I know this has been addressed here before but I have to ask. What keeps you motivated on a DAILY basis? I have been back OP for two days now, it's the longest I've been able to do it in the past few months. But I need something to keep me motivated daily. I've tried the pic on the fridge before but it just gets me depressed looking at it and I eat whatever I can get my hands on. Any comments or suggestions would be great. Thx

Luckyred
169/155.5/135

Hey there, luckyred. I sure can sympathize with you. I'm in the middle of my first week of WW Winning Points program and have managed to stay 'OP' so far.

A few things that have helped me along the way... the first is a big one. I'm not sure if there's an official WW policy or anything on this (maybe others could help me out with this?), but when I look at the amount of points I'm allowed per day, I also look at the bigger picture - the entire week. The way I look at it (and somebody please tell me if this is wrong), I figured out the max # of points I can have per day (31) and times that by 7, to give me the total limit of points I can have for the week (217). This helps me stay on track because even if I do happen to go over my limit one day, I don't think 'oh, I've totally blown it - I have to stay under my limit every single day - now I might as well go totally off program and eat whatever I want'. I think that if I went over one day, then I just have to be careful the rest of the days that week - so long as I come in under my weekly limit, then I'll be happy and won't consider a day or two going over the limit by a point or two as a failure.

The second thing that has helped keep me on track is to be prepared. When I went grocery shopping last weekend, as soon as I got home I repackaged all the snacks I bought so I totally took the guesswork out of it. I've got a box in my cupboard that's filled with individually packaged 1, 2, and 3 point snacks. I work in an office, so I've got to take my lunch with me - to take the guesswork out of what I'll have, I make it up the night before - so there's no way I can go off program.

Losing weight is not easy, but if you take a bit of time to do some advance preparation, it does become a bit easier I think.

I don't know if that was the kind of motivation you were looking for, but I hope it helps.

Christine

what's kept me motivated for the last 18+ months (lost 42# so far, 2 more to go) is how good I feel, in control, feel healthier, more energy, looking good, etc. It just makes me feel really good to know that I'm doing something so good for myself.

And as you progress along and people start to notice your weight loss, those compliments really go a long way to boosting morale and making you realize that your decision to change to a healthy way of life is the right one!

Good luck, think positive and keep on going!

P.S. Exercise will help you feel motivated physiologically too. something about exercise, doesn't have to be super-strenuous, does something to your body's chemistry and makes it easier to maintain healthy eating habits. That's been my experience anyway.

Also, you've just started and it does take a week or two to get into the swing of things. Give yourself a chance.

Snookems,
What you are doing is just another way of thinking about points banking. A lot of people don't bother track or use banked points, but I do for just the reason you said--it means a day I go over max (and it happens) is still an "OP" day. I don't feel I've blown it and fall victim to what Brigette calls "a case of the Might As Wells."

For me, daily motivation is stoked by doing my exercise first thing in the a.m. When I pull out my journal and record my exercise and my healthy breakfast, check off two waters and a milk, and page back through to enjoy how I'm filling up my notebook with OP days, I feel very energized to finish the day as well as I started it.

Luckyred, I agree with Bumby that exercising early in the morning helps set the tone for the day. I was never a morning person, but have developed the habit of getting up early now and walking 3 miles each morning. It just makes me feel better, and gives me a chance to think about the day ahead. Another motivating thing I did during the middle of this journey (and this may sound silly, but..) I added a pebble to a crystal jar at the end of each OP day. The pebbles were a bit symbolic, as they came from a beach in Oregon where dh and I vacationed; it was the first time in years I felt ok wearing shorts in public, as I'd already lost some of the weight. But you could use anything, paper clips, marbles, stickers on the calendar, any little symbols that would remind you, as they mount up, of all the effort you are putting into this and help you close out your OP day. It has taken me two years, but I've gone from size 24 to size 12, and am very close to goal; I just can't tell you what a difference it has made in my life! You can do it! It's worth the effort, believe me. - Regards, Jan

I know I don't participate in writing on the boards very often, but I felt compelled to respond to your request for help with daily motivation.

I have to say that I agree with the other posters that exercise/moving has helped me BIG time lately. And if you knew me, you wouldn't have believed it was me writing that. I'm NOT what you would have considered an "active" person before. (Such as not wanting to go mow that lawn because it would mean getting up off the couch and might actually miss something on a soap) The actual loss of weight itself has made me more energetic. (34 lbs now! yeah! ) It's working hand-in-hand for me now....lose some weight, feel more energetic, more energy=more activity, more activity makes me thirstier for water and hungrier for lighter foods....lose some more weight, etc..etc. Now I love to put my headphones on and walk to the beat whenever I'm able (which isn't as often as you might think)....but it's not just the "real" exercise. It's the day to day stuff, too, like doing yard work, organizing the house, and keeping up with the little ones. I like how it makes me feel and that's great motivation.

Believe me, I have always (and still do!) hated those commercials with someone saying "if I can do it, so can you!" I think, "I don't know you, how can you think we're the same?" Ugh! I just hope this gives you an idea of what my current motivation. But the best is that someone at work tonight told me that she noticed I've been losing weight and that's the kind of motivation that helps me want MORE OF THAT!! LOL!!
Hope this helps.

I am a veteran dieter (not too successfully) and have been on Weight Watchers about 2 weeks. I have not been strictly on program the whole time, but have been a whole lot closer than had I not been dieting at all.

I try to give myself daily motivators. Yesterday I had to hike 1/2 mile with my kids to a field trip and just on a slight incline was out of breath, red as fire in the face, and thought I was going to die. That was yesterday's motivator. I try not to say things like" Just think how much happier I will be when I am thin". I use things about the way I feel, like "When I have lost some weight think how much easier it will be to work in the garden".

