October 12th Meeting

Tonights topic is again on Motivation, because I'm the one trying to find the articles.  We haven't been very good at delegating this task at our meetings lately!  So that's what I need for this week. 

Motivation: Finding the Fire Within

by Joanne Bednar

Finding the motivation to change your body should be easy to do if you just look on the surface. It is really easy to say "I need to go on a diet" after eating a whole pizza by yourself, or "wow, she looks so thin....I am going to start exercising on Monday". But truly finding that motivation deep within yourself is not quite so simple. Sometimes we must peel back a few layers to find that burning desire.

Choose Your Role Model
One way to get motivated is by finding a hero....an idol, so to speak. So you're green with envy because your friend just lost 50 pounds? Don't put her down by saying she'll gain it all back within a year. Congratulate her and really mean it! Losing weight is hard work--no matter how you look at it. Use her as an example for yourself and be reassured by her success that you can succeed as well!
I am inspired whenever I see an Olympic athlete. The dedication required to train as long and as hard as competitive athletes do is remarkable. Maybe your role-model will be your next door neighbor with three kids who still manages to wake up at 5 am everyday to get a morning jog in before they all wake up. Inspiration is all around you if you are open to it.
Get Out the Photo Album
Another way to find that fire within yourself is to get out the photo album. Seeing pictures of yourself when you were in better shape is very motivating. Take a few of these pictures and place them where you can easily get to them. Then, visualize yourself at that weight again, and be confident that you can get that body back with some hard work and dedication. For some of you this might be difficult to do because in a way it is proof you have let things get out of hand.
I have a roll of pictures I kept throughout my fat years, and I remember pulling them out from time to time and crying because I used to look so fit and healthy. But take the attitude that you WILL get back to where you were, and let old pictures push you towards your goal instead of further away.
Re-educate Yourself
If you still think that working out involves a sauna, aluminum foil sweat suit, and a thigh master, then you need to re-educate yourself. Read as much as you can get your hands on about weight loss and fitness. The fitness industry is so dynamic that advice changes as quickly as the seasons.
Good sources of information include: fitness magazines, books, the Internet, and even some cable television network channels. One of the main reasons I buy fitness magazines is because of the success stories profiling women who have actually achieved their goal weights and are keeping it off! Keeping open to suggestion is great, but be aware of the controversial information out there and understand that there are no magical or quick fixing solutions.

Also an update on our competition.  There are now 12 participating.  So what I'd like for everyone to do is to comment on this post and tell us what you'll do with the $240 you'll win when you lose the most percentage of weight.