This post is part of the Weigh in Wednesday Linky that I’m hosting with Emma from Sunshine and Rain. It’s a fab way to connect with other bloggers who are on their weight loss journey. So, if you’re a blogger, check out the info at the end of the post to find out how you can join in and add your own post. And if you’re not, check out the links at the end of this post for more great weight loss related content!
OK. Time to be honest. I’m finding it really hard to motivate myself to diet with the hot weather we’ve been having. I’m struggling to stay on track and remember why I’m doing this in the first place. I lost half a pound this week and, honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle that I didn’t gain. So, this week, I want to talk to you about why I want to lose weight, to see if it helps me refocus.
I’ve always struggled with my weight. I’ve always had a terrible relationship with food. I don’t remember a time (in my adult life) when I haven’t been trying to lose weight, which I guess is why it’s sometimes hard to remember why I wanted to lose weight in the first place.
I think, when I was a teenager, I wanted to lose weight because I thought it would somehow make me more popular. Not that I was especially unpopular. I had friends – great ones! – but I always felt a little bit like an outsider. I was never one of the cool kids (I know – shocking, right?! Because I’m clearly awesome now!) It was ridiculous, really. I wasn’t even that overweight, but I thought that being slimmer would completely change who I was. Yep. Feel free to roll your eyes at the stupidity of that. I’m smarter than that now. I promise.
Now, my “why” is a little more important. I don’t think that losing weight will make me a better person. But part of me does think it will make me a better mum. I look at my kids and I wonder where they get their energy from. Just watching them play is exhausting. I do a pretty good job of keeping up with them now, but what about when they’re older? If I don’t lose weight, I will just keep getting heavier. One day, the twins will want me to play with them and I won’t be able to keep up anymore.
I worry that they’ll grow up and be ashamed of me, or at least, ashamed to be seen with me. I’d hate that, because I know I’ll always be proud of them and I want them to feel the same way about me. Mostly, I worry that my bad habits and terrible relationship with food will rub off on them. I don’t want them to struggle with their weight the way I have. I don’t want them to become emotional eaters like me.
Also, I don’t want to be too morbid, but obesity can be very serious. The chances of me suffering from other health conditions as I get older are increased because I’m overweight. So my “why” is that I want to do everything I can, to be as healthy as I can, for as long as I can. For my kids.
So why do I struggle to stay motivated? My kids are right there in front of me, every day. Shouldn’t that be enough to keep me motivated? Apparently not. But I’m working on it.
What do you do to stay motivated? I’d love for you to share your secrets!
[inlinkz_linkup id=792905 mode=1]
I completely agree with you wanting to be healthier for your children and teach them healthier habits, but don’t ever worry about them being ashamed of you! Your weight doesn’t impact on that, your time with them and your efforts as a mum do and it sounds to me like you’re doing a darn good job at both! They are a great “why” to have. If the occasional emergency chocolate has to come out on a challenging day, so be it. We all need the emotional eating sometimes, even if it’s not the best option!
Bless you, that’s such a kind thing to say. Xxx
It is so hard to stay motivated. But to remember the main reasons for doing it is important . Maybe print out these reasons and place them in key places where you are likely to need them? Good luck for this week x
Thank you! I’ve got a little weight loss chart on my fridge, so maybe I’ll add notes to it to motivate me xx
I lost my mojo after my holiday last year. It took me nearly 10 months to find it! Before I tell you how, Becca I have to say, as one of those friends, you were, and still are, one of the cool kids! We just had our own definition. Strangely, finding my mojo came from revisiting a happy part of my past. Focusing on something that made be so happy that wasn’t my kids. That feeling inside that could be likened to an excited child at Christmas. That is what kick started my mojo and holding on to that is keeping me grounded!
You might have been cool, but no one has ever used that word to describe me ???
I relate to this in so many ways.
I absolutely never had to worry about my weight. In fact, in school I was picked on for being too skinny! (It really goes both ways) It seemed like when I turned 40 everything changed! On my 40th birthday, I weighed a healthy130 lbs. and here I am 6 years later and I weigh 210 lbs!!!!
I have a chronic illness that keeps me from exercising and my diets is actually very healthy. The weight will not budge!
It’s so hard when there are health conditions making it even harder. I have hypothyroidism and go through phases (usually when mymeds need adjusting) where the weight just will not shift. It’s so frustrating! x
Wishing you all the best with your weight loss journey, you have taken the first steps which is actually starting, but it is a long road. Keep at it…you’ve got this!
Thank you! xx