Motivation

[desiretochange]

Am 5'3" and weigh 12½ stone and need to lose weight but no matter how motivated I feel to try to lose the weight I just can't seem to maintain this motivation. Am basically a very disorganised person and I reckon this has a lot to do with my problem. I know in theory what I need to do but putting it into practice is my downfall. I work full time, am a single parent and look after my mother part time. Please help me maintain motivation and become disciplined!

With all those responsibilities no wonder you're finding it hard to do something for yourself. Is there any way you can work exercise into your daily routine rather than trying to carve out time for it (eg walk to work in fitflops every day rather than get car/bus). If I'm super-busy and trying to lose weight I find it easier to stick to the same b'fast and lunch every day - usually it's fat free yoghurt and piece of fruit for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch with piece of fruit for dessert. Then I don't have to plan diet meals and can shop in bulk. Gets boring, but when I'm really busy I don't notice the boredom. And I find if I don't buy treats in, then I don't eat them.
Are you possibly (and feel free to cyber-slap me if this is out of order) eating as a way to treat yourself because most of the time you do so much for others? If that's the case maybe you need to find other ways to treat yourself? (that's based on my own experience, and might not relate to you at all)

Hi becstarlitsea I walk to work every morning (don't own a car)so not sure exercise is my main problem (it's only a 15 minute walk to work.
By the time I come home from work in the evening I am starving and cook whatever is quickest and handiest, many times resorting to take-aways.

Am also currently looking after my friend's house while she is away, she has a vibro plate and while I was there at lunchtime today I did 10 minutes on it. Going to do another 10 minutes this evening when I lock up again. Maybe the trick is to take it day by day
Beginning to think this is my own private blog (well maybe not so private seeing that anyone on Mumsnet can read it) but if it works then it's worth it

Day by day is always a good plan for everything, isn't it? Sounds like you're doing good things. Take-aways are so tempting aren't they? But I used to go to weightwatchers and I remember how many points they were (chicken tikka massala and pilau rice was about 45 points or something equally outrageous, and I was on 18 points a day!). I don't usually like readymeals but if you're that pressed for time, maybe you need some 'count on us' or 'light choices' or whatever in the freezer along with some bags of posh salad leaves in the fridge for your side salad to go with it. Maybe if it's there ready for you it won't be such a temptation to dial the evil pizza man... I think you're right that it helps to write about it online - helps make it 'real' somehow.

I'm nearly back at my goal weight (will be wearing a bikini on 27th July either way and that's my motivation!). It's taken a long time - but that's good. I think if you do it gradually it's because you've changed your habits in a sustainable way rather than crash dieting. Good luck.

Thanks becstarlitsea . . so going to stick with day to day and fingers, legs, arms and eyes crossed that there are more positive than negative days (or in other words less stuffing of the face and more strutting of the old legs
Congratulations on your own weight loss

desiretochange - I can empathise with lack of motivation, being disorganised and "running round after other people"! I am afraid that until I got my head in the right place I struggled but about a year ago, though I can't remeber what triggered it, I suddenly was motivated. I resolved to give up ready meals and stick to a low-fat diet. I think I realised that I could not go on as I was and unless I did something myself I would stop running!
One year one and I am 1lb off losing 3stone. Yes I do have occassional treats and eat out but am convinced that giving up ready meals has been the answer.
Have you looked at Paul McKenna "I can make you thin" there is a thread on here and he makes a lot of sense.
Good Luck!

Did another ten mins on vibro plate last night shaking all my wobbly bits. gailforce! you are totally describing my life at minute, feel like I am constantly running around after everyone and totally neglecting myself. If I don't take time to recharge and redirect myself then I will most definitely run out of steam

Do you think you would find it motivating to have a date or event in the future to aim for ie. "by christmas I will be a dress size down" ?

I will have babyweight to lose very very soon and have friends wedding next Easter- so thats going to be my motivation, to fit into a lovely outfit for her big day.

Have used Weightwatchers in the past and found it is good, if you follow their plan you can eat normal food from supermarkets that dont need lots of preparation. Good if you have busy life with no time. I stick to stuff like cereal and fruit, baked potatoes and soups, the odd low fat ready meal plus veg and you can have treats too. You get a steady weightloss, a pound or two every week.

good luck

What about this 30 Day Shred thing that's very popular on here? Have only just ordered the DVD but apparently it's a tough 20-min a day work out.

As far as motivation goes, it's controversial I know but when I was losing 2.5 stones I weighed myself every day. It wasn't because I expected to see a daily loss but so that I was always conscious of where I was up to. Before that, if I'd eaten something 'bad' I used to just write the rest of the day off and hate myself for it. I did keep the weight off once I'd lost it until I got pregnant, by keeping a close eye on the scales.

Another thing that helped me was to give myself a day 'off' once a week, or once a fortnight when the weight loss slowed down. That way I didn't feel too deprived. It meant the loss was a bit slow, but I averaged about 1lb a week even with PCOS. I was using WeightWatchers points but not attending meetings.

I'm at it again now after having DD. having said that I'm still more than a stone lighter than I was originally (I was 12st 9lbs at 5'4" and currently 11st 6lbs).

Finally, I'm a greedy pig and thought I'd never do it. I was always starting a new weight loss regime. Something clicked though, and it helps that I kind of enjoy exercise. what I mean is, if I can do it, so can you, but you've got to be consistent.

Hi Pink was thinking along those lines this morning, have friend's 40th birthday in late September, maybe I should set myself a target for that?

Hi tarty not sure about weighing myself every day, think once a week is enough for me (although I avoid even doing that)
Totally understand that bit about eating something "bad" and then getting mad with yourself and saying "what the heck" will start again tomorrow (which probably happens every second day)
Consistency is the key . . but am I too lazy and disorganised to be consistent (hmm)

Have managed to keep sipping water all morning at work so happy with that. Also managed to get through the morning without snacking on anything (maybe water helping).

Strangely, I find checking the nutritional info panels on stuff very motivating. Nothing works to put you off a delicious M&S pudding like reading that it contains 68% of your saturated fat RDA

Because you're so pushed for time when it comes to the evenings, maybe it would be worth cooking up some big batches of healthy stuff and freezing them in portions. Obviously this would take a chunk of time, but if you could free up an afternoon for it, you could fill the freezer with quick and easy meals and know that they're all lower fat/better for you.

Snacking on fruit and veg helps me graze more virtuously most of the time.

Lastly, give yourself a big pat on the back for even thinking about this when you've got so much going on in your life!

Thanks Cyteen but know I am almost running on empty at minute so figure it's time to give my body a proper MOT. Went on vibro plate again at lunchtime. Have convinced myself that it will shake off all my wobbly bits

Going to take Cyteen's advice and take some time for myself this Saturday to plan my meals for next week and then armed with meal plan going to head to local supermarket and shop. Any suggestions for meals that I could cook and freeze as I don't have a lot of freezer space?

Think the sipping water is a good idea, apparently we often think we are hungry but we are actually just thirsty.

You could go and try some clothes on for your mates 40th birthday and then see if you can lose a bit by Sept and treat yourself to new outfit as a reward. I would find that motivating

Have heard the vibro plate thing works really well, mate of mine uses one at her gym and it really helped her tone up.

Think twice a day on vibro plate is pushing it! Legs were in agony yesterday evening. Can never understand that part about thinking we are hungry when we are in reality thirsty. No amount of water has ever taken my hunger pangs away

lol I know what you mean, but I guess you dont know unless you try.

Ive been told to drink a glass of water before a meal to "fill you up" It does help you to lose weight to up the fluids tho and think of all the cals you burn running back and forth to the loo