When your motivation is wavering, list 15 reasons why you want to lose weight. Yes! 15

[AnFiadhRua]

Christmas is coming and there are tubs of heroes everywhere.

I saw this exercise on a thing about menopause weight gain and I wanted to read other people's lists as 15 reasons is going to bring forward more than ''I want to be thin''.

1. I want to support a healthy metabolism and now I know that sugar spikes insulin and that insulin is basically sending a message to your body to store fat, it's just harder to just settle in to that carrot cake with total insouciance.

2. I accept the ageing process up to a point, well I do and I don't! I don't want to look any more middle aged than I have to Goddammit.

3. I want to hack ageing not with procedures but with health, and show myself that weight gain is not absolutely inevitable.

4. I do not want to get cancer and when I read that cancer loves sugar I feel scared. If I'm helping myself not to get cancer, even a bit, even though I don't fully understand this and haven't researched it, then I get some peace of mind that I'm helping myself not harming myself

5. I'm already 51 and it'll be years before I have the freedom to walk the Camino. I want to be as fit as a fiddle, when I get the chance to do this

6. I'm single, I work and I need an income. If I get sick, there's nobody else's income to lean on.

7. I really have to stay healthy until I qualify for the state pension. I know there are various disability allowances but I want to be well! That is not the plan b I can have any enthusiasm for.

8. If I do lose my health I don't want to berate myself with feelings ''like I could have avoided this''

9. my teenage daughter is a bit over weight and very sensitive about it. I want to say nothing and just model eating well. So If I want to model healthy eating, I have to get on with modelling healthy eating!

10. I do not want to make it easier for employers /colleagues to be ageist. There is ageism in the work place and there shouldn't be, I know, that's a different subject, but if I can't be young, I can be a little bit more youthful than is expected from a woman in her 50s I won't shoot myself in the foot

11. I have so many clothes that fit a woman who weighs about 10lbs less than I do. They're all in colours that suit me (rust, olive, navy) and some are petite, or shortened, some I splurged big on, or had them tailored. It's stupid to keep trying to shop when I have all of these clothes. I spent a fortune on this wardrobe, ordinary though it may seem. I'd be scared to add up the cost of my clothes.

12. No matter what age you are, a waist makes the outfit look a bit better.

13. Being 156 cm, being small is part of my identity, but if I'm short and fat, am I still small?? I can't walk my tiny mind through an identity change now.

14. hate that this one's on my list but my mother thinks less of me when I'm overweight. She really judges. I have disappointed her in a lot of ways but at least I've never been overweight . Being a slim woman herself she will live long enough to see if I become an overweight adult in middle age or not.

15. I want to live forever is that too much to ask, I want to exceed the lifespan of the average woman by at least 15 years and I want to enjoy decades of health and freedom at the end of my life. I feel like I was always shut down, pressured, discouraged, fired, dumped, relocated, made redundant, ground down, abused, broke, cornered, overlooked and I want to redress that balance by enjoying so much good health and the freedom that that brings later in life when children no longer dependent on me.

Great thread. Id add that i want to feel strong.

Oh yes! I want to feel strong as well!

14 more? no pressure

I’m 49 and have made a resolution NOT to be 14 stone when I’m 50.
1 - I don’t want to feel old
2 - I want to live to get my state pension, none of my nuclear family have
3 - I don’t want cancer
4 - I don’t want diabetes
5 - I want to be fit enough to do the outdoor activities I love
6 - I want to not be embarrassed on the beach
7 - I want to get into my old clothes
8 - I want to feel more confident
9 - I don’t want my eyes to sink into my fat face like two raisins in a mound of dough
10 - I’m sick of being beholden to sugar cravings
11 - I’m sick of my fat ankles
12 - I want to be able to wear my great grandma’s ring again
13 - I want my PCOS symptoms to ease the fuck off
14 - I want to be able to get on my bike and not look fat
15 - I want to run a marathon to raise money for Epilepsy research because it killed my little brother.

I look really rubbish atm
I want to fit into lots of fave clothes, inc two new dresses I bought as incentives!
Want to model healthy eating to my DD
Large waistline correlates to all sorts of health problems
I really don’t like what I see in the mirror atm
All the health issues, but especially potential diabetes
I look less attractive and would hate for any potential suitor to be put off by the fat.
Bingo wings
It doesn’t help the double chin tendency
It reminds me of the emotional toll of two lockdowns

(10’s enough for me!)

