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What keeps you motivated to lose weight? 
This question runs through our minds daily. We were reminded of it again when we ran across a blog article that shared a weight-loss success story.
It's easy for all of us to let our motivation die, especially when we hit Labor Day BBQs and head into the fall.
Sometimes, we get re-charged by hearing from someone else who reached their goal. So take a moment and let us know -- what keeps you motivated?
We're in this together.
I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in November of 2005 when I lost my vision. I had gained a significant amount of weight and had become very ill due to the stress and worry of my entire family losing everything from Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.
Due to this tragedy, I was dealt with the blow of caring for a house full of Katrina victims with nothing. My household size grew from 5 people to 20 people. Soon after my diagnosis, I knew that I must do something because I have 3 boys and a husband to live for.
I had become very ill and I hated life due to the weight gain and dealing with my illness that I had begun to deny. One day my 5 year old son leaned across my bed while I was feeling very ill and said to me, "Will you die? I don't want you to be sick anymore." His eyes were filled with water. I knew at that moment that I was not going to be selfish. I was hurting the ones that I love the most. I then decided to make a life change.
I moved back home to Mississippi and started to walk 3 miles every other day on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches and became more conscious of my food intake. I have lost a total of 25 pounds and counting. According to my last doctor report, my cholesterol has dropped 100 points and my A1C has gone from 13 to 4, which means my doctor is contemplating taking me off of my diabetes medication.
I am very happy to have been introduced to 50 Million Pound Challenge. It is my motivation. I obtained my free kit from our local State Farm Agent here in town and read the postings from Dr. Ian. Thanks Dr. Ian for all you do. I have 50 more pounds to go, and I pray that I continue to succeed. It is a struggle daily.
I first learned about The Challenge around a year ago when Dr Ian and The Tour came to St Louis. I heard about The Tour and concert that day and made the decision to drive downtown to attend the event. It wasn't until the first of the year that I got SERIOUS! I saw a picture of myself at my line sister's birthday party and I realized that I looked 8 months pregnant although my baby was already 13 months old!
I had already joined Weight Watchers at Work 2 months prior and managed to actually loose 4 pounds over the holiday season, instead of gaining. I was learning how to eat correctly and realized I had to kick in the exercise if I wanted to really see results. I am a wife, the mother of a toddler, a homeowner, a manager who works full time and very active in my church. I had to figure out how to fit exercise into my other responsibilities! My solution was to prioritize and exercise in the morning BEFORE going to work; therefore, I have no excuses to miss my workouts.
I signed up with a personal trainer at the gym near my home that I was already a member of. I also got a friend to sign up with me to keep the costs down and to work together to motivate each other. I now get up at 5 a.m. every weekday morning, and 8 a.m. Saturday mornings, and spend 45 mins-1 hour at the gym 5 days a week. I take step class, weight lifting class, spinning class, boot camp class, or do cardio and circuit training on my own or with the personal trainer. I work out and then come home, get myself dressed for work, finish getting my daughter ready for daycare (my husband gets her breakfast, bath, and clothes on) and we head out the door.
I found that I like being a part of a community and had to find a variety of activities that I enjoy, such as classes at a gym. I need accountability and I have to track my progress, logging what I eat, how much I exercise, and how much I weigh every day. It is very satisfying for me to SEE the progress and that motivates me to continue to make good choices. When I have a bad day or week, I just get up and get back on track, like the righteous woman God created me to be!
I recently stopped working with the trainer and I have lost 28 pounds and 7% body fat since the first of the year. My trainer took before and after pictures of me and I was very happy with what I saw in the photos this time! I have 25 more pounds to lose to meet my goal. I know I will make it with God's help and all of the amazing support I have from my husband, friends, co-workers, and Weight Watchers. It really is a community effort.
Finally we have what you’ve been asking for—your official 50 Million Pound Challenge t-shirts, hats, and bags!
The Challenge Yourself Now website has been developed as a result of the overwhelming response by the over 650,000 individuals registered for the 50 Million Pound Challenge. Tens of thousands of you have asked how you can purchase your very own t-shirts, caps, and bags, and now we have the answer at www.challengeyourselfnow.com
Our products will enable you to demonstrate your commitment to health. Whether it is losing weight, eating healthier or exercising, Challenge Yourself Now to achieve your healthy goals.
With your new Challenge t-shirt you are letting everyone know that you are dedicated to changing your life for the better and setting an example for others who are also interested in losing weight. A Challenge t-shirt is also a perfect gift for a loved one, friend, or co-worker.
It can be a source of pride. You can be assured that they will wear not only wear their shirt with pride, but will be continuously motivated to stay on the healthy path of weight loss and live life to the fullest!
I guess my motivation is the guy that worked at 7-11. He is the one who got me to see me for me. I was at the 7-11 getting my usual snicker bar, coke and potato chips which I ate every night before bed. While waiting in line he kept staring at me. When it was my turn to pay, with 4 people behind me, he said "you look beautiful, absolutely gorgeous.” I was blushing. Then he said to all the other people in line, "Pregnant people are gorgeous aren't they? How far along are you?" The lady behind me then said "Do you know if it is a boy or a girl?" All the other people joined in with their baby stories.
I was devastated because I was not pregnant. I told them I was 6 months pregnant and the sad part was they believed me. One person even said I was going to have a big baby. I paid for my snacks, left the store and went to an empty parking lot to cry while I ate my snack for the last time. That was February 28, 2007. I cried for 4 hours straight. I had lost my husband and my self to obesity. Morbid obesity, massive obesity!
The next day I typed out what the store man said and I began my journey to 140lbs. I didn't go to any Jenny Craig or weight watchers because I was too fat and embarrassed. I stopped all fast foods cold turkey (boy was that hard), I stopped all cokes (even harder) and I joined a gym. I joined Gold’s Gym because they had an all ladies gym behind closed doors and no one would see me. They had a cinema room that you could watch a movie and I watched all my favorite movies while I walked. I went to the gym 5 days per week for 1-2 hours doing mostly cardio. I ate plenty of tilapia and broccoli. I drank protein shakes in the morning. I started reading food labels at the grocery store and on anything I ate that had a label to read. I educated myself. I was determined to regain my self, forget the husband I needed to get ME back.
I lost 65 pounds in 5 months and I have kept it off for over a year. Yes I have relapses but never over 5 pounds before I start reading the letter I typed to myself that wonderful day at the 7-11. I consider that day as a blessing and a wake up call. For me, I needed something tragic to happen in order for me to see what other people saw when they looked at me. Just as they didn't like it, I didn't like it either.
When I look back on everything, I see the low self esteem and I now see the health issues that being obese and having low self esteem can bring on. I still don't have a significant other but I am totally enjoying the process and my low self esteem is a thing of the past. I have no health issues none! What I did gain from this is a high level of self esteem, a friendly personality and a gorgeous smile!
Dads have a Challenge Champion out in the blog realm who's trying to get men to commit to healthy living.
The time is now for dads to step up and be examples of healthy living to their families.
Join The Challenge today, and help reverse the negative health trends that limit the lives of millions in this, and future generations.
This page contains all entries posted to The 50 Million Pound Blog in September 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.
August 2008 is the previous archive.
October 2008 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
