I’ve been thinking a lot about motivation lately. I always hated the way I looked and had low self esteem. I wanted to lose weight, but I never wanted it enough. I love food. Plain and simple. And wanting to look better was never enough motivation to turn away delicious – and fattening – food.
It wasn’t until I really started thinking about all the things that I didn’t (or couldn’t) do because of my weight that I had enough motivation to do something about it. I actually made a list: Some of the items on the list I had previously told myself I didn’t care about, even though I secretly did. Other things had never even occurred to me that I was missing out on until I really thought about it.
The items on the list ranged from the very little – being comfortable crossing my legs or being able to tie a normal-sized towel around myself after a shower, to the big – being light enough to go skydiving (there’s a weight limit). Some of these things I couldn’t physically do because I was obese, and some I just felt uncomfortable doing. Either way, my weight was holding me back.
I was shocked at how many things ended up on that list. It made me sad and angry to see how much my weight affected my quality of life – and not just my appearance or self esteem. I was literally missing out on life because I was fat.
Even though I haven’t reached my goal weight yet, I have lost enough to be able to do a lot of the things on that list. For instance, I cross my legs all the time now (and I can’t believe how comfortable it is!) and I went skydiving last year (story to come!).
Making that list was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself; I refer to it often as I struggle to lose these last 35 pounds, and it is some serious motivation to keep going. It’s amazing how much my life has changed after losing 80 pounds, and in far more ways than just looking better.
Though I won’t lie – being told that if I were President, I’d be Babe-raham Lincoln feels pretty damn good.
