Finding Motivation (Health Blog Series, Post #2)

A lot of people feel like they're too fat.

I'm going to be honest. Unless you are severely obese (and a doctor has told you you need to lose weight for your health) then this is probably not going to be a good enough motivator for you. And perhaps even then, it won't be enough.

Your homework for this week will be to find out what will motivate you for months, even years, to help you. Looking good isn't usually enough of a motivational tool to last that long; especially when you're confronted with your favorite dessert being waved under your nose.

Just thinking you're fat is a self-esteem issue. Now, losing weight might be able to help you with that, but how is that going to help if you gain it all back? It's not. This is not a band-aid for some bigger issue. I'm doing this because I want to help you with your health - not so you can feel beautiful, or hot, or attractive, or whatever word you choose.

If you want to feel that way, that's fine. It's not a bad thing. But trying to lose weight to adhere to some society's version of beauty is not a good way to start.

I want you to choose an inner reason, and one that will keep you going for a very long time. My family has a history of heart problems. For me, my motivation is, at least in part, fear. Fear that I'll go through some of the same things. My grandmother had a triple bypass surgery. My uncle had a quadruple bypass surgery. The grandfather on the other side of my family just had a stint put in.

I don't want any of that. I don't want high blood pressure, or heart attacks; any kind of heart disease scares me silly because I've seen some of the things it can do to you.

Maybe for you, you'll want to be around to enjoy grandchildren. Or you'll want to be able to play sports with your kids. Maybe you want more energy so you can do more.

But please don't pick an exterior reason. Or, not JUST an exterior reason. Pick something that really lights a fire under you, and post it in the comments.