Thanks OP, I think this is a healthy exercise (no joke intended!)

Now I need to actually get out of bed and exercise

Oo, have them ugly if another:

I want to sleep better, which I do if I exercise more! So that’s 11!

• have thought of another! Not that weird “ugly” line….

OK, number 12 for me:

Outcomes with covid less good in the overweight

Aaah love this.
I lost 8 stone when I turned 40. It took me 4 years to do it.
I’m 46 now and I was 3.5 stone on. Not where I want to be and I have endless internal conversations with myself about it.
Managed to shift some weight over the past 3 weeks. I had gained 3.5 stone!! Just crept up.

But thought. Shit! It’s Christmas soon and I’ll gain at least another stone then. And I cannot afford to.

Had a wedding to go to. My wedding/party dresses I usually wear didn’t fit.
I feel heavy on my feet. Stairs. Yoga. Just heavy.
I feel full and brimming with food and get sluggish and have headaches from eating heavy carb foods.
I feel like I’ve aged. Puffy
I feel conscious of my weight gain. Especially my tree trunk legs and means I’ve not been able to wear my charcoal jeggings that I love. I’m having to wear support black sport leggings!! And my ‘fat’ dress!!
So just really gets me down.

Anyhoo. The weight is coming. The endless internal conversations have worked and quite honestly raw fear of putting anymore weight back on.
I call it damage limitation. And it’s working thank god!! I think I’ve lost just under a stone.
Will continue for as long as I can. And then enjoy Christmas. Bring on the bread crackers cheese and pate!! Whoop! But only for a few days. Then back on it .

Yes, Christmas!! That’s 13 for me.

Lost 2 stone in 2019 and kept it off. Bmi 22. Am 47. Feel GREAT! Do it. It’s worth it.

I've lost 2 stone since September (going from 13 stone to just under 11) and am at the stage where the weight loss has slowed although am doing the same things, so my motivation is wavering. Here's my list to keep me going.

1. I don't want to be really poorly if I get Covid.
2. I don't want diabetes or heart disease.
3. Am 50 in March and I don't want to go into my fifties fat.
4. I already feel like I look much better in my clothes - I'd like to buy some new clothes/fit back into old ones and feel good in them.
5. I don't mind my grey hair but I want to be grey and funky, not grey and invisible like so many middle-aged women.
6. I'm enjoying having more energy.
7. My IBS is noticeably better, if not perfect, since I stopped having too much sugar - want this to remain the case.
8. I want to be able to swim and not feel huge in a swimming costume.
9. I have discovered I still have good legs since they lost the weight!

10. People are noticing - this feels nice. 11. I still have lots of belly fat and I am aware this is the most dangerous kind, so although I am nearly at an acceptable weight in BMI terms and I now have slim everything else, I know I need to keep going for my health! 12. I want to be able to enjoy nice food at Christmas but I also want to believe my tastes have changed and I won't just gorge on wine, cheese and chocolate as soon as i can. I want t prove I can continue to eat with moderation even if I 'relax' the diet for a couple of weeks. 13. I want my sons to be proud of me. 14. I want a new, final career in the next few years and I will need energy. 15. I really, really don't ever want to be 13 stone again!

I am loving these, thank you for ''playing''!

Good point about covid outcomes being better when you're not overweight. Another very good one.

I think my BMI is about 27 now so sailing forth................... It was this time last year that I undid all my good work.

1. I want to be a good role model to my children.

1. I don't want food to control my life.

1. I want to wear tops tucked into jeans

1. I want to feel attractive when I make an effort.

1. I don't want to snore.

1. I want to be able to wear shorts and sleeveless tops in summer.

1. I don't want to look older than I am.

1. I want to be able to manage my emotions without using food.

1. I want to parent myself as well as I parent my children.

10. I want there to be more photos of me with my children. There are hardly any.

11. I want to feel able to spend a little more on clothes because I am happy with the size they are.

12. I don't want diabetes.

13. I don't want heart disease.

14. I want strong bones and muscles.

15. I want to be proud of myself.

Fab post. I am menopausal and recently lost over 3 stone. Bmi of 26 so need to lose 1/2 - 1 stone. Currently maintaining and will resume properly in new year.

