Weight loss success stories!- how did you stay motivated?

[justbanANNAz]

heyy so I'm trying to lose about 26-27 lbs and iv realized that my problem isn't with my eating or with my working out. its my commitment. I know 100% that I want it bad enough, but how to I put that into action by staying motivated?

iv lost about 18lbs since my last year at school and I want this year to be my transformation. can anybody PLEASE share their experience with me and tell me how to stay motivated? I would appreciate it so much, more than I can tell u.

thanks:)

Updates

+1 y

btw I wouldn't consider myself obese- I just want to challenge and improve myself:)

[Anonymous]

Wanting something and actually motivating yourself to do it are two very different things. You might want it with 100% of your being but if you aren't finding ways to accomplish it for yourself, then you're probably at less than 100%.

As for motivation, one thing that many gym goers (casual or otherwise) do is to create a routine involving the gym or whatever type of exercise they do. Putting it into a schedule and getting accustomed to it makes the "burden" of having to do it seem like just a normal thing to do. The initial hump of getting into an exercise routine and sticking with it is the hardest part. The best thing you can do is force yourself to do it no matter what, stick to that schedule by setting goals to accomplish. This could be something like "Go to the gym x number of days and stay for x number of hours/do x number of exercise sets" or something like that. I can't give you personalized advice since I don't know you, but in general most people will see exercising as a chore that requires work to make yourself do. And since most people don't like working more than they have to, many will begin finding reasons to convince themselves why it's OK to start skipping gym sessions. Then before you know it, you're paying for a gym membership that you don't use.

Sticking to that beginning routine long enough to start looking and/or feeling different should provide enough motivation for you to sit down and seriously find ways to keep yourself going. For me, going to the gym feels great. Not only because I know I'm doing something good for myself and working to make myself look how I want, but inside you feel good mentally and physically.

So yeah, keeping the advice general I'd say that for me once I got through the initial gym "drag" and started feeling the effects of my workouts, it became a pleasure for me rather than a burden. I don't dread it but instead think that it feels good to come out with my muscles tired and a little sweat on me.

[justbanANNAz]

thanks, that's quite helpful, yeah I'm trying the routine thing right now. just wondering, if I give myself one day off a week is that bad?

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, it's actually good practice to give yourself some resting time. That's another mistake that a lot of people make and that is trying to work out too much. Working out more does not equal more gains. You need time to rest so you don't burn yourself out.

So yeah, a day off a week isn't bad. If you're doing mostly cardio, it depends on how hard you're going but 6 days with a decent paced workout should be alright.

[justbanANNAz]

Awesome thanks:) yeah I do an hr a day. 45mins biking and 15mins abs with this machine iv got. That's good to hear, it also makes it easier to get back on track again:)

[sexyasianboi26]

Believe it or not, I used to weigh about 300 pounds.

When I came to America when I was 8, I was so happy to see that food was abundant :D. Food was scarce when I was a kid so that's why I ate a lot and got really fat.

When I turned 12, I had a heart attack, so I started dieting. When I turned 14 and HS started, I wanted to experience dating but couldn't achieve it because I was unattractive so I started working out and changed my body since then. I'm in my 20's now, the only thing that changed was back then I worked out for aesthetics, now I workout for strength and function.

What motivated me was having a picture of a male model in front of my bedroom, my bathroom, behind my front door (so that I can see right before I leave the house). Everytime I looked at the picture, I said to myself "If I don't look like that, I'm hitting the gym".

[smilesgirl]

That is a phenomenal transformation. You should be very proud of yourself. :) You're an inspiration to everyone.

[sexyasianboi26]

thanks :D, that made my day

[justbanANNAz]

aww wow that's amazing. thanks so much, I should try that:)

[beastman88]

you had a heart attack at 12? is that even possible?

