but just the energy it takes to read labels, cook things that aren't in a can, shop with points in mind and create a good nutritional balance over the week. This and chronic fatigue do not make a marriage made in heaven, but I'll figure it out one way or another. I heard somewhere recently that in order to create a habit you need to do it 20 times - so whether that's 20 days, or 20 weeks, this program will be a habit. And you know what? A healthy eating habit that lasts the remainder of my life is worth the 20 days/weeks it takes to establish. Let's just hope it's 20 days!

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Learn more about Katie-Anne Gustafsson

Hi,I'm a work at home mom of 2 preschoolers, Jake and Connor, and wife to Mikael.

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