Looking for motivators can be tricky in a lot of situations. I’m not claiming to be a motivation expert. Really, guys, I am no pro at being on task all the time. I’m not even good enough for varsity. But when I really, really want to accomplish something I get a bit stubborn about it. It’s not always one of my positive traits, but I rely on my stubbornness along with a few other motivators to get me going.
Motivator to Say, “Bye, Baby Weight!”
I’ve decided to lose my baby weight as a 2019 Resolution. My sweet girl is officially 6 weeks old and I should be getting the go-ahead for exercise from the doc on Tuesday! Let me tell you: I am seriously excited. Once you have been told you’re not allowed to do something, not doing it is really annoying.
When I lost my baby weight with my first born, I relied mostly on breastfeeding. (Breastfeeding is magical for your tummy, seriously!) While I’m breastfeeding Nora as well, I’m not losing like I did the first time. I guess my baby-making body is getting used to this form! My son is newly 2, so I don’t feel too bad about it yet.
Nonetheless, I’ll be losing it. My first obvious motivator is that I know I can do this. I’ve lost weight before.
In 2013 I started my senior year of college and weighed 243 pounds. I’m 5’6. I played rugby all 4 years of college (Go Eagles!) but my size helped me to push people around on the pitch. That didn’t mean I didn’t huff miserably the whole time – that is something that started my weight loss journey.
Tell Someone!
We had a new Rugby Club President that asked that we work out at least three times a week during the offseason. She held us accountable by having a sign-in sheet at the university’s on-campus gym. Second motivator: Accountability.
I decided that I didn’t want to finish my senior year of rugby miserably panting across the pitch. I also decided that I didn’t want to finish college at my highest weight ever. (Stubbornness comes into play here!) Thus began my first fitness journey.
Here I am, 4 years later, married with two babies 2 and under, looking to start again. While I’m nowhere near my highest weight – I’d guess under 220 – I am far above what I want to be.
Write it Down
If I didn’t keep track of my goals, I would probably forget them. Let’s be honest here – I’m a mom. Taking care of myself is not something that I think about on the daily. In fact, I question myself about brushing my teeth this morning…
So, if I have trouble remembering the routine care, how would I remember the stuff I don’t do on the regular? Motivator number three: Set your goal and stick to it!
I believe I read somewhere that someone of my height should weigh around 140 pounds. In my personal opinion, I would look too thin at that weight, so I’ve set my goal at 175. That doesn’t mean my weight loss journey ends there! Once completing one goal, add another! If I’m not happy with 175 when I get there, I’ll set a new goal.
Have Support
It’s always good to have a buddy. While telling someone about my plans or actions is awesome in motivating me, I have more fun when I’ve got someone to do the weight loss thing with. Motivator number four: Get a workout buddy!
Once I graduated from college, I moved to a city where I knew no one. So when I met my then-boyfriend-now-husband, one of the things we connected on was our dedication to our fitness. David was a real gym rat. I ran the streets of my new city.
When I ran into some health problems (i.e. fainting at random), David thought it would be safer for me to workout in a secure space and added me to his gym membership. It was a really cool aspect of our relationship – going to the gym together. Even if I thought I was too tired he would say, “Well, I’m going.” And well, I got up and went.
Be Competitive!
I’ve been involved in sports my whole life, so you could say I love a little competition. Sometimes that competition is me, myself, and I. I’ll track things in my workout like how fast I ran a mile on Monday. By Friday, I want to see time knocked off that mile.
Find something athletic to do that involves a little competition. Whether it’s running a marathon or joining a basketball league – if that extra boost is needed – do it!
Motivator five: Beat your best record.
For My Kids
David and I both have fallen off the fitness thing multiple times. Sometimes it’s lasted a few months, sometimes much longer. Like typical married couples, we’ve both put on weight since we got married. I haven’t seen my lowest weight, 193 pounds, since my wedding day in 2015.
When I notice David getting into a bad habit, like drinking a lot of soda, I mention to him how much I want him around when the babies graduate high school, get married, succeed in their careers. I tell him how I want to be married for a long, long time.
That’s a motivator for me, too. When I think of the life ahead of me and the things I’ll get to see my kids do, I want to be around. So, yes, if nothing else, I’ll do that extra workout for just one extra day with my family. Motivator number six: Live the family life.
Eat Well
There’s something fun about finding new, healthy, and fun recipes to try out. Sometimes it’s a gamble, even for me, who eats just about anything (no snails, please). But cooking new meals can honestly motivate me into staying on track, especially if my husband (no veggies kind of guy) likes it too! Seventh motivator: Trying new recipes.
I’m actually really excited to try new recipes this time around because my son loves to be in the kitchen with me while I cook. Sometimes he “helps,” sometimes we have a little dance party, and sometimes he just sits on the counter next to me being cute and trying little bites. So, get yourself a cute toddler!
Schedule it In
So, here’s the truth. I’m an avid to-do lister. Seriously. I have my to-do list done a week ahead of time and I really hate when I don’t follow it. If I put something on my list, you bet it’s getting done. My list is on my phone and I check it more often than I check Facebook and Pinterest combined.
Even as a momma with a clingy toddler, that’s a lot. (I’m working on that, too.)
Once I’m cleared for exercise, it will be on my to-do list, right after ‘Clark’s bath’ and before ‘Devotionals.”
So there’s my eighth motivator: Put it on your calendar!
Let’s Do This!
There is a lot of effort that goes into losing weight – both physically and emotionally. The important part is that we give it our best shot.
I’m a firm believer in the You can do anything you set your mind to way of life. Take that piece of truth and run with it. Believe. When you doubt, write down your motivators. Pray. Listen to the man upstairs tell you that you’ve got the strength to push on.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. -Isaiah 40:29
How do you find the motivation to run that extra quarter mile or eat your veggies? Let me know in the comments and join me on this journey!