[Apath4]

A kid in my town died from a heart attack at 8 this year. He was huge. But it's his parents fault and very possible

[Apath4]

I look at before and after pictures of people if they can do it can and it is also tour state of mind. I went extreme a couple years ago from 186 to 118 and muscle up to 140ish. I actually had a smaller waist at 140 then 118. But I put A LOT of time and effort into it. Then I stopped now it held up for 2 years. I wish I wasn't shy to take pictures but I'm not now and I'm taking photos of my self so I can see when I'm getting out if hand. I think if I would have taken pictures of myself it would have stopped me and I almost always got told I had a super nice body co workers customers or random people that also is a great motivator. Now I'm going to go back and do what I did before. But I want to do better I want a 6pack ( last time all I had was obliques)

[justbanANNAz]

thanks for the idea, and good luck with your journey=]

[smilesgirl]

Make a list of reasons you want to do this as well as a list of what the results could be if you don't meet your goals & you continue to gain weight over time. Include motivational quotes.

Read these every morning. Look up "fitspo" or "fitspiration" videos on YouTube every morning.

This should help majorly in getting your head in the right space at the beginning of the day before you give yourself a chance to fail. Try to eliminate all your chances to fail. This includes things like meal planning/prepping & not keeping junk food in the house to tempt you.

[justbanANNAz]

awesome tips, thanks:)

[RyeLee]

My absolute FAVORITE motivational quote is "A year from now, you will wish you had started today".

Even though you have already started, I think this quote should still be a motivation to you! I read it every morning, and its just a reminder to not lose focus or quit. I wished that I had started a year ago so many times in my life. Imagine if you had started a year ago! You and I are both in our 20's...I have been told that our bodies/beauty are supposed to be at their prime! I want to see just how beautiful I can make myself while I am still young!

[justbanANNAz]

Thats so nice, thanks, definitely a good reason for motivation. Yeah I hear a lot of regret on weight loss programs and stuff so its an awesome point you make:)

[beastman88]

well I was over weight last year I was about 260 at my heaviest :/ what motivated me was seeing myself in a picture of my big belly lol plus my knees started to hurt and my back already not being that great was sore ALL the time. when it came down to it I just had to start eating less and exercise more. so 16 months later iam nearly 85 pds down feeling great back doesn't get sore anymore, the odd time. much lighter on my feet and faster, knees don't get sore much anymore. also I was slim before so I know how it felt to be slim so also was a big motivator. I was 150 so hopefully get back there again and stay there until I die

[justbanANNAz]

Thats amazing! Congrats:) may I ask what you did to lose the weight?

[beastman88]

walking honestly, that's the secret. doing around 3-5 kms a day

[justbanANNAz]

wow nice, its amazing what getting your butt off a couch can do...:)

[beastman88]

for sure, I also had a weakness for fizzy pop drinks and alcohol :P ya iam not perfect lol so I stopped drinking pop except for a treat here and there. cutting back on that mustve helped me lose half my weight. walks are a lot funner when you have somebody there ;) but regardless theyre relaxing, makes me feel like iam getting some where even though iam just walking around aimlessly lol

[justbanANNAz]

Haha that's good, ill try it. Thx 4 sharing:)

[beastman88]

happy to share ;)

[Brady]

I have a booklet called "WALK OFF 10, 25, EVEN 100 POUNDS. It shows you steps on how to walk for exercise that I can give you if you really want. It starts off by saying 10 minutes a day. Then up to 50 minutes a day. It say's five times a week. You can do it everyday.

Walking is the easiest exercise. You can speed walk, but if you aren't committed you can walk a normal pace. I also eat fruit for breakfast instead of cereal. Don't know if you want to do that.

Maybe you can swim, bike and walk as a secondary way of exercising or walk because it's easier. If you do bike or walk listen to music as you do it. But don't overdue it. I saw on the net something about too much exer. being bad for you. Type in how much exer. is too much because I didn't read the link.

