I started out weighing 98 lbs prior to being pregnant with my eldest son. A year after he was born I weighed 115 lbs prior to having my daughter. I weighed 110 right after I had her. When she was 3 I started gaining weight. I went up to 142 lbs within a months time. I stayed that way until I had my youngest son. After I had him I went back down to 145 lbs size 13 in jeans. I remained that way until 2011. I went up to 176 lbs in a matter of two months....I didnt change the way I ate, if anything I ate less. I got full faster. I did not know how I could keep gaining weight. In 2013 I was still 176 lbs(size 14/15) and I tried a biggest loser competition at work. I went down to 143 lbs and was fitting a size 11/12 in jeans again. I did it using herbalife and portion control also counting calories. I came in 2nd place and won my money back! But over the course of a year and a half I gained it all back. I started to put on more weight as well. Of course after the competition I had nothing to keep me going. I slowly stopped exercising and I stopped the herbalife as soon as the competition ended and I stopped the portion control about 6 months after that.
This year in April I weighed 195.6 lbs!! I was a size 18/19....I only had size 17 jeans which I could barely zip up but refused to buy the bigger sizes! Over the times in between any competitions I have tried to join gyms and buy workout videos etc, etc....but although I knew I could do it, I lacked the motivation to actually get it done. Part of the reason I gained is that I have been battling depression. I knew I was but I would not admit it to myself, however my actions would show otherwise. Other than work or having to take my kids somewhere, I had no energy to do a damn thing! I felt like I was not the parent my kids deserved. I felt like I really didnt matter. I hated looking at myself! In my head I still pictured myself and saw myself as that 98lb happy go lucky girl...but when I looked in the mirror, I seen a fat person I didnt recognize or know! When I seen a picture of myself, I seen a stranger!
Since the only motivation I had was to make money, I knew I would need to go big to get me off my ass! I joined the camp transformation center in a 6 week 20lb weight loss challenge(yes I know thats a lot of weight to lose in 6 weeks) It was 497 dollar deposit which would rollover to 4 consecutive 6 week challenges before I would get it back! Going in and signing the contract I knew have to do 28 weeks of this would most likely end in me losing the 497 dollars. I also knew if I didnt do this I would just keep getting bigger! I had already developed high cholestoral, Diabitis runs in my family, so I did not want to wait until the doctor told me I had that next. I was considered Obesity level 1 for my height. I did not want to get to level 2. So I joined.
I was able to complete successfully 2 challenges and I did not hit my goal on the 3rd challenge. However I lost 56.4 lbs in 5 months time! I went from 195.6 lbs to 138.8 lbs (squeezing into a size 17 barely to a size 6!) Although I lost 497 dollars, I gained more confidence and a desire to keep going until I do reach my healthy weight of 115 lbs for my height (4 ft 10 in)!
I joined Diet bet to help keep me motivated! I hope I can get there! I hope you all find what motivates you! You can try any diet, meal plan or weight loss program you want but if there is nothing that truly motivates you to keep going no matter what you see on the scale or in your clothes than you will not succeed!
Find that motivation! Ask yourself what will it take to get me off my ass where I will feel like I have to do this or else! Otherwise when that time comes and you ask yourself do I really need to get up right now and exercise or do I really want to eat this or should I just eat out today you will have no reason to go with the better choice and you will end up sabotaging your success.
If you cant find your motivation, Than ask yourself are you happy with you and how you look? Because maybe you are and if you are that is okay! If you have no health concerns than just be you! You are beautiful as long as you are happy with yourself! No one else matters! Maybe that motivation is not there because you are already where you want to be! Walk with confidence.
If you are not happy or are only trying to lose weight for health reasons, Than dig deep to find it, sometimes the things we say that motivates us, is just a set up for failure, because deep down although it sounds like a great motivator to others doesnt mean it is for you! Mine is money! Sounds superficial? Yes! But I know its the only thing that will get me moving. I hate losing money, I will give it my all to keep or win money! Good luck and stay healthy no matter which journey you choose.
I am still on my journey. I hope my story helps you as well!