Well, I've been motivated to lose weight many many times over the years...and I have many motivations...but, I've never really been committed before now to doing whatever it takes...no matter how painful it may be or how long it may take. The committment is the big difference this time and is the reason why I'll make it to slenderville.
Well what MOTIVATED me to finally start this journey for real this time was all the things I mentioned in the other thread. There were others as I have been thinking about this since posting and reading that thread.
Motivation is just simply not enough sometimes. I'm 43 now, was 42 when I started back in September and I've ALWAYS known that I was taking horrible risks by abusing food in the way that I did. That I was putting my very life at risk. I've ALWAYS had a terrible time with the clothing situation. I've ALWAYS dreaded the summer, social events, not being there for my kids and then of course my as of yet unborn grandkids. Why did all these things and all the other tons of motivating reasons not do it for me before? Well I always WANTED to be thin, but not badly enough. I wasn't willing to do the work previously. For whatever reason, that's unimportant. But then I made the decision to lose the weight - NO MATTER WHAT. I made the commitment. I decided that I was going to do it. And I commited totally and fully to it. Once you make that commitment, it doesn't matter if the motivation is out of sight for the moment or the day. Because you're commited to it. There's no turning back. I'm commited to having a better life. And I'm determined to get there and now of course stay there.
Motivation is really not enough. It's just not. Determination and commitment - that's what's needed.
For me, the motiation this time was that I was tired of being looked down upon, and tired of being treated like an invisible non-peson. Tired of men acting like "Oh, poor fat thing, let's go talk to her so she doesn't feel left out." Now, that may not have been happening, but that was my perception, so it doesn't matter if it was real or not. The commitment was a little more complicated. First, I have to say solely because of this site (the only really new factor), I came to believe that this is really possible for me despite 40 years of consistent failure. Second, the longer I stayed off carbs, the clearer my thinking became, and the more unwilling I became to go back to my former insane, addicted, out-of-control behavior. Not becuse of the fat, but because of the insanity. I didn't want to have a miserable, hopeless self image anymore. The difference in my thinking and my emotions would be enough to keep me here and OP and exercising even if my body didn't change a bit. Not that I'm not thrilled with the changes, mind you!
My (admittedly simple) take...last night it was hot and sticky out. The only thing I was motivated to do was sit and watch TV. But instead, I knew I had made my plan for yesterday and I was committed to exercise. (BTW, I did sit and watch tv....after I did my WATP video.)
Motivation vs Commitment--your thoughts please