[justbanANNAz]

oh wow that's interesting. yeah I usually do biking and jogging while listening to music so I can try adding walking to the mix too:) the food adjustment seems like a good idea too:)

i do about an hr to 1.5hrs a day. I think that's ok..

thanks for the awesome tips!:)

[HandsomeRaj]

I'd want to be (and am today) for 2 reasons

1. my daughter not feel embarassed to have a pot bellied dad

2. to be healthy, flexible and have a good persona

I stayed motivated for both the above reasons. I went through a very bad patch beginning 2011-12 and put on a lot of weight i.e. was around 240 lbs and now am 190 lbs and in good shape physically too. The flexiblity, strength, stamina and health I gained stays a motivating factor

[justbanANNAz]

thats awesome man good on u!

ofcourse, after a storm there's always sun=] first gotta go through that mental battle then it becomes part of the lifestyle I guess.. I'm slowly getting into the habit :)

[HandsomeRaj]

Good going girl, good luck :) also you don't need to make it a habit all you need to do is work hard on it (diet included) and the results will motivate you :D. Don't work out and/or diet to lose weight, do it to get a good shape on the body ;) better motivation that way :D

[justbanANNAz]

thanks:)

yeah I'm doing that=] oh OK so I should make my body shape my focus more than my weight?

[HandsomeRaj]

Better motivation for sure on all counts :)

[justbanANNAz]

thanks:)

[martyfellow]

1. Sign up with a professional organization like Weight Watchers. They'll make you do weight-ins, and give you support, so you'll have the extra motivation, knowing weight-in day is coming!

2. This is of secondary importance. If you are serious about getting in shape, buy a few sessions with a personal trainer. Their job is to keep you interested and engaged..their job (I admit, my job, I doit as a sideline) is precisely to KEEP YOU MOTIVATED...

[justbanANNAz]

ty 4 the suggestion:)

[martyfellow]

Good luck, thanks for asking!

[Anonymous]

I lost a lot of weight, about 150 pounds, but I'm not exactly sure what motivated me. I was just tired of being fat, and being bullied for it. And of course, I was lonely.

After talking with my niece about dating, boys, and the like, I had no experiences to share (I was 23) and she made the profound statement, "You sound dead." And I was. So I decided to start living.

[justbanANNAz]

wow that's heaps, congrats! thanks for sharing, its amazing what a few words can do:)

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks :-)

I keep it off by balancing good days and cheat days, for diet. I never skip a day regarding exercise, even if it's something simple like walking/jogging around the block.

What keeps me motivated now is just to avoid gaining it back. I think about how difficult simple things had become, and I do what I can to keep them easy to accomplish :-)

[WeaponZero]

Lost 137 lbs. After a certain point, motivation no longer becomes a factor. It simply becomes habit/lifestyle.

[justbanANNAz]

thats awesome. so may I ask, do you remember at which point did you begin to feel that it was more about health? like, how long did it take?

[WeaponZero]

You mean like when it became second nature?

[justbanANNAz]

yeah pretty much

[RosaliaVanderbilt]

I looked at your profile and you are beautiful! Why would you want to lose those great curves?

[justbanANNAz]

aw thanks your sweet:) noo no wanting to lose curves is sinful lol:P I just want to lose fat and tone up more:P to make the curves even more curvy;)

[justbanANNAz]

im beautiful? I jus looked at urs and you look like a model lol!

[RosaliaVanderbilt]

Okay okay I guess I can understand, us girls are always aiming for perfection! But seriously -- you're gorgeous already!

[RosaliaVanderbilt]

And that's really kind -- thank you!

[justbanANNAz]

yeah unfortunately we can't help but be perfectionists-.- your too kind=]

and noo problemo!:)

[Anonymous]

It would be because I want to feel attractive and have more confidence with all the people I want to deal with.

[justbanANNAz]

that sounds good enough to me=] thanks

[Anonymous]

I was 275 at my heaviest, now I'm at 220 and still trying to get to 185 at 6 foot tall. My motivation was attracting women straight up. Also boosting my confidence and self image. Health is also important in the long run.

[justbanANNAz]

thats awesome=] all the best with the rest of your journey:)

[Anonymous]

maybe your body doesn't need to loose weight. What is your height and weight?

[justbanANNAz]

that didn't answer my qs lol. I already know how to calculate my BMI, thank u:) its not that bad but for my standards I aim to lose more. telling me that I don't need to lose weight is not motivation:P