What Motivates You?

[gracecame]

Again I've no doubt missed many, by all means please share ~smile

[HeidiN]

I wanna be skinny :)

[LadyBelle]

I hate being fat. The best clothes are made for skinny people. Also when you are a size 12 they think you are skinny, so all clothes cling and don't give a *bleep* if you have bulges are not.

I want to be in great shape. I want to run with my kids, and play with them. I want to not be to tired to do what they want to do, or to take them for a walk or to park.

I want to be alert and able to do my homework. I don't want the crankyness of hunger or diets to make me snap at my loved ones.

I want people to glare at me as they eat thier rice cakes and think "I hate those thin girls who can eat pork chops or omletts with plenty of cheese." (if they only knew)

I want to have great flexability. I also want me knees not to hurt when I kneel, run, or put other pressure on them.

[gracecame]

LOL Heidi, i think that means you love how thin feels!

i want to answer that i'm motivated for my family BUT also say for myself i don't want to get any serious health concern.

i guess i think whether i have a family or not, i need to want this for myself so my vote goes to "i don't have any health concerns yet and don't want any".
:roll:

[pre3teach]

I am motivated by all of those things! My health how I feel, my family, how it looks too....And I love when you can wear something that fits well looks good and you can move well in it!!!! (Something that is very hard to do when heavy!)

[smchan]

Originally posted by LadyBelle
I want to be alert and able to do my homework. I don't want the crankyness of hunger or diets to make me snap at my loved ones.

Amen to that...

And I'll add, I want to go on a cruise. :) (My reward once I've hit my goal weight.)

Sam

[LadyBelle]

And I'll add, I want to go on a cruise.

They have Atkins cruises I've heard about. All the food is low carb including the desserts, they have physical activities, and seminars about living low carb. There is a thread somewhere were taking one was being discussed. They mentioned the average weight loss for people on the cruise was 4-5 pounds by the time the cruise was done :)

One motivator for me might be that since it is an Atkins cruise there will be alot of people there shaped like me and I could bare going on deck in a bathing suit.

[nicksmom]

I am motivated mostly for my kids, but I love looking in the mirror and seeing a new improved ME! :roll: :wave:

[sunshine33]

I HAVE A COUPLE MOTIVATERS.

1: I WANT TO STOP SHOPPING IN THE WOMANS SECTION.

2: MY DH THINKS I CAN'T DO IT. (I'M GOING TO PROVE HIM WRONG)

[mrschmelz]

I don't want to be fat anymore. That about sums it up for me. Isn't it funny how after finding low carb suddenly being "fat" is a CHOICE. Before this I had tried everything and nothing helped Now I seriously see myself in 3 years as being skinny. I say 3 years because I think in all honesty that is how long it will take to get in the tip top shape I am seeking.

[pre3teach]

I completely agree about the choice to be fat. :idea: I too felt, (and with good reason) that I had no control over my weight. BUT thanks to low carbing I know have choices!! It felt ssooooooooooooo good when the weight started coming off for the first time in years and years!! I still have alot to learn but with this forum it is much easier! :D

[yvonne326]

All the above. I love the way I feel (energy, healthy); I love the way I look (trim and slim); I love the way it re-kindled my love-life (hubby is so attentive..more than ever); I love the way I can go and shop and have fun shopping and trying on clothes; I love the fact that my overall health has improved and the fact that I no longer am an unhappy, grouchy woman!

[EvenLower]

I love the fact that I can do 6 hour hikes now to places I've never been.
I also wanna look good for the girlfriend ;)

[amiee3377]

I was getting pretty big so I basically refused to buy anything larger than a size 14 so that meant I had to lose weight b/c 14's were getting tight. I want to live. I am 5'1 I shouldn't be carrying a lot of weight I wasn't made for it. I want to look good in my wedding gown. I'm not married yet so I can work on it.

[gatto]

The end of a bad relationship. I am doing it strictly for other people.

[Jadie]

I'm tired of being out of breath. I'm tired of walking into a room and feeling gigantic next to the other women. I'm tired of wearing clothes I don't really like because it's the only thing that looks decent!

[pepsi max]

all of the above plus the fact that this woe gives me so much energy and a general feeling of wellbeing.


christine

[djkismet]

well, i go to las vegas once a year, and if you have ever seen the pool at hard rock, that is my motivation.
although my reason for doing this woe is so i will feel better and look better to myself.

