Motivational Minute

Motivational Quote of the Week

God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.
Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

I'm hoping to make Motivational Minute a weekly post, however, I have been working on this first one for several weeks so don't get your hopes up too high! I will include a motivational quote and then talk about my attempts, struggles and successes (hopefully!) with getting (and staying) motivated to do what I need to do to lose weight.

I'm sure that Mother Teresa was talking about something more profound than losing weight...but right now, for me, losing weight is a profound challenge. I know it is for a lot of people so I want to write this series for two reasons.

One is to help myself and others with the motivational side of weight loss. There are tons of ways to lose weight - many of them terrible, a few of them great. Most work at first, only a a few actually help you keep the weight off after the initial loss. However, the one thing that is needed for any weight loss program to work, is motivation. None of them are going to work unless the person doing them has the internal drive to do what is required long enough to lose the weight and then to incorporate the new behaviors into their daily lives so that they can keep the weight off. That is the hard part!

The second reason is for accountability for myself. If I'm posting and trying to help others lose weight, I'd better be walking the walk while I'm talking the talk!

A brief history of my battle with weight. Most of my adult life after college I have struggled with weight. I didn't lose weight before my wedding like most people do. I knew I wasn't the skinniest I had ever been but since my husband had proposed, he loved me the way I was and it didn't matter. So we went along fine until a few months into our new marriage my husband watched in horror (and somehow he stayed around...Thank GOD!)as I had a complete meltdown in front of my closet one morning trying to get ready for work. I literally had NOTHING in my closet that fit me. And it wasn't one of those "I'm whining that I have nothing to wear but I really mean that I don't have anything I want to wear" rants. Not one pair of pants in my closet would fit me. It was devastating, embarrassing and very depressing. Soon after this terrible experience, I heard about Weight Watchers and decided to give it a shot. I went to a meeting THAT night. I lost 40lbs and reached Lifetime Membership with Weight Watchers which was such a great accomplishment that filled me with pride!

After reaching my goal, I decided to help others do the same and went to work for Weight Watchers. I started as a receptionist (weigher) and moved on to be a leader. I even worked for the local franchise, which has since been sold back to WW Intl., as a receptionist coordinator. It was a great way to keep the weight off since I had to weigh in monthly in order to keep my job!

I left WW during my pregnancy with my first child. After losing so much weight the first time I was so confident that no matter how much baby weight I put on, I would lose it easily afterwards because I had the skills and knowledge of how to do it. Heck - I taught and mentored people on how to do it for several years! I just knew that I would have no trouble getting back to my goal weight. Unfortunately, that did not happen. It didn't happen after baby #1 and then it didn't happen after baby #2! When I got pregnant with baby #3 I weighed more than ever before. I was so thrilled about the pregnancy but the one thing that really weighed (pardon the pun) on my mind was that I was going to get even heavier.

That brings me to where I am now which is at the weight I was before I had baby #3. I did not put any weight on with this pregnancy - yeah! Mostly due to the fact that I threw up every day for the first 4 months. Not a great way to do it but it worked so what the heck! But, I'm also the heaviest I've ever been in my whole life and I don't like it...and I don't want to get heavier.

So...here I am. I have the tools, knowledge and ability to lose weight. Of course, it gets harder the older you get and that is one of my big excuses as to why I can't lose the weight. But I know better...it all comes down to motivation. I just can't get going...I can't get motivated...I can't get moving. Maybe by putting it out here on the internet, for all to see - pass or fail...all will see (well, all 4 of you who come here every once in a while anyway) and I'll be more motivated to actually do it this time!

My first step is to start trying. Like the quote says...I just have to try. Since I'm technically not cleared to diet or start exercising yet after having my baby, I'm going to start with a very small but important goal that is a must in any weight loss effort. WATER...drinking water and lots of it! You're supposed to have at least six 8oz glasses of water...eight of them for nursing moms like me. So...to reach this goal, I'm going to make an effort to drink a glass of water each time I nurse Campo. It's a great way to remember to do it since he nurses about 8 times a day. Hopefully I can try to fit a few more in as well. And, I'm hoping this will be a good way to start getting disciplined!!

Stay tuned for next week's post (they won't always be this long - I promise!)...by then I'll have had my 6 week post-partum visit and that won't be an excuse anymore...bummer! But...with Lent around the corner, I think one of the things I'll be giving up will also help me in my weight loss effort...is killing 2 birds with one stone for Lent allowed?? I sure hope so!