77SUDelta's Journal, 12 December 2011

I am praying with you and for you....you are absolutely right...you made phenomenal progress for quite a while and you know you can do it. It is hard to stay motivated but you know that there are so many of us who want you to succeed in this endeavor. Voice your frustrations to us and let us be your cheering section. You have motivated and inspired me on numerous occasions...allow us to help you now. Take a deep breath...focus on not gaining over the holidays and then decide to kick butt in the new year....you are almost 40 pounds lighter than you were last Christmas and at that rate, you can be at goal by next....wow, what an accomplishment! Smile, Denise....we love you. Hugs and blessings.... 

Join the getting into a routine challenge! 'm doing OK so far but I know it'll be tough to keep it up without some help. This challenge should be a good motivