Poll: What finally motivated you to get in shape?

[Laura]

I have read a lot of your posts and am really in awe of the motivation you all demonstrate. I must admit that most of my life I have been thin (don't hate me, I was just lucky enough to be born to thin parents) That being said, it was not until the last few years that I decided to "get in shape." I was having problems with my lower back on a very frequent basis. I went to see my brother-in-law who is an orthopod who confirmed what I already knew (slight scoliosis) and somethings I didn't (compressed vertebrae at l5-S1 I think). In his words I had the back of 40 year old construction worker. He basically told me I needed to stretch every day, do aerobics 4-5x per week and strenthten my abdomen and quads and hamstrings if I didn't want to become dependent on pain pills and muscle relaxers. That in conjucntion with the diagnosis of my mother's Alzheimers and diabetes convinced me that I needed to make some major changes.

That being said, I have struggled of late with consistency. What is it that motivates the rest of you? I think hearing from some different perspectives would get me back on track or through the low points.

Oh yeah...To be completely honest, vanity figures in the picture as well.

[emilycat]

So glad to hear you're starting to get in shape! It will probably be one of the best decisions you ever make. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I know this will be maddening to hear, but I really don't have a lot of trouble with exercise motivation. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif I grew up in a very active family; daytrips and long vacations always involved hiking, biking, whatever From junior high through my second year in college I was very involved in my ballet company (5 days a week of 1 1/2 -3 hour classes), and I started running after I graduated from high school, and I've been running, with gusto http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif ever since. Sorry , I'm behaving like a presidential candidate http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif To answer your question, I'm now a runner, have been for 6 (?) years, since I started, and I keep motivated by training and racing, and always keeping a goal on the horizon. Knowing that if you don't run 22 miles on Saturday (sounds hellish, doesn't it), or you're going to be a DNF (did not finish) at the marathon is all my pride needs to get my butt out the door. I think that for many, many people, exercise is like beer -- you have to acquire a taste -- but once you do, oh, does it taste good http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Linda I LIght]

I have always been active as well, but maybe not as consistantly as I should have been. It is easy to make excuses and put other people and things first. But seeing other people my age look so much older because they aren't active or in shape is what got me to be more consistant. It does grow on you and becomes that "fix" that you need to get through the day. You will look forward it. Good luck.

[mightyh]

I don't want you to feel like the only one who sometimes (lots of times) lacks motivation. I'm trying to make my morning exercise into a habit so that I just pack up the baby and put my shoes on and head to the Y "as usual." Most days it works, but days like today I have to talk myself into it...

Mainly I guilt myself by saying I need my fifth session (per my goal). Then I try to think about how good I feel after exercising even for a little while (if I don't do my full workout) and what sense of accomplishment it is to look back in the afternoon and say "Yeah, I did my exercise today."

I don't have any great tips, but look forward to some from this thread.

Oh - in answer to your first question, I've always been a sporadic exerciser, on for 6 months, off for 6 months, but after I had a baby I decided to try and get back in shape--plus I figured I had no excuse since I'm a stay at home mom who telecommutes part time. I should definitely be able to fit exercise somewhere into my day.

[lindrusso]

Motivation for me is an ongoing thing! I have never reached a point where I didn't need to motivate myself at some point. Unlike emilycat or Linda, I've never been a naturally active person - more like a naturally inactive couch-potato!

I've been mulling this question over a lot lately - about my motivations to eat and live healthy - and I think that my motivations are sometimes what hold me back from achieving my goals.

My main motivator has always been what you mentioned - vanity. I'm sick of feeling frumpy. I feel frumpy so I don't bother shopping for nice clothes and a host of other things, so then I feel even frumpier. However, using how I feel about my physical appearance has NOT been a good motivator for me - if I'm feeling down enough, I don't feel like doing anything at all.

So, I'm trying to focus on other reasons for exercising and eating right:

~ If my metabolism has slowed down to this point at such an early age - started at about 28 (I had always been thin up until that point) - what's in store for me after menopause???? I want to get control of my weight now to better deal with what comes later!!

~ My family has a history of heart disease, so living a healthy lifestyle becomes even more important.

~ I don't want to be at risk for diabetes or osteoporosis or other things associated with being overweight and/or inactive.

~ I want to be like my Dad's mom! She could out-hike my whole family through her 60's and part of her 70's. She even continued to do some light hiking into part of her 80's! According to her hiking buddies, her motto was "Let's hike to exhaustion and beyond!". You have to picture this very petite, gray-haired, whisp of a woman charging through the woods leaving the young ones behind! Maybe I won't ever have her gusto, but I'd like to be ABLE to hike and not be using a walker when I'm older.

So, I'm trying to change my focus to these motivating factors with the hope that weight-loss will be a very nice, very welcome side-benefit.


[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 11-04-2000).]

[Pat58]

Laura, it was vanity that motivated me to start exercising, then I just liked how I felt. But what has kept me with it for many years is similar to your reasons - back pain! I have scoliosis too, only more severe. I find that when I slack off, the first thing that goes is my back. I had a really stressful time in my life a couple years back and gained alot of weight and quit exercising. I could barely walk and knew I had to regain control. I joined Weight Watchers and got back into a regular workout routine. Having 30 pounds off my frame, plus toned muscles, is the best back pain medication. I call exercise "Vitamin X" I recently had an MRI and the report was scary: severe degenerative changes, one really herniated disc and three mildly herniated discs, nerve compression and a bunch of other depressing stuff. You would think I'd be on major medication, but I'm getting by fine with a good workout program. I'll never stop!

