This is a sponsored post about finding a way to motivate myself. Opinions are my own. So here’s the thing. You know the “wagon” that I fall OFF of a lot? Well, I’ve been off it so long I’m not sure I could find it again. I actually kind of started a new one. But it’s time, and I need to figure out some kind of something so I can MOTIVATE ME and kick my rear into gear. Push my derriere into the air. Move my feet to some kind of beat. I have been eating better. MUCH better. That’s helping. I have more energy. But it’s time for me to look into some weight loss programs again. Or have a personal someone come over and scream in my face and make me do the loathed 8 letter word E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E. I have to.
So here’s where you come in. And you. And you and you and you and your cousin….neighbor…whoever. I need the help. I need real life, dragging through the mud stories of people like you and me who don’t have a trainer but who have honest-to-goodness real life before and after weight loss/weight loss success stories. My friend A recently lost 53 lbs in just a few months and she’s looking- and feeling- downright fabulous. And I am so so so SO proud of her!! I don’t know how I feel about doing “shakes” and stuff. I have a hard time with food textures.
Summer will be trickier for finding time to get things done, I have all three kids all day long right with me… Quite honestly, I have been moving a lot more- I’m in almost constant motion walking kids to and from things at the swim club and swimming a lot there and here in our pool at home. . If I could get my littlest one to remove her tentacles I could maybe swim laps. Or figure out how to swim for a few laps with her on my back (I have tried this, I’m not sure that’s a great idea…). The motion and having to snack on and drink only what we’ve brought with us for the day has also cut way back on caloric intake so I’ve definitely started moving the scale in the right direction but I want to FEEL better. All around. There are water aerobics classes 2 afternoons a week at the club for adults, I’m hoping to find a way to keep the kids busy and still let me participate.
I’ve done the Couch to 5k program successfully in the past and will do it again-I just don’t actually like the running part. (Truthfully, I’m more a perky walker, and I think I’ve admitted that before….slow and steady is my pace!) So maybe that. Weight loss programs aren’t my favorite thing. Not always my cup of tea. Plus, there are so many to choose from. SO Many. How do you know what to choose?
Really, I’m just tired. I am tired of hating how I feel. Tired of hating how I look. Tired of feeling “blech” more often than not and tired of my own damned excuses. So let’s play a motivate game. Please? Thank you? Let’s motivate me to find the right from the many weight loss programs out there that may WORK for me!!!
Danielle @ We Have It All says
I agree, wearing a pedometer during the day works wonders. You can see how many steps you take one day and it kinda makes you want to do more the next day. I feel ya on the wagon part – I’ve fallen off too. Not quite sure how to get back on.
Stefani says
I want to lose at least 15 pounds but I lack in the diet motivation department too. I LOVE to cook and the word diet doesn’t seem to work around my house.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
The only thing and I mean the ONLY thing that has EVER worked for me is to count calories. I can eat anything I want as long as I account for it within the numbers per day. I can’t do any of those restrictive diets!
Ann Breen says
Hi Brett! WOW ~ We could have had quite the convo had I known this the other day. One word = Paleo. It is very simple & easy. Google it ~ you can find eating plans & recipes. Basically eat proteins, veges (raw & cooked) 1 fruit per day preferably berries, oils: Olive, coconut, etc. NO: processed foods! For a sweet treat I allow myself some Ghiardelli 60% Cocoa chips with a handful of coconut flavored almonds. WATER ~ drinks lots to flush out the bad toxins in your body. Get in that pool EVERY day ~ no need to swim: JOG around, do laps across or around, leg lifts, any movement is exercise. As I have become older it is harder & what works for one person may not work for another. Bottom line is eating healthier & activity. My 30 yo daughter had been going to the local gym EVERY day for months but could not lose those last stubborn 15 lbs. She began eating Paleo, quit the gym and instead jumped in her pool w/ her kids and within 3~4 weeks she lost it! I myself have lost 10 lbs. over the last 8 weeks… kind of fell off the “wagon” during Memorial Day & Fourth of July but I am back on now & at it again!
I can email you some links if you like ~ let me know 🙂
Brett says
Sure send links over!! There probably wasn’t time for chatting 😉 you guys were super busy!
Jennifer Soltys says
Diet-to-Go is pretty awesome. Their food is really tasty and the portions are big enough that I was never left hungry. Other than that, just try to MOVE more all day. Instead of one huge workout, just move around all the time! Seriously, I do butt squeezes while I blog! LOL
Angela says
I have been feeling the same way. I am so overweight and tired all of the time. I wish I could find the motivation to actually do something about it. I hope to soon be reading about your weight loss success!