[Paris]

I have health concerns; they are not serious yet and I do not want them to be. I also love to be active - cycling, swimming, hiking, etc. It is easier to do these things when you are not carrying around an extra 100 pounds.

Plus... I'd like to be slim since I've never been.

[georgene7]

Yep, I'd have to say vanity is my main motivator. I wanna look great in clothes (and a bikini to boot)! I'm tired of trying to "hide" body parts with certain clothing, etc. (Carrying a big purse in a way that it hides half my arse isn't really fooling anyone anyway. :rolleyes: )

I'd also have to say I'm tired of being jealous of thin women, what they can wear, and how men look at them. I want to be the thin woman men stare at!

And I want to get married! At this weight, I just don't feel comfortable with myself to start a relationship with a guy.

And I'd like to be rich, have a Jaguar and...er, um, I guess LCing can't really help me there, eh? :)

[cc48510]

I lost a close family member (Age 51) to Heart Disease/Diabetes. I looked at myself and realized I needed to do something. Fortunately, a friend told me about Atkins. Fat loss is now my main motivator. Little things like being able to wear Non-Plus size shorts really help. Hell, just being able to wear shorts again is nice.

[hysteria]

For MYSELF and my health! Although DH paying me LOTS more attention helps too ;)
I love the fact that I am no longer embarassed to wear spaghetti strap tank tops and shorts. I have a ways to go before goal, but then it will be cute tatoos and bikinis :D

[tasche]

Inwprk in an industry where being overweight is not really acceptable and image rules. I love it though so I want to suceed for my looks and my career

[DebPenny]

I'm not low-carbing to lose weight. I've been a low-carber now for over 1 1/2 years. And I love it. I have cured the ills I had when I started (PCOS, pre-diabetic) and I'm more active and happier than I've ever been. I've only reduced about 30 pounds, but if I never lose another pound, I'll still be ecstatic with my new life as a low-carber.

;-Deb

[MizSteaks]

Mine is definitely for health concerns. I do NOT want more heart surgery...it really, totally sucks. :(

Besides, the scars make me look like a game board and we'd have to change the game rules if they added more incision lines. :D

[SDgrandma]

Good health was my reason for starting. High blood pressure, enlarged heart, breathing problems, and prediabetic. Now that those are getting under control, the weight loss is becoming important. Of course, losing weight will help with the health also.

[muddy]

I was worried about my health and finding life difficult, feeling tired, etc.
When the weight started coming off then the vanity thing kicked in. I'd love not to be the fattest woman in the room. It is great to buy normal clothing in normal shops too, no more plus sizes!

[allatonce]

My main moto was my dad lost his leg from being
diabetic.I had to make a change.Could hardly stand to be alive,I felt so bad from carbs and I am only 44.I feel so much better.And it doesnt take that long to lose the aches and pains,just from some diatary changes.I was willing to try..And glad I did.

[livinlarge]

It mainly started out as a health thing plus my DH was pushing me to lose weight.

DH had gained about 40lb's and wanted to take some off before we went on vacation in early july. When he started to really lose weight I did Not want to be left behind so I started in earnest and lost 10lbs before vacation. I had also been having problems with high blood pressure and have a lot of diabetics in the family.

The second reason was my two small children. I don't want them to ever be embarrassed by me (aside from the usual snotty teen stuff) and I want to set a good example.

Now that I have lost 12lb's and I'm down a size I'm more excited to look better.

I got an invitation to a friends wedding that will be in October. I want to be rid of that fear that hits all overweight people when they get an invitation to a dressy affair.

I don't want to be the woman that has her life together, if she could only get that weight problem under control.

I don't want to be the woman that "could be so pretty if she lost the weight" :roll:

[Kristine]

Most of my motivation comes from the 'punishment' I'll receive if I stray: besides weight gain, I'll have massive PMS again, depression, bad acne, and probably end up diabetic. :( This takes little effort for me now. Since I'm on a roll and I'm healthy and happy, why go back?

[rspacher]

I want to be in the best shape that I can be. My kids are starting to get old enough to recieve peer preasure on how they look in school, and I want to be the best example that I can be. I also want to be able to keep up with them in any outdoor activity they do, or at the very least participate with them. I also like the way I feel, no more carb coma's.
Besides looking good for the wife never hurts, she looks good for me.