1. Getting so many compliments now and want them to continue
2. Bought new clothes I love and suit me. Don’t want to gain again and be unable to fit into them
3. Want to feel fit and strong
4. I feel more confident and enjoy how I look in clothes now… just need to feel more confident with unclothed me
5. Want to lose my menopausal tummy!
6. I don’t want heart disease or diabetes
7. Want to feel comfortable having my photo taken.
8. Want to reduce my risk of cancer
9. Want to have the energy for long country walks which I enjoy

10. Reduce covid risk 11. To not be the ‘fat one’ amongst my friends 12. Eating well can help with menopause symptoms and my IBS 13. Recently diagnosed with osteopenia so want to strengthen my bones to reverse this before getting full blown osteoporosis 14. Reduce my back and shoulder pain - old injury but being larger always makes it worse 15. To live a long healthy life

I’ve lost close to 4 stone this year. Some of my reasons for wanting to keep it off:

1. I never want to have plantar fasciitis again
2. I want to continue to be able to go for walks around where I live without being exhausted all day
3. I want to look like I’m coping with life, even if my head disagrees most of the time 😂
4. I don’t want to have to deal with the range of digestive issues that come with having a crap diet
5. I want to keep being able to wear the nice clothes I bought myself as a reward for losing weight
6. A bit niche perhaps, but next summer I still want to be able to climb the extremely steep hill behind my village, so that I can watch the wild ponies that live there 🐴
7. I want to live as healthy a life as possible, for as long as possible
8. I want to have a good nights sleep
9. I want to have lots of energy to do things

10. I don’t want to have constant headaches because I eat too much sugar 11. I want to help DH to sort out his issues with food (he’s an emotional eater too, but tells me he’s been inspired by my progress to make some radical changes to his habits) 12. I don’t want to hit 50 and have a serious weight problem 13. I want to be able to enjoy food, without it controlling me 14. I don’t want all the health problems that come with being overweight 15. I’m stuck on that one, but I guess I could just break point number 14 down into all the health benefits being a healthy weight brings, e.g. the reduced risk of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes etc etc.

@Crazzzycat I love number 6. What a lovely goal for when you lose the weight!

I've lost 9.5lb so far but I can tell the difference as didn't feel so whacked after climbing stairs at work and my waist looks Slimmer. Here's mine:

1. I have high blood pressure and losing weight will help reduce it
2. I am pre-diabetic and losing weight I hope will reverse it
3. I want to go hill walking/hiking along cliffs etc and less weight will take pressure off my knees. I do short walks at the moment
4. To no longer snore - never used to!
5. For my wedding and engagement rings to be looser - very tight since I've gained a lot of weight since I got married
6. to be able to fit into summer clothes not worn for a long time.
7. buy some new clothes.and feel confident in them
8. to not feel self conscious in leggings
9. to not be an apple shape any more
10. wear nicer underwear
11. to have more energy
12. to wear coats that don't fit me anymore
13. Look good at a family wedding in August - not like the obese Aunt!
14. to be a size 12
15. Last but no way least - to feel like I can control my relationship with food

Thank you this has really made me think!

Thanks for these. Some are really moving and some are making me laugh. Aiming to look good in leggings is a tall order! Buy yourself more expensive trousers
@LightandAiry you have time, August is 8-9 months away. Be careful you don't leave the bride in the shade!

AnFiadhRua you've just given me a much needed laugh! [Grin] I have leggings on under jeans today as I am very cold!

My main motivation is my 2 dc, I don’t want to struggle/feel grumpy at being heavy and sweating when doing days out/holidays. To carry all the bags with ease.
Sorry not motivated to write another 9 reasons 🤣

Ooh, I'm also struggling with menopause weight gain, will join in.