Sammie Warwick says
I would be the first to tell you Weight Watchers work, but with kids it’s hard to do. I have been using Sparkpeople.com. I love this website! Everything is free and you can do it at your leisure at home. I believe the most important thing in trying to lose weight (at least for me) is to keep up with what you eat. But I don’t like counting and figuring. They do it for you! You tell them your info, such as weight, height, etc and how much you want to lose and they tell you what to eat and how long it will take you to lose it. It really works! They have trackers for everything. But the best thing I like about this page is they have what they call “Spark Teams”: groups of people who choose to join the team and motivate each other with encouragement, ideas, etc. I am currently on 3 different ones: one for my state, one for my age, and one because I am diabetic. Oh, and did I mention, they even have special plans for medical reasons too. My plan tells me how many calories, carbs, and fats I should have with each meal and 2 snacks. I have never been able to find anything that I will stick to like this. It really works when I work it.
Brett says
Thanks Sammie! I’ll check it out.
Pam says
Brett you should move near me and we could motivate each other. I need a good kick in the seat of the pants too!
Brett says
YES! and we’d giggle on walks!
Tara says
Yes, my fitbit keeps me motivated. I am sure you can do this! For me it’s a constant battle, but one I refuse to lose! 🙂
Janel C says
Oh, I’m so right there with you! We can challenge each other!!
Allie Burdick says
The real answer is YOU. You can do any program out there. Any program that combines exercise with a healthy diet will work IF YOU WORK IT. It’s like I tell people who say “I could never run a marathon” well, you have to WANT to do it and then you make a plan and if you work really, really, really, hard for what you want – you will succeed. So you have to ask yourself HONESTLY – how badly do you want it?…and then go do it:-) I know you can!!!
Brett says
I think you are right!!
Rita A says
I feel the way you do. I lost more than fifty pounds since last year and then I was put on a new med – weight gain. Ugh. I am now struggling to get the extra pounds off plus the original 25 more I wanted to lose. My original success is with the app – My Fitness Pal. It keep track of all your foods. It really works if you are faithfully using it to track every bite in your mouth. Plus you can build a support group of friends if they are using the app as well. I am restarting my efforts this week. Check it out for smart phones – My Fitness Pal it also has a website http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
brenda r says
I have lost over 60lbs just doing Zumba. I am now an instructor something I didn’t think I would ever be. I have before and after pictures and I can tell you I feel fantastic. I was pushing almost 215 at my heaviest. I was on prevention.com because Zumba helped me – here is the link to that. Mind you that pictures was taken last year and I am 15lbs lighter now. http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/zumba-changed-my-life I am the the first woman in the slide show. No shakes or programs, just smaller portions, more veggies and water and cut the late night snacking.
Brett says
Congrats!! That is awesome!!
tess says
It’s all about tracking and i seriously dont know how to do it- i post about it one day and the next day i dont- ugh- im so mad at myself -i cant hardly stand it..
good luck to you
JulieK says
I’m not very good at the yelling in your face part but I seriously will go perky walking with you anytime!
Tara at Hill House Rock says
I’ve lost 70lbs tailoring my own weight loss program! You can start here, then peruse my blog for more info!
http://hillhouserock.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-im-losing-weight.html
Hope it helps 🙂
Brett says
wow, Tara!! Thanks!! I will check it out
Angela says
Hello! I just happen to be going through my facebook before bed and I saw your post, then read your blog and I just had to answer. I am a mom of 3, a lawyer, co-owner of a successful photography biz (Capture A Moment Photography, you can find me on FB) and in my 30 somethings as well. I have tried every diet plan out there and I love my newest venture. You are probably wondering how the heck I could possibly help. Weeeeelllll, here it is. I work as a distributor for ItWorks. We are an all natural company and have products for mama’s like us to help us feel better about ourselves. Maybe the whole issue for you is the program itself? I have a heck of a time counting calories, a heck of a time counting points, a heck of a time eating different meals then everyone else (Jenny Craig, Nutri-system). But I do enjoy wrapping my jiggly parts. I also enjoy taking supplements that make my body happier and we even sell fat-fighters that help with carb and fat absorption without the icky side effects (Alli). We also have thermofit that helps boost that metabolism without all the icky side effects of crazy that comes with other weightloss systems (innutra). So I would suggest you try this stuff out. Wrap some jigglies, enjoy some Greens with your Profit Protein shake, take a fat fighter and thermo fit before your meals and move on about your day. I say live life and let this stuff help you with your goals with out being stuck in a program. 🙂 That’s my two cents anyway.
Connie says
I like to use a pedometer and try to get 10,000 steps a day. I tend to do it more if I get a reward. Walgreen’s has a good program for that. Also, make sure you have enough Vitamin D and calcium because if your bones are tired, you will not want to work out. Good luck:)
Brett says
thanks Connie! great tips! i should dig up my pedometer. i do have one