[Meg_S]

My reasons have changed along the way. When I first heard about low carb several years ago as a 17 year old I would have given my first born to look the way I do now. I thought being skinny would solve all of my problems and make people (family included) love me, and stop be from being the ugly duckling among my pretty skinny sisters.

Now people call me slim (I don't think I am) but I'm 5 10" and pretty fit - I weight train, and hike, and do sprints. My reasons now for wanting to be slimmer/fitter NOW are; the fitter I get, the more I love how I physically feel, the more I love myself all around, and I can deep down even be better to others.. and not only on the surface because I am no longer jealous (usually hehe. I don't feel self conscious in most of my snug clothing, and when I walk around in heels and a mini skirt jaws drop. I love it and want more ;) Plus I love *feeling* hot for my husband, whether I am objectively attractive or not - it's how I feel that counts because it 100% affects the way I act, move, carry myself and look. I still want to be rock climbing and doing chinups when I'm 75. I want to always be progressing in SOME physical aspect - flexibility, strength, muscle mass, agility, endurance etc.

ALSO!!!! When I start having babies I need to be in tip top shape to take care of those little guys. I've carried a 3 year old up a mountain and it wasn't fun. And when they get older there is no way I am going to be left behind in any sport/activity by my fit husband and agile teenagers.

Meg

ps: I'll admit, I still feel a little flubby around some of my sisters (the ones with ab definition) but as a group.. when I'm with them I no longer feel unnatractive and like the ugly one. It's cool.

[suleika]

Fed up of the clothes-buying thing. Of the shoe-lacing heartburn thing, the being dressed in unflattering costumes for on stage, the effort of running, the chins, the waistline, the mirrors, the lack of flexibility, the non-view of muscle, the disguising of my latent gracefulness.

Gez

[Galadriell]

At 46, I felt the first terrible signs of aging: slowing metabolism, insomnia, headache, backpain, etc. I was an old woman.

Now, after loosing 32 lbs, and having a vigorous exercise program, I have a new life.
Every Saturday morning at sunrise we (with my 46 year old husband) start our 2 hour run. During these 2 hours we reborn, we became 26 year old again...

This is my motivation: to feel forever young.

[Margme]

I'm motivated by:

(1) NOT FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE, EMBARRASED, BLOATED OR JUST LOOKING FAT when I leave the house. I want to be free to be happy like I usually am without worry about what I look like!

(2) NOT WORRYING ABOUT MY HEALTH - High cholesterol, heart problems, adult onset diabetes, etc., etc., I want to live to see my young daughter's kids (if she has any) :)

(3) FEELING ATTRACTIVE AGAIN would be fun too....I guess. I used to be told I was gorgous in my 20's and 30's. I had a knock out body ....I think sometimes secretly I'm afraid of being there again....don't like stares from strangers (men) ....suspicous looks from woman....come ons from men I do know! Not sure if I liked ever being looked at like that. Want to be liked for who I am in my heart. Don't think I have to worry about that this time around tho....I am in my mid 40s and well I will be appreciated from my heart and soul. I gain a terrific amout of weight during pregnancy and both kids are 9 years apart....so I am definely holding on to the weight this time. thanks for letting me vent this..............geez didn't even know it was there!!!!!!!!! :baby:

[vashka25]

My main motivation......to prove to myself I can!

After years of "half hearted attempts" I decided this diet, this time, this is IT. Come hell or high water I am going to change my life, and I already see it happening every day...can't tell you how much it excites me.

In the past few months I've graduated college, I'm starting a new and challenging career, Im moving alone to a new country, Im single again, and to top it off Im creating a new, more radiant and beautifully confident ME!!!!

There are no obstacles anymore....just exciting challenges for me to leap over!

[C-u-lean]

Hmmmm....There are many for me, most of which everyone else has already mentioned
~I am tired of being fat
~I am worried about diabetes
~I don't want my daughter or any
successive children to be embarassed by me
~I want to be able to keep up with my children
~I want to enjoy shopping for clothes and not
have to look around to see if anyone I know is
in the store before heading to the plus sizes
~I want to do more of the physical activities that
I love without being to tired
I could go on and on, but mostly wanted to say, thank you for starting this thread. It is a great inspiration

[Meg_S]

Thought of another biggie for me... I want to prove to all of the people who don't believe in low carb that it works. Of course, to look at me and how far I've come, and even how I am compared to a LOT of people you can say of course it works!! However, because I still feel like I am not "there" yet, I feel like people can say "well, you haven't lost all of the weight you wanted, why aren't you super slim then if low carb is so great?"

