Question for the ladies who have lost or are losing weight..

What motivated to lose weight?

I think you have got to be in the right headspace to do it, or it just doesn't work.

I am motivated by the fact that I want to be healthy for my children, I want to look fab in my clothes again, I want to be able to go out to social occasions without feeling awful about myself. The list goes on...

But the same things have been my motivation everytime and it's just never felt right. Or something happens (sickness, bad week for depression etc). Then I recently saw my 2 year old is starting to make bad food choice like his father and I and it broke my heart... I realised my social issues are around the fact I am too self conscious to be myself because I feel so disgusting. And I am LONELY.

So I guess, for me - there have always been motivators - but I have seen it effects 'in action' and it helps give a kick up the bum!

I used to weight a bit more before pregnancy though..and what motivated me was i couldnt stand the sight of myself ..i felt awful about myself and i would see a pic of myself and cringe

Its not nice to feel that way about yourself , sand i was ready to do something about it

you need to want to and be 'there' to do it , if your not it wont work.

Why do u want to lose weight hun? what motivates u to even ask this question? ;)

My weight fluctuates a lot but in the past i have always lost weight without really focussing on it as such.... it has just happened when my focus has been intensely on other things. When i am in an overall state of happy busy-ness. Being bored always packs on the kilos. I lost weight when i was finishing off my degree at uni and LOVING it! I was sooo busy as i had 1 child and was also working but essentially i had no time to snack... and when i did eat i chose really healthy options. I did that for 3 years and dropped about 7 kilos (although i wasn't overweight by much to start off with). My job was also very physical: teachers' assistant at an early learning centre so on my feet nearly all day. I also didn't drive and was forever rushing to catch trams or scurrying to uni to be in time for a lecture. I also never demonised food. I ate healthy, lots of salad wraps for lunch etc but also ate good quality dark chocolate (for example) several times a week.

This was in stark contrast to when i was a teenager and tried to lose weight... I got on that dieting round-about and actually ended up putting on weight. So common.

There's a really good book called Why French Women Don't Get Fat. I only discovered it recently but it turns out this was what I was doing back in 1999 - 2002 when i was at uni. This book just explained the whole thing. If i needed motivating again would read that.

Find something all consuming to do in your life... i know, easier said than done especially when you have young children. If i had my time over i would maybe use my children to better to make more significant food purchasing decisions. I certainly would stop buying things like ice cream and other sweet treats... just not have them in the house... let the kids think that it was something you have as special treats when out and about like my kids do with nori hand rolls. Unfortunately my kids are too used to having juice and icecream in the fridge... it's hard to go back once you have introduced something IYKWIM? I find that if it's not in the house (especially when you are a SAHM) then it's not as tempting.

Hope that helps :) you can do it!

I have heard of that book Bath, I think Oprah did a show on it many years ago.

See I have always been overweight. As a teen I dieted to the point where I didn't eat because I hated how I looked. Now I'm fine with how I look, I've been this weight since I was a teenager and I maintain it without even trying. I eat whatever i want whenever I want it and never go overboard. But I'm starting to think that maybe I should lose some for health reasons. I don't know whether it's because I'm comfortable how I am or just plain lazy but I can't find motivation, so either I'm not there yet or I am happy just how I am...hence the question :)

Hmmm, maybe it could just be a case of being in a food rut? I know i put on weight when I get in those... it's like I give my body too much of the same thing so it stores it. I might be eating healthy enough food but if it's the same-ish thing day in day out my body naturally seeks out missing nutrients and this translates as hunger? I got in ruts when my children were babies. I find that when i make the effort to prepare foods that are different from the usual this helps. When i was studying/working we ate out A LOT but healthily and often i was inspired to recreate a recipes that I had bought in a restuarant in my own home... i wonder if that also contributed to the weight loss?

That makes sense Bath. I don't get to eat at work because I'm so busy and because I work with food nothing appeals to me. I fill myself up before I go there, for example I've just eaten a healthy choice meal becuase I know I will be too busy to eat and won't eat again until tea time, so I'm not over eating. I occasionally snack in the evenings (who doesn't?), sometimes I can go weeks without eating after tea and then I'll eat every night for a couple of weeks. Same goes with alcohol, ATM I'm off it but then I'll go through a phase where I'll drink every night.

Sheesh, after all my rambling I think you've helped me answer my own question Bath.....I'm not eating enough and what I do eat is being stored! That I can fix ;)

You have to really WANT to loose weight. And I don't mean want to, in a vague sense like most people do (just as most people want to be rich, beautiful, or whatever) where they are not willing to change anything. But REALLY want to loose weight - MORE then you want to eat the food, ignore the exercise, etc. You have to want to do whatever it takes even if that does mean changing you lifestyle FOREVER so you are active and eat healthy (shock horror) and actually putting the hard work in - instead of giving in to immediate gratification of food.

Now having said that, it is so hard to get in this mental space and even harder to stay there (otherwise we would all be thin ;) ). I recommend you 'fake it, 'til you make it'. Start with small changes to your lifestyle, things you are willing and able to change - and then go from there.

despite your best intentions you may not be really willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle right from the beginging, but you may be able to commit to something like starting exercise, or cutting out softdrink, or making sure you fill up on vegies first before every meal, or cutting out high kj snacks.

If you implement one thing at a time and stick with it, gradually you will have changed your lifestyle. But just remember, you don't break a habit, merely replace one habit for another. And it can take between 60-90 days for a habit to be formed.

Good question Tinks!

I have reached that point with myself, where I'm really unhappy with myself and need/want to do something about my weight. I would really love to do WW again but unfortuntely there are no meetings close to me and on-line just doesn't have the same accountability of weighing in.

Bath: thanks for that book suggestion I might have to give it a read.

Misty could I ask what were some of the small changes you started with, congratulations by the way your doing great.

I would like to know for those who have started their weight loss journey, is it mainly through food choices or a combination of that and excerise. I really struggle to get the excercise in, just can't get up at 6am and at night I'm too buggered (mmm is this just me making excuses)

the biggest thing for me is tracking everything I eat and drink throughout the day. I count my points (I'm on WW) and write down everything, even if I go over.

I was doing really well with using the Wii fit everyday for a while, but I havekinda let that slide, and need to start doing it again.

I love my body, so my desire to lose weight has nothing to do with body image issues. I'm losing weight because I want to be healthier. I eat a wide range of healthy foods, when I remember to eat and that is my biggest issue. I am now re-training myself to eat regularly, each time in my past, when I have eaten regular meals, I've dropped the weight without trying.

I also know I'm more in-tune with my body when it is healthy.