How to Get Motivated About Losing Weight

So you know that you need to lose weight, but you're having a hard time making the commitment to do so. The first thing to do is step back and looking at the reason you want to lose weight. Is it for health reasons (i.e. you have an obesity-related illness or are on the verge of illness)? Is it for cosmetic reasons (you just don't like what you see when you look in the mirror)? Or, is it for some other reason?

After you determine your real reason for wanting to lose weight, then you should evaluate how important that is for you. For example, if you are wanting to lose weight to look better - what effect will this have on your life? Are you looking for a partner? Do you want to become a model? While the modeling may be a bit outlandish, it's a real concern. There are many people who want "the perfect body". So, you run to Google (or whatever search engine) and pull up a search for "how to get motivated about losing weight". You find this blog, and you're wondering how this girl who deals with her own issues could possibly help you.

Well, some of the best advice comes from someone who has been in your shoes before. It makes my blood boil to hear someone who has never had a fat bone on their body lecture overweight people for being the way they are. That's something you will never hear from me. I will never lecture or belittle or any of the above. Why? Because I believe that if you're going to get motivated about losing weight, you need to be able to rely on someone who will be compassionate to your needs and guide you in the right direction. At times, I may call you out as needed, but please know it will all be done in love.

One thing that will help in your quest to get motivated is to determine what you need to do to get to where you want to be. One particular piece of software I would recommend is a program called myFitnessPal. Be careful, though, because this system will put your business on blast (if you let it). On the flipside, it also tracks your calories intake and burn. It's a pretty neat little gadget - especially for the price, which is $0.

Trying to Lose Weight is Hard

I'm one of those "weight loss bloggers". So, naturally, you would think that I have it all together like many others out there. I'm far, far, far from together. As a matter of fact, I was near tears the other day talking about the journey ahead. I was in tears because it's HARD. Even though I have a husband who has lost an entire person, it's still hard for me because I'm so scared to let go of the foods I love the most.

I can exercise and even cut back. But, when it comes to cutting out the foods that I love most, I struggle. The other day I did reach my time goal for working out. But, I have been eating like a pig here lately. I really wish I could get down to the bottom of what my food issue is, but for some reason, I just can't. I'm in this body and I can't stop eating those foods. Sure, I know they taste good - but is that the only reason that I can't stop eating? Or is there something deeper there?

It's almost easier to say that I will opt for the gastric bypass surgery, but I will feel like I'm taking the easy way out. I do wonder, though - will I EVER be able to take the "hard way out"?

Just some thoughts....

I'm going to bed.

My Biggest Loser: I Weigh 240 Pounds! YEP! I outed myself... LOL

Hey there!

This is my first post. I want to take a moment to introduce myself and set the stage for what this blog's purpose will be.

As of today, I weigh 240 pounds. Since I started exercising last Tuesday, I've lost 6 pounds. I have gone up and down between 230ish and 250ish over the last year and a half or so. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this is NOT a healthy weight on my approximately 5'2" frame. Don't get it twisted, I have always been and will always be a plus sized girl. I don't want to be thin (or even remotely close). However, I do want to be healthy. I do want to be able to play with the kid(s) I will have one day and not be winded. I do want to be able to do things that "NORMAL" people can do.

Before I get to far, though, I want you to know that this is not a decision I made on my own. This primarily stems from a conversation with my husband (who has lost an ungodly amount of weight). For those of you who don't know, he's a very frank person. He will always keep it 100%, and I love that quality - probably most of all. He told me that my weight was too much for my body (SURPRISE! LOL) and he wanted me to get more healthy. He didn't ridicule me and tell me that I was fat and nasty (although that has been my thought since I was in high school), but he did let me know that I needed to make a change or else...

So, now we're here. I've been working out for a little over a week (signed up for my gym membership on 5/11/10). I'm still pushing on and determined to battle my goals each day. I want each new day to be either as good as or better than (preferable) the day before. I am a work in progress, though, so we'll see how it goes. I really don't have a goal weight at this point...hopefully that will come later.

Now for my commitment to you: I will blog either every day or every other day to report on my behaviors - including my workout routine, food intake, etc. I want & need your prayers, comments, praise, smackdown, whatever you've got. I want to be here to help inspire you, teach you, and show you that not everyone is perfect.