It would mean so much to me to reach my fitness goals. Not for other people, but for myself and for the sense of accomplishment it would give me because it took so much work!! It would also be nice to have the kind of figure that leaves no doubt that what I am doing is "right" and not just some fad diet that doesn't work. I get so tired of people who don't know anything about it lecturing me about how "you need carbohydrates to fuel your brain" and how "all that fat" is so unhealthy. Of course they're imagining I stuff my face with deep fried foods and sausages all day long. They wouldn't know how healthy an avocado salad with flax oil and wine vinegar and all kinds of other goodies was because they'd be too busy buying starch laden fat free dressings, and "heart healthy" margarine to go with their fat free bagels.

These last 10 lbs are the most stubborn but I know lc with a lot of exercise :yay::wiggle:will get me there looking nice and buff while I'm at it.

Meg

[Sasigal]

I want to lose weight and feel better about myself.

[fishburg]

I saw my mother have a stroke and how it has effected to entire family!! Also I want my kids to live a healthy life style!!!

[cwbylvr27]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, but what motivates me is my closet that has A LOT of clothes I can't wear. LOL :roll:

[bigguyjonc]

Ok like Kevin Spacey sais in American Beauty

"I want to look good naked"

oh and the health thing doesn't hurt either.
:)

Jon

[Deiesse]

Ever since I gained all this weight, I've wanted to be thinner, but I chose the health option on the survey--don't have any, don't want to get any--because wishing I was thin was never enough to motivate me to do anything about it, especially when with low-fat, low calorie dieting was the only option I knew of then.

The fear of Type-II Diabetes was what finally clinched it for me, and I'm so glad I found the LC approach, or I still might still be headed down that path.

Dorothy

[LovableLC]

Looking at my boyfriends perfect body and feeling that I should be the equal in female form.

[mschube]

Well, I agree with almost everything that has been mentioned and one of my reasons to stay with this WOE is for better health. My mother died at age 57 of a heart attack. I'm almost 40 and don't want to go down that path. :nono:

Also, my DH has lost about 30 pounds doing his own version of LCing - close to Atkins but he takes in a few more carbs. I didn't want to get left behind! Funny, I'm the one that had been on the perpetual diet my whole life and he decides to loose weight and does the first time out - just not fair!! :bash: I guess jealousy is a good motivator.

However, my main reason for wanting to loose weight is really to prove I do have control over food and it does not control me anymore. I can determine what I eat instead of listening to the sugar gods! :lol: That was really hard for me to come to grips with, but cutting out the carbs really help curb the cravings and clear up my thinking - well, at least some of the time! :)

[Deiesse]

Also, my DH has lost about 30 pounds doing his own version of LCing close to Atkins but he takes in a few more carbs.

Just for the record, Atkins doesn't impose a fixed limit on the number of carbs, except on induction. After induction, the limit is set by your body; it's the maximum number of carbs you CAN consume and still lose weight (MCLL). For active people, this number can be fairly high. Some people choose to stay on induction for extended periods of time, but this is a choice, not a requirement of the plan.

Although I'm sure you read the Atkins book and are already aware of this, I just wanted to clarify it for any newbies who may be reading this thread, since this is a common misconception about Atkins.

[mschube]

Hi Deiesse. Thanks for the clarification. I do understand the 20 gram limit is for induction and then moving on to OWL you can slowly increase carbs at 5 gram increments until you reach the level at which you are still loosing (if you still want to loose).

What I should have said was that my DH didn't go through induction and is not counting anything. He did not (and does not) formally do Atkins - he just cut out a lot of carby foods. I hope I didn't confuse anyone and really advocate that anyone wanting to follow Atkins and do it right - read the book :read2: Thanks again!

[lburnikell]

I wanna look good and feel good!!

[Margme]

There are so many reasons for getting in shape and not being overweight or obese....yup I said it. The first time I was called that by a gal at the gym I was horrified. That's all changed now and I am not in the obese charts anylonger! :dazzle: One of the many reasons to get in shape that stick out in my mind right now is the feeling when your clothes just hang right. That feeling when you are just so comfortable in your body and your clothes.....it feel so freee!!