1. Don't want a big moon face anymore
2. My jeans are tight and don't want to buy new ones.
3. Want to not have a muffin top which I've never had before in my life.
4. Want to try and avoid the long list of physical health problems my parents have. I know I could still get them, but losing weight can only help.
5. I spent a lot of money of gym membership, and love going, but my eating is defeating me
6. I want to feel some sense of control over my life
7. I don't want to feel I have to breathe in when my partner touches my tummy
8. I don't want everything to jiggle when I do star jumps
9. Don't want to become a middle aged fat frump

10. Have been working on pull ups at the gym, losing weight will make them easier! 11. Am training for a long distance walk, less weight means quicker up hills 12. Want to be less self conscious when people take my photo 13. Want to wear some of my nice summer dresses next year 14. Want to be fit and healthy for my little boy 15. Want to stop beating myself up about failing at most things

Now just to put it into action!

Following and hoping to return with my own list shortly. Thank you OP!

Great thread OP! Here's my 15:

1. I used to be slim. For various reasons I'm not any more. I miss it & want to feel slim again. I want to be able to cross my legs without having to struggle to keep them there. I want to lay on my side in bed & not have my stomach stick out.
2. I'm chronically ill, have been for many years. I feel like I'm finally (slowly) getting a hold on the causes of my illness. Ironically a lot of it is food based. My pain levels have decreased a lot over the past few months which has been great.
3. I am scared to developing cancer & other lifestyle types illnesses as I get older. Also, vainly, wrinkles... apparently a high sugar diet is a contributing factor. Ever since I read years ago that rubbing your eyes (due to allergies etc) causes wrinkles I've tried not to do it.
4. I have a load of nice clothes that are about 14-20lb too small for me.
5. My feet hurt. More so now I'm 40.
6. I have fairly severe asthma, TBH I'm terrified of catching coronavirus so I want to reduce my risk for that.
7. I agree with the PP who said they want to have "funky" grey hair, not just be another invisible grey haired woman.
8. I want my waist back. I used to have a really good hourglass figure.
9. I'm developing arthritis. In my wrists, which weight loss won't help with, buy my knees too. 1-2 stone less would help enormously. I bet a lower sugar diet would be helpful to my wrists too though...

10. I'd rather be healthy than spend a lot of money (or resent not having the money to spend) on expensive treatments to look younger. I don't mind looking my age but I don't want to look older. 11. I'm fed up of the sugar cravings. Every time I think I've beaten them, I manage ok for a few weeks/months & then something happens & I give in & it all spirals out of control. 12. I want to be a good example for DD. My DH isn't, he never has been. I've tried for years to get him to change his habits but he won't. 13. As a 5'3" woman there's only a few pounds between a healthy weight & overweight. Both my DGMs were slightly shorter than me, but one was very slim whereas the other was rather overweight. The latter had many more health issues, especially as she grew older. 14. Bingo wings. Sigh... 15. My own self esteem. I just don't feel in control of myself, my life, my weight.

1. I'm at increased risk of type 2 diabetes because I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with DD. My risk of getting diabetes in the next 10 years is somewhere around 30% and I'm only 29. If I can get my waist below 34 inches and exercise regularly my risk will drop back down to normal levels.

1. Related to the above, I want to have a second baby and being obese puts me and baby at increased risk of various complications, especially GD as I've had it before.

1. DD will be starting school next year and I don't want to be "the fat mum" on the school run!

1. I miss my lovely waist and hourglass figure

1. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and I think it would help if I was lighter (less bulk to move around = less tiring)

1. I want to feel good going clothes shopping and not stress about if they have my size

1. I want to have a long life and be around and healthy for my (hopeful) grandchildren

1. I definitely snore less when I'm lighter

1. I want to feel like I have a good relationship with food and set a positive example for my daughter

10. I'm scared of needing weight loss surgery if I keep putting on weight. I understand that it helps a lot of people but I really don't want to end up there. I don't want to do stupid diets anymore either, I just want to eat and live healthily.

11. I don't want to be the fat friend in my group anymore

12. So I don't have to worry about my chins in photos!

13. I want to go to a trampoline park with DD without worrying about my belly bouncing too much

14. To feel different when I turn 30

15. I really just want to finally achieve this. I've always been a driven person, I've always achieved goals. And for some reason (well, many complex reasons) my weight has been completely scuppered me the past few years. I just haven't been able to get it under control and it is the one nagging, pervasive problem in my life. I really want to just DO it and not have to start again AGAIN.

Good ones @riotlady, lot riding on your weight loss.