I eat out of boredom. When I am at work, I find food is not an issue. I eat my morning cereal (Kashi and 1% milk) and I am fine. About 11 AM its break time. I don't get off my bun and walk 5 minutes. I am scared to walk as the lymphedema is so bad and painful in my legs. When I do walk, I get a cramp in my calves that has me doing a hat dance at 2 in the morning.

I had errands to run Saturday. Do I go...noooo. I even tempted myself with self talk "...if you get your shower, get dressed and run your errands, you can have the $2.99 breakfast deal at the diner -- eggs, taters (or $1 more fruit cup), toast and coffee.

I'm worse than a donkey with the dangling carrot to get it to push the cart...tell me (even lf its self-talk) food is involved, I'm R.W.A. (Ready, Willing and Able).

I guess what I'm asking is how do you motivate yourself when all other motivators don't work? I am way over 300 pounds and have 200 pounds to lose. I am like that not just with myself but with food, relationships, relatives, etc.

Thank you all for your support. Please help me turn this to this .

Pearlhanna or Wendy

Hi Wendy I don't know if I welcomed you to 3FC, yet, but

I don't think that weight loss is about motivation at all. To tell you the truth, I'm rarely motivated to do anything these days.

To me it came down to a plan and small steps. In the beginning I had very small steps to take, and since I'd scheduled them in, same way that one would a business meeting, I knew I had to get them done. There was no putting it off.

As an example, I'd say "Drink 6 glasses of water today". I'd make that possible by keeping a glass of water filled at my desk all day long, and I'd check the glasses off as I drank them. Sips all day long. But by the time I went to bed that night I'd have gotten in at least 6 glasses.

Also, I really would only start and concentrate on one thing at a time. I'd have the water under control before I'd even think about adding in "Get 5 servings of fruits & vegetables each day".

Start small, stay consistent, build up when you're ready, and then commit to sticking with it.

Motivation is a fleeting emotion. Put it out of your mind, it'll only lead you astray like a pied piper.

i too eat out of boredom. you know what, there is no cure for it. i still do it from time to time. but now i know i do it. so when i go to get food from the fridge i get a drink first. if after some water i still feel hungry then fine i probably am but if not then i've got through that one.

it's hard, there's no getting aroudn it. but you can do it. you might find that if you did a little walking each day the pain got less. it might not but you don't know til you try.

little steps will get you to the end. don't feel bad if you can't see yourself losing all that weight but go through small steps at a time. 5lbs, 10lbs, a 10 minute walk whatever works for you

What are some achievable mini-goals that you can set for yourself on a daily or weekly basis? Then we can go from there Wishing you the best of luck

I totally understand, particularly with the lymphedema, which I 've had off and on for the last 20 years--the more I weigh, the worse it is. When my weight was normal, I didn't have it at all.

As hard as it is to move when you are tired and swollen, it's really important and it does help. I started out at 360 and my legs were almost the exact same circumference all the way from ankle to above the knee. From the calves down they were very swollen and tight. It didn't hurt, but it was so uncomfortable to move and by the end of the day, when I was taking off socks and shoes, my ankles and legs looked really scary.

I began this new way of eating in August 2008 and I began to notice positive changes in the lymphedema after about 2 months. My ankles and legs were less swollen overall, and were reducing to nearly normal after a good night's sleep.

I began moving more, exercising to DVDs and walking a few times a week, and it really helped. One of my key motivations was, seeing what a lifetime of lymphedema has done to my mother. She has cellulitis in both legs and she can barely walk. Her legs look horrible and sometimes is in a lot of pain. I don't want to go through that. In fact I refuse to! So one of my biggest motivations for losing this weight now is so I don't have to suffer with this lymphedema any longer.

Now, after almost five months on plan, I've lost over 80 lbs and my lower legs and ankles still swell late in the day but not nearly like they were. I can move a lot more easily. My shoes fit much better and my socks aren't leaving welts around my ankles. I know as I continue to lose weight, that will take the pressure off my lymph nodes and improve my lymph circulation. Just seeing the improvement helps reinforce the fact that this is something I don't want to deal with for the rest of my life. You can do it too! Hang in there!

I eat out of boredom. I eat out of stress. I eat because I feel hungry, even though I'm not. I eat because I love food... I EAT and I like it!

So, I try to counter these problems. Lately chewing gum has helped a lot. Keeps my mouth busy and LIKE I'm eating. Makes me less hungry, and solves the boredom and stress problem.

Drinking tea helps for similar reasons...

I also agree that motivation is fleeting, and I have to rely on commitments to keep going!

What's different about walking on your errands that makes it possible compared to walking for 5 minutes at work that doesn't work?

oh man can i relate.

ive been there before. no motivation to change my way of life. -- what happend for me, i just got fed up with myself... got fed up being fat, depressed, lonely and a procrastinator. so i changed. little by little. i saw who i wanted to be in my head. like for example, if i didnt feel like cleaning.. i would tell myself " thats not who i am. the real me likes a clean house. and so i need to get up. .be the real me, and clean." and i would. and slowly but surely. . i began to eat better. exersize more.. ect.

fortunatly i never had to deal with the medical issues from being obese. ( i dodged a bullet) but they were looming. i belive that a month longer and i would be facing a health crisis. Im sorry you have the ones you have. but from what DChound Posted, it looks like it may be reversable, or perhaps even workable. but you have to *want* it... and i mean *WANT* it.

My father once told me that there is no such thing as will power. if there was. . there would be no addicts.. or obese people.. in the same sentance he than asked me this " what are you willing to do, to become healthy?" i replied. and than he said " what are you NOT willing to do?"

Ive only just recently started my weight loss journey after almost 3 years of having a free for all with food. and NO exersize. .. so how long this lasts.. it hard to say. . but for now, here we are.
Wendy i hope you find what you are looking for.. One day wou will be ready and than its not about motivation.. its just doing.

LOve and Hugs!!! and WELCOME! i hope you can find friends and support here. feel free to PM me anytime.

-Lana