As someone else mentioned, I like the feeling of being in control, even if I am over a few points. I don't see myself sitting down and eating 4 KIT KAT bars simply because they are in the frig. ( I have learned that keeping stuff like that is not for me. There is no such thing with me as eating one bite or one candy bar). The feeling of control most days is a more powerful incentive than the brief pleasure of eating something that might throw me into a binge.

I am also a stress eater, and have made a concious effort to reduce some of the stress in my life. The world won't quit twirling if I don't get all 6 sets of papers graded one particular night. Instead, I have been spending more time outside in the evenings with my husband and teenager. I was always one who would say "reduce stress,yeah right!!!" but have learned it can be done.

Didn't mean to write a book!!!

Elaine

Thank you for all the great replies!! I am going to keep all of them in mind. But....(theres always a but) exercising is a little difficult for me. I live in an apt and the neighbors downstairs already complain about my 5 y/o running around so any type of aerobics is out of the question. Since I am a single mother taking walks by myself is impossible. I DO take walks with her but as many people know walking with a small child is done very slowly. We usually walk about 10 city blocks a few nights a week, weather permitting. Do these walks count? I don't count them as exercise because of the slow pace at which we are walking. I do have a mini stepper but with my nagging knee problems I can't do it on a regular basis. I was thinking of getting a treadmill...any thoughts?? BTW today is day 3 and I feel great!!!! I have lost 3 pounds and I am definitely motivated!!!

Luckyred
169/154/130

Luckyred -

With regards to your walks with your 5 year old, of COURSE they count. Now, would I count points from exercise so I could have more during the day? Maybe not. But is it better than sitting home on the couch doing nothing? ABSOLUTELY. Be proud of youself for getting out and moving at all.

I would say that any exercise is better than no exercise.

-Kim

Luckyred... my apartment is the top floor of an old house and the landlord lives downstairs so I can definitely sympathise with you about not being able to do certain things.

But... there are *lots* of alternatives. Have you considered getting free weights and incorporating them into your routine? There's no bouncing, so they shouldn't cause a disruption at all to your downstairs neighbours. An added bonus is that the more muscle you build, the more calories you burn - even when you're not doing anything! They increase your metabolism so even if you're just sitting, you're burning more calories than if you had less muscle. There are lots of weight exercises, and most can be done while you're watching tv!

Also, since the weather is getting nicer, getting outside can provide opportunities. Is there a park near to where you live? If your knee doesn't bother you too much, buy an inexpensive skipping rope and use that while you supervise your daughter at the park. Who knows, she may like to try it too. Skipping is a *great* aerobic exercise. I'm not sure if it was posted here or not, but I remember reading one woman saying that she took her child to the park and walked laps around it while her child played. She could see her the whole time.

Swimming is great for people who have problems with their knees and other joints, too, so that's another option.

Finally, have you looked into gyms in your area? Some gyms like the YMCA might offer child care facilities so you could pop in for an hour or so and not have to worry about child care.

Hope that helps a bit!

Christine

Luckyred... almost forgot... as for the walks with your child, I'd suggest getting a pedometer so you can see just how much they *do* count! In fact, just wearing it while you're going about your day will give you a big surprise - you'd be amazed at how far a person walks without even realizing it! There are some days at the office when I log 2 or 3 miles or more! And in addition to how far you walk, it will also give you a rough calculation for how many calories you've burned along the way!

Christine

I have thought about free weights but I'm not sure how to properly use them....I have big arms mostly muscle. I was a gymnast for 8 yrs and played softball for 6 years so I have a larger upper body What I don't want is to turn the fat into muscle. I feel kind of dumb not knowing about exercising...but I never exersise! I never had. Before I had my daughter I stayed active by dancing at clubs every weekend. (not DANCING, but dance club dancing) and my metabolism just must have been better then. So for the past five years I've done nothing except make excuses. So now that I'm back OP and quit smoking I'm pyched to get healthy but I'm not sure how. Does that make sense? As far as the YMCA right now it's just not affordable (thats not an excuse). So I'll continue my walks and look into the free weights. Thanks!!

Luckyred
169/154/130

I'm afraid a treadmill may not be a great choice for you. Many motorized treadmills are actually quite noisy, and you can be heard pounding on the floor below if you are jogging. A stationary bike would be a quieter option, and also one that is somewhat safer to use with a 5 year old in the room. You could bike while she watches her favorite show or tape.

Another option for you might be a trail-a-bike, which is a like a miniature tandem bike--you stick it on the back of your bike and she can pedal or just sit and enjoy the ride. At 5, she should be able to sit on a bike seat and hold the handlebars. My then-4.5-year-old did well on one of these last summer at the beach and we will be buying one this spring. If she can ride a two-wheeler, you may not need one of these. If she is a slow rider, or on training wheels, consider jogging along (or rollerblading) as she rides.

Other ways to get exercise WITH a 5-year-old (I agree it's hard) are roller skating and ice skating. At a small rink, you can even let her skate at her own pace while you pick up the speed. (I dress mine in bright hats so I can spot them easily.)

My motivation is simple. I want to have the energy I once did. I used to stay up until all hours of the night, and would never feel tired because i had so much energy. If I make until 10pm ...it's a miracle.

I just want my old self back. That's enough moto for me.

Amy T

don't take this the wrong way...
but what motivates me is that when I am slimmer I will have better SEX!!
My knees hurt all the time too - swimming is great for that. I take my 17 month old daughter with me. At this stage with my weight anything not in front of the computer (oops... here I am again) hehe or the tv is good for me. Take your time getting into something that you love to do!
Have you ever thought about getting a yoda tape from the library.. try it out.

This is my first week too back on WW.... I've been doing this half my life! good luck to both of us

Dana
www.digitalsara.com