Of course, the additional benefits of fitting into my clothes and having more energy and a stress release valve are very important factors in my motivation.

[This message has been edited by Pat58 (edited 11-05-2000).]

[Laura]

I appreciate all the comments, and what I realize is that I have to follow the Nike ad and "just do it." I guess what is most frustrating for me is that for the past two years I have been very active. Since moving recently, my workout schedule and focus are all out of whack. I hope to do better and try to get back and stay on track.

[MrsReber]

I have not always been thin. As a matter of fact, it really surprises me nowadays to hear people tell me "you're not a big person" and tell me how I shouldn't have to watch what I eat! I was overweight from the time I was about 13 until about 3 years ago. It's so easy for me to gain weight if I don't watch what I eat and get in some exercise. Thankfully I married an active man, so we do get out for bike rides and walks.

What motivates me? Largely it's vanity. We're women- the media throws thin women in our faces all the time. But then it slowly changed. Okay, I'm still vain to a poiint, but I love the way exercise makes me feel. I have more energy, I feel like I've accomplished something, I was able to come off of my medication for mitral valve prolapse, and I don't seem to get sick as much as I used to. I like to feel good and look good and I think the two really go hand in hand. So while I wish I didn't have to take note of every crumb I eat, this is my lot in life and I must learn how to take care of my body. I refuse to buy clothes in a bigger size so once they feel a little snug, I know I have to get back on track!

[BernK]

Like most people here vanity played a big part. I moved to the US seven years ago, and promptly began putting on weight. I finally got tired off complaining to myself about how fat I was. I don't want to be thin just slim and toned. Athletic looking.I hired a personal trainer for 4 weeks and in that time I noticed a change in my body. That motivated me to keep going. Then I decied to try a triathlon and I have gotten totally hooked. I feel guilty if I don't workout, and I feel great when I do it. I still have a ways to go but I know I am going to get there. I subscribe to Shape Magazine so every month I work out a new weight program to follow. I don't get bored that way.
I'm also lucky to live in a climate that is warm all year so there is no excuse to get out and run or cycle. The water does get a bit cold in the winter though.
I think the best thing for motivation is to have a goal.

[food girl]

Laura,
It is very hard to get motivated if you don't really like the exercise that you are doing! The main reasons people don't exercise? They don't like the activitiy they have choosen, they pick a bad time of day to do it or they do it too hard the first time.

One thing that is hard is realizing that you will pretty much suck next to people who have been doing whatever for years. I am the queen of kickboxing, but put me in yoga and I am just embarrassed. This is really hard to take in the gym environment, but if you hang in there you will get better!!!

My advice would be to get out there and try lots of new stuff! If co-workers are active in something, ask if you can tag along. I can't tell you how many people I have taken biking on our greenway! People who love what they do will be glad to show you the ropes.

As for my personal motivation, if tomorrow they discovered that exercise caused age spots, bad breath and pimples I would do it anyway. Nothing compares to how I feel mentally after a good workout.

Good luck & if you are ever in Knoxville I will take you for a bike ride!

Lisa

[andi]

I think what really got me started was seeing pictures of myself and seeing how much weight I really had gained (double chins do something for your reality check) and not being able to fit into clothes. Now, I realize how much better I feel when I'm able to exercise. I feel almost ethereal as the weight slowly comes off and I start seeing a toned body where there used to be a marshmallow. Obvioulsy health is up there too-my knees and ankles were really bothering me with the weight and that is less now. I think it's smart to get into the healthy habit now in mid-life so it becomes routine (vs. the couch potato routine!)

[Gina O]

Wow! I never realized how the notion of vanity has played such a big role in the lives of others like it has in mine. On Nov. 1, 1997 I weighed 185 lbs (I am 5'4")and decided to start dieting. Why? Because I had just starting chatting on the internet, and a few new friends wanted to see a picture of me. When I looked at recent pics and saw how bad I looked I knew I had to do something about it. Just like many others, my reason was vanity. Now I am a 125 lb size 6 - 8, but still have to be constantly aware of what I eat, and very careful.

Losing the weight changed my life in many ways: I am healthier, I feel better about myself, I am more self-confident. Before, I never could really get my life in order because the first hurdle to overcome was the weight, it kept me from making any other changes. Now that it is not a major concern, I am free to focus energy on my career, exercising, my family, ect. As a result, I recently began training for a marathon. Hmmmm.... November seems to be my month for beginning big improvements in my life.

Motivation for me has been a matter of clearly attainable goals. It was never my goal to lose 60 lbs, it was my goal to lose 7 lbs a month, which I did. As with running, while a distant dream is to run a marathon, my real goal is to run a two-mile fun run over Thanksgiving weekend (with longer races on the horizon). My suggestion is always have a goal that is realistic, and celebrate accomplishments.

[Laura]

Gina what a great accomplishment. I agree about the goal setting. When I trained for a triathlon last year, it really motivated me. I had a schedule and stuck to it. I have come to realize that I am not a very disciplined person. So just saying I am going to exercise because it is good for me or makes me feel better really is not enough. Having a realistic goal to shoot for seems to get me out the door and off the couch.