I have this part of me that I just hate. I'm usually pretty positive and upbeat, but everytime I see or even just think of this part, I want to cry, vomit, or throw something. I'm ashamed of it. It's the dreaded "front butt, mudflap, hangover, baby bag, fat sack, extra wing" thing. Some of you may know what I'm talking about. If you don't, then pray you never do. It's this skin, filled with fat, that hangs (below my belly button, to where other stuff is. It just hangs.) It actually hurts. I had a small one after my son was born, but after my twins were born about 13 months ago, it has grown. If any of you had this when you started, does it go away? I'm seriously sitting in my car about to cry thinking it may not go away. After I lose the weight, what is there is getting chopped off, no matter the cost. Please tell me it goes away.

I know my motivation should be "to be healthy" or "for my kids," but honestly, it's the sack full of shame on my body that is motivating me.

What are your motivations?

It goes away. Mine is back, because I've regained, but it does shrink and go away. I've got old pics of me from previous weight loss. It may not be the first off, but it does come off!

Lots of things motivate me, (seeing progress, having fun, earning a PALA, signing up for a charity 5K, whatever.) But not every workout is destined to be stellar. You do it anyway.

Much like going to school or going to work. Some days will be great and some days you don't feel like it... but you do it anyway.

It's easy to stick to exercise if you are feeling motivated and peppy about it. It's mastering the "doing it anyway" when it isn't so peppy hot that's my challenge. So for me, I'd be interested in hearing other people's "do it anyways" techniques too along with their motivations.

GL!
A.

AH I know what you're talking about, and that's definitely the part of my body I'm most conscious of! I can tell mine is slowly shrinking - I wish I could say "Hey, body, those first 30 pounds - take 'em off my muffin-top region. Then get to the rest of me". But it's coming off, slowly but surely.

On a side note, how the heck does that fat-flap thing even exist?! I never understood how it turns into a flap, instead of the fat just settling out into just a consistently-fat-all-over belly.

That's my motivator - seeing it in the mirror in the morning and thinking "it's smaller than when I started". I actually have a picture of that dreaded area from my heaviest (and you bet your butt that image will never see the light of day) just in case I ever feel like it's not going anywhere so I can compare.

I am in my mid 50's and experienced a health crisis (unrelated to my extra lbs) last year (all year). I was warned about the cost of extra weight by my regular doctor. All of my siblings are on meds for one thing or another. I have heart disease in my family (brother had 5 way bypass when he turned 40!). My mother suffered from arthritis from the age of 50 on. The meds they put her on when she was 80 were known to cause "lymphoma" and she chose to go on them anyway. They delivered the lymphoma and she died as a result. I do not want to be on meds!!! Have you heard the disclaimers after one of those ads on tv? It is longer than the actual ad for cryin out loud!!! So, my motivation is to be healthy, stay healthy and avoid meds if at all possible. I was on severe pain meds all last year and felt so terrible I wanted to crawl out of my skin. Nope. Not for me. So, now on IP, I am eating healthy foods PLUS losing weight!! I love it. My body has been feeling so awesome since I started losing this past fall. I hope you all stick with it, lose the weight and any meds you can!! Best wishes to all!!

My motivation is my health and children/family. I have high blood pressure and take meds for this. I want to be around to play anything and everything with my children. I have 3, 5yr, 14 month, and 2 month old. I might even have another one.....I don't want to look at my children running around anymore and think wow I would be wiped out, how do they do that? I want to be running right along side them. I want them to learn a healthier lifestyle too while they are young.

I am also motivated to be back in shape like I was when i was an athelete, wrestler, football, track and baseball. I loved those days. Injuries and no more sports lead to a life of laziness and eating all the wrong things. Now it is time to find those days again. Good luck to us all!

I enjoyed reading all the motivation posts.
My motivation began recently when I slowly came through to the better side of a difficult 5 years and I could see all the wonderful things that I want to do and experience. I became clear about the blessing of being alive and feel grateful that so many fun and exciting opportunities exist in our world. I want to run and dance and maybe skydive. I am a beginner Ideal Protein client and moving toward my goals.
May we all find the motivation to live healthy and be strong and enjoy well-being! - Belinda

Has anyone read the book I'm With Fatty? I picked it up at the library last month and found it to be an honest account of a man's struggle to have a healthy body image and lifestyle.

Congratulations to you on your progress!

Yes, good luck to you, Juiceman. I too take bp meds and am looking forward to the benefits of losing the fat and relieving the stressed arteries and heart.
It's nice to know we are working in our lives for good this way! - Belinda

I love it. I say, "Suck it up, Princess." Thanks for letting me know it goes away. I felt a big mudflap-shaped depression lifted off my heart.

THANK YOU! I read this and took a picture. It will NEVER see the light of day. Ever. I should put it as my phone wallpaper as a reminder, but, um, ew.

well, health is important since diabetes and heart disease run in my family like CRAZY. i also want to make sure my child doesn't develop bad habits. BUT- the real reason.... last summer, i HATED taking my 4year old to the pool b/c of being seen in my swimsuit. I don't want that to happen this summer! I also would like to not feel stress about what i'm going to wear every time i have to go somewhere. because, really, i don't like how i look in anything... i would really LOVE to live without that hang-up. how freeing will that be???

What is my motivation... I'm young, 24 years old, i'm tall 5'7, my weight is not outrageous (started at 162). But when I look in the mirror I don't feel disgusting but I feel OK. I think I deserve more than just OK. I had my reveal at Christmas when I saw my sister and my mother who gained sooo much weight it was scary. I saw my sister without all her selfestime and I was sorry for her.. (I'm not very close to her) And at this exact moment I made a promise to myself that I want to LOVE my self and my body. And I will never loose my self estime because of weight issues!

My mother just start to eat better and exercice, i'm happy for her, I have learn a couple of new recipes that I want to show her.

It's hard not to feel overwhelmed sometimes (even most of the times), whether we have 20, 40 80 or 100 pounds to lose.

I read somewhere once in regard to any goal, it's about the journey, not the destination. That's how I deal with "overwhelmed" days. Every good choice I make, every meal I stay on plan, every day, etc.....brings me pride and satisfaction and I feel good about myself, and I confess, I like that feeling!

I can't look too far ahead

newton- i can't look too far ahead either! i start to feel like i can never do it. but, i can handle weekly goals. i like your strategy about every meal being a success. i guess i could pat myself on the back every time i eat the right meal/snack. thanks for that motivator!