What is your motivation?

bglovesbabyk · June 2014

What do you all use as motivation to exercise and eat right? I can stay motivated short term but suck at long term.
For example, I had done really good at lifting hard and eating clean for a couple of months knowing that my step daughter's graduation party was coming up. Here was my pathetic motivation: I knew Dh's ex- wife was going to be there and I'll admit, I wanted to make damn sure I looked way better than her. Pathetic, I know, but mission accomplished. She showed up looking like a white trash wannabe Barbie as usual so it wasn't too hard. And I was in my pre-baby size and felt genuinely pretty for the first time in over a year, which was awesome.
Now...it's been two weeks and I've been eating whatever and my workouts...eh...what's that? My stomach is still a hot mess even though I've lost the weight, so bikinis and fitted shirts are still not my friend.
I know for something to stick long term motivation has to be internal, so I'm wondering what you all use to get your ass off the couch, and to put the cookies and cream ice cream down.
How I feel lately:

housewifehair · June 2014

I either watch 5 minutes of "My 600 Pound Life" or "flex" my bare butt in the mirror.

In all seriousness, I've pushed myself to have a positive relationship with exercise. It's not "Crap, I have to go work out!" It's, "I GET to do this!". Positive affirmations are key!

Also, my FIL is a double amputee and anytime I even start to whine about working out, my mind goes to him. He feels like a prisoner in his own body so I feel like a real brat when I take my mobility for granted. He inspires me EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

fitmama418 · June 2014

Now that I'm a mom, vanity isn't my motivation anymore. My daughter is my motivation.

I want her to have a happy, healthy mother with a positive body image and who takes pride in eating well and taking care of her body. However, I want to show her that you can still have ice cream and cake and pizza as long as you remain active; those things are ok, too! I want to live a loooooooong life since I have plans to make a ton of memories with her and any future kids we have. The only way to do that, is by taking care of myself. I can suck it up for at least 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.

fluttergirlmoonchild79 · June 2014

Like others, especially fitmama said, I do it for my daughter. She's really starting to watch our every move and we want to set a good example for her. DH's family is all extremely overweight and DH was until a few years ago. One of our nephews is 8 and extremely obese already. We want to teach her moderation and healthy eating habits and how to not just sit on the couch and watch TV all the time.

Karadee1 · June 2014

I have very little motivation to exercise besides nightly walks around the neighborhood. But I started using MyFitnessPal two weeks ago to keep track of what I eat and it has made a huge difference. I've already lost 10 pounds and I was at my heaviest weight ever. (I know 10 pounds is a lot in just 2 weeks, but trust I am not starving myself and I am overweight and have a long way to go.)

My motivation for eating healthy is wanting to be able to feed G what we eat, and I want him to eat good, healthy food for the most part. I also want to be pregnant again like right now, but finding cute plus sized maternity clothes last time was a huge hassle, so I'd like to get back down into normal sizes before I get pregnant again.

Edited for clarity.

mamasoup030 · June 2014

I was unmotivated until I got into a bathingsuit 2 weeks ago. I've lost the weight generally, but I used to be toned, now I'm soft. Combined with my one large boob and one small dud boob, I was not happy with my reflection. My DH started a diet so I figured I might as well exercise to tone too. Then I saw @TJHine‌ 's abs and I knew I couldn't hide behind the "I just had a baby" excuse any longer. Now I am going to the gym across from my office at lunch twice a week and walking with baby on Saturdays. I figure it's better than before, but I'll admit - saturday walks end at the local bakery.

bglovesbabyk · June 2014

Wow @housewifehair‌, and @JoeLies‌ I have been thinking about what you wrote all day. It really helped me put things in perspective. I need to stop being so lame and really remember that being active is a privilege. I have found that being lazy is not an option with the little one. We do go for walks and go in the pool daily since there is only so much time he can spend randomly looking for crap around the house that he can kill himself on. I guess I feel drained and if I do have energy, I usually end up cleaning. I do need to take care of myself like the rest of you mentioned, we have a much bigger responsibility now than just looking hot. I need to keep up with my kid, and hopefully look hot along the way.

Thanks for all of your advice, I really do appreciate it. I did find myself making MUCH better food choices today, and will be hitting the pavement once LO wakes up.

mamasoup030 · June 2014

@bglovesbabyk‌ don't discount cleaning and walking and playing with your LO, it might not be conventional exercise, but it most definitely gets you moving and active! Glad you found some motivation!

beccaxbooxbear · June 2014

Finnaroo said:

Kind of a compilation of all of the above. I modeled from childhood into my mid 20s, so I've always been acutely aware of my physical appearance. In short, I'm pretty vain sometimes. War has been declared on my hip squish and it's not a war that I intend to lose. DH is also smokin hot and jacked, so there's a desire to keep up. Lately though, it has more to do with wanting to set a good example for B and wanting to be around long enough to enjoy her children. I want to be the fun grandmother, not the decrepit old biddie watching from the sidelines. I don't want B to look at her body and only see its flaws, so I think by feeling confident in my own skin and healthy, she will have a good foundation. I want her to see her body not for how it looks but for what it can do. Prior to the elimination diet, I ate whatever I wanted. I don't believe in denying yourself everything fun. Moderation, sure, but I've seen people have miserable relationships with food and life is way too short.

@Finnaroo‌ Ok I definitely think you should post a pic of dh sometime! You mentioned before that he is British and now you say he's smoking hot.. Sounds like a total stud!

beccaxbooxbear · June 2014

Lol!!! That's def a guy thing to do lol!! Dh had muscles pre babies and I would catch him flexing in the mirror and admiring himself. I made fun of him for it

What is your motivation?

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