Is Vanity Enough?

A couple of months ago, I was chatting with a friend about our shared weight loss goal.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she explained how ugly she thought she looked with all the extra baby weight.  Every morning she would wake up, look in the mirror, and tell herself how terrible she looked.  Then she would go about her day, making choices that would change her appearance.  She pushed herself faster and harder on the treadmill.  She said no to the chocolate cravings.  She was motivated to change.

Is vanity enough motivation for you?   It is not enough for me.  For years I tried to fit back into the pre-baby #3 jeans (I had given up hope for the pre-baby #1).   I can tell myself that I want to fit into them, but the jeans I have now look good on.  I am beautiful the way I am.  (So are you!)  So why change then?

Is it a magic number on the scale you vowed to never surpass.  Do you want to avoid diabetes?  Do you need to be able to shop till the store closes, not till you drop?

My weight/ health breakthrough came when I reconnected with my goal.  IRONMAN!  I love triathlons.  Sprints are fun, but I had not bulked up to a longer distance, let alone let myself dream of training for the big kahuna (KONA in my book). If I want to be able to swim 2.5, bike 119, and run 26.2 in 16 hours or less, I can not be carrying around 40 lbs of baggage.  END OF STORY!!!

...but it was only the beginning because FINALLY I had sufficient motivation to change my lifestyle.

April 2011 with my Aunt Janie

I started to quiz all my fit, healthy friends about how they made changes in their life and diet.  I knew my diet was to blame.  I already exercised 5 days a week, lifted weights 2 days a week, and trained for various races.  I had run marathons, done 2 a day workouts with little weight change.  Exercise wasn't enough for me.

A couple of friends mentioned Weight Watches.  It worked for them, so I thought I would give it a try.  Boy has it worked for me!!!!  I am down 25 lbs in 4 months.  Boy is exercising easier with less weight to carry around.  I am planning my races for the next year and looking toward KONA  in 2017.  (I know it is 5 years away, I am a slow, not as chubby triathlete.  I have to work up to it!)

October 2011 25lbs lost with Weight Watchers Points Plus

What is your motivation?