Motivation. Inspiration.
Both are things that urge people towards completing goals in their lives.
I started this weight loss process for real back in January 2010. I started looking at pictures of myself and realized how heavy I’d gotten. I had gained weight in college, but once I graduated and moved back home I was able to get the weight off. For my older sister’s wedding in 2006 I was down to 126 pounds…my lowest weight since high school.
Almost 4 years later (January 2010) I was weighing in at almost 160 pounds. At 5’2″. Yikes. Literally the most I’d ever weighed in my life. Weight gain of 34 pounds in almost 4 years. I can’t believe I’m even typing these numbers out for all eternity on the Internet. But like I said, this blog is to track my journey and those numbers are a part of it!!
I helped start up a wellness program at my office and got on the weight loss train. Since last January I have lost a total of 16 pounds. Photos of your fat ass can really motivate you…but I’m not done yet!
So what about inspiration? I truly believe that motivation does not last unless you have been inspired to do something. Think about it…I have used the picture of myself in a bikini from my sister’s wedding as my “motivation” to lose weight before. And while it may have worked for awhile, I always eventually found excuses to quit and lost my motivation. This time, instead of just using pictures for motivation, I’ve actually got inspiration as well.
I’m inspired by my friends and family that are trying to change their lifestyle too. Since I’ve begun my journey this time around, more and more people are telling me about the things they are doing to try and change their lives. Having this support system inspires me to do my best. Seeing other people make the changes and stick to them inspires me to do it as well.
I’m also inspired by the thought of starting a family. I want to be at my healthiest weight whenever I decide to get pregnant and the thought of being healthy for my future children inspires me to really work on this lifestyle change.
And last but not least, I am inspired by the thought of how healthy my body is starting to not only look, but feel. It’s easy to get inspired when you are all of a sudden starting to be able to do things that you couldn’t before. This is coming from a person who was easily winded by walking up a flight of stairs and now takes a spin class at least once a week and can bike 13 miles. How’s that for inspiration?! And I know that I can continue to push my body to even greater successes!
Inspiration is more enduring than motivation…but I think you need both to make a change. I think the key to motivating yourself is to find what inspires you. So, what inspires you???
“Instead of motivation look for inspiration. Inspiration comes from the same word as spirit. When you are inspired, the spirit moves you.”
-Deepak Chopra
Jess, if it makes you feel any better…I have ALWAYS thought you looked healthy and great! I was totally surprised when you posted your weight on here, because you definitely never looked it to me!:) Thanks for being an inspiration to me, as well! Weight loss is definitely hard, but I agree, it helps to have people going through the same journey to hold each other accountable. You can do it girl! And thirteen miles on a bike is no easy feat! Keep up the GREAT work!!
I hope you’ll post more. I’ve been struggling with the whole inspiration thing for a while. First it was my wedding but that came and went as did me actually doing anything.
I think I work pretty hard and don’t see any results and so I get lazy again. I’d love to hear more about how you get up and just do it.