Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Motivation

Brown Eyed Girl sent me a text this morning talking about motivation & how hard it can be sometimes to stay motivated with exercise. I agree wholeheartedly and realize that many of us struggle with motivation. Perhaps not exercise related, but motivation in general.

For me, it is exercise/diet motivation.

Get up at 4:40am to get to the gym? Sometimes I'd rather sleep?

Healthy salads (like last night's with strawberries, chicken & goat cheese)? Sometimes I'd rather just have fried chicken.

What motivates me to keep making positive choices and positive changes in my exercise and eating?

Me.

I'm my own motivation. No one else is going to do it for me.

I want to fit into my clothes.

I want to run around with the munchkins, push them on a swing, throw them up in the air without getting winded.

I want to be healthy 10 years from now & not worrying about high blood pressure.

Exercise just makes me feel good. I love the feeling after a great workout. Not so much the hair maintenance, but that's a different story.

I like taking Hade Dog for a long walks & not getting shin splints.

I want to feel comfortable in a bikini on the lake.

I want to be ok with having my picture taken & not cringing at the results.

You see, I've made remarkable progress in the last 8 months. I've lost 20 pounds. For me, that is a big deal and something else that motivates me.

I carry extra weight in my face & my stomach, so part of it is vanity.

But I also have a family history (on both sides) of heart problems, cholesterol problems, high blood pressure, etc. In fact, my aunt was just in the hospital with one of her arteries 90% closed.

She's the healthiest of that side of the family - my dad's side where I have 2 Aunts, 1 Uncle & my dad.

I look back at old pictures and I know that we're often our own worst critics. I'm certainly my own.

But I'm working on that voice. I'm making changes so that when I look at pictures, I see how happy I am & how confident I feel.

To show you the difference.

This first pictures is from last year's Derby in KY. Now, granted, it was a nasty rain day, so my hair was a mess. Yet you can see it in my face. How bloated I was. If you watch The Biggest Loser, you'll see that in the Before/After pictures as well.



This year's Derby - here in CLT. What a difference a year makes.

Who knows what next year will bring!

Now, I've gone on about some of what motivates me. What motivates you?

14 comments:

d.a.r. said...

Girl, you look incredible!! Way to go!!

teresa-bug said...

this has motivated me! Thanks!

Lexilooo said...

You look great!

I definitely need to find something that motivates me, because it has really been lacking lately, and I don't know why.

preppy little dress AKA "PLD" said...

Okay...4:40am is motivation enough, you have def. motivated me! WOW...great job!

Under this Umbrella said...

You look fantastic and this post was perfect and just what I needed today. Thank you so much for this.

MCW said...

You look great!
A bikini motivates me...I get to comfortable in my spanks during the week at work!

Dee Stephens said...

I actually noticed the difference in your picture that you posted on your Derby party.
You look GREAT! So happy for you! I have put on a few pounds since the wedding but am determined to shed them in the next month(as I'm munching on raw bell pepper and hummus).
Sounds terrible but what motivates me is how I feel and 2nd.. how look in pictures! I hate seeing fat and bloated!

Annie said...

such a difference hun! you should be very proud of yourself!! i honestly think you look so much younger in the second pic, you look fabulous!!

i'm with you on waking up at 4:40 and i LOVE how i feel after my morning workouts!
i'm my own motivator as well now! i want to be healthy, happy and comfortable with myself.

hope you are having a great week sweet lady!! :)

Ashley said...

ohh, you look so good! that is some motivation!
I just feel mentally and physically better when I work out regularly. Even when I miss a couple days, I can tell!
What motivates me for eating right- Its all about the skinnies! :) I want them.

Brittany Ann said...

You are gorgeous! Inside and out! I'm so proud of you for making healthy, moderate choices! You're very inspirational!

Samantha said...

Mrs. P you look FANTASTIC! Way to stick with it for YOU!

Trish {Pink Preppy Lilly Lover} said...

This is such a fabulous post, you deserve every bit of how amazing you look and feel, especially after all that hard work and dedication! You look beautiful in both pictures to me, but I can see how proud and confident you look in your Derby party picture, you are definitely motivating me, so thanks! Thinking of you sweetie! xox

Carrie said...

You look great! Congratulations on all your hard work!

For me, exercising and eating healthy is mostly about vanity. If I was one of those "skinny fat" people I can't say that I would be hitting the gym to try to improve my muscles and heart. Good thing I have to work at it I guess!

NrD said...

Wow! You go, Girl!! Such an inspiration!! Side note-absolutely love love love the pink hat with the zebra print ribbon!! Gorgeous!