Weight loss motivation problems
Before looking at my problems with wanting to lose weight I'm going to hit you with a positive: I have lost 4 pounds in a month without the help of a slimming club, bringing my total weight lost to 69 pounds. (Highest weight: 282 pounds in October 2006. Current weight: 213 pounds.)
I no longer have a concrete reason to lose weight. I feel unmotivated, and this affects my eating. In order to lose weight the main thing I need to do is to avoid taking that extra bite. This is a difficult thing for me to do; when my motivation is higher it's easier to STOP. If I have an obvious and valuable-to-me reason to do a difficult thing, it is easier to do. My former reason to lose weight was to get surgery that I no longer want. I find the idea of losing weight for general health a bit too woolly to motivate me, and the idea of losing weight to potentially live longer is a disincentive. (Yay mental health problems!)
Reasons to maintain my weight:
It's a realistic goal to be able to maintain my weight loss over time. That's a difficult thing to do in itself.
I have health benefits from maintaining my weight loss - both potential and actual. (Actual changes in health: no summer swollen ankles, no knee/ankle pain.)
I'm never going to have a six pack because of loose skin so there's no point chasing the body beautiful ideal.
It's easier than losing weight (short-term). I have found a way of exercising/eating that maintains my current body weight. This is an achievement in itself.
Reasons to lose weight:
Run faster.
Climb stairs at the same speed but without breathing hard. (Reduced embarrassment!)
Reduce diabetes risk - I really don't want to get diabetes.
Reduced back pain.
More choice of clothes.
More availability of second-hand clothes.
Find an off-the-peg suit.
Better promote myself within the fitness industry in the future.
(Negative reason) Feel more comfortable eating in public.
Jeans last longer - no 'chub-rub'.
Strangers won't find it so hard to believe that I'm a marathon runner.
Healthier old age.
Could go to Slimming World for free if I wanted to.
Changing my focus to other goals:
I'm focusing quite a bit on losing weight (including feeling unmotivated about losing weight). I could focus on other goals, for example:
Do an unassisted pull-up by February 1st 2012.
Complete the 100 push-up challenge by March 1st 2012.
Run a mile in less than 10 minutes by February 2012 (depending on foot injury healing).
Change my relationship with food. (I'll probably get more specific/SMART about this.)
If I focus purely on fitness goals I have an inclination to go off-track with food and slip into more comfort-eating. I managed to gain weight through my 4 month marathon training plan! As long as I keep remembering my tendency to gain weight when taking my eye off the food issues, I should be able to avoid that.
Cross posted to 100pounds2lose (a few more words in the post over there).
I no longer have a concrete reason to lose weight. I feel unmotivated, and this affects my eating. In order to lose weight the main thing I need to do is to avoid taking that extra bite. This is a difficult thing for me to do; when my motivation is higher it's easier to STOP. If I have an obvious and valuable-to-me reason to do a difficult thing, it is easier to do. My former reason to lose weight was to get surgery that I no longer want. I find the idea of losing weight for general health a bit too woolly to motivate me, and the idea of losing weight to potentially live longer is a disincentive. (Yay mental health problems!)
Reasons to maintain my weight:
It's a realistic goal to be able to maintain my weight loss over time. That's a difficult thing to do in itself.
I have health benefits from maintaining my weight loss - both potential and actual. (Actual changes in health: no summer swollen ankles, no knee/ankle pain.)
I'm never going to have a six pack because of loose skin so there's no point chasing the body beautiful ideal.
It's easier than losing weight (short-term). I have found a way of exercising/eating that maintains my current body weight. This is an achievement in itself.
Reasons to lose weight:
Run faster.
Climb stairs at the same speed but without breathing hard. (Reduced embarrassment!)
Reduce diabetes risk - I really don't want to get diabetes.
Reduced back pain.
More choice of clothes.
More availability of second-hand clothes.
Find an off-the-peg suit.
Better promote myself within the fitness industry in the future.
(Negative reason) Feel more comfortable eating in public.
Jeans last longer - no 'chub-rub'.
Strangers won't find it so hard to believe that I'm a marathon runner.
Healthier old age.
Could go to Slimming World for free if I wanted to.
Changing my focus to other goals:
I'm focusing quite a bit on losing weight (including feeling unmotivated about losing weight). I could focus on other goals, for example:
Do an unassisted pull-up by February 1st 2012.
Complete the 100 push-up challenge by March 1st 2012.
Run a mile in less than 10 minutes by February 2012 (depending on foot injury healing).
Change my relationship with food. (I'll probably get more specific/SMART about this.)
If I focus purely on fitness goals I have an inclination to go off-track with food and slip into more comfort-eating. I managed to gain weight through my 4 month marathon training plan! As long as I keep remembering my tendency to gain weight when taking my eye off the food issues, I should be able to avoid that.
Cross posted to 100pounds2lose (a few more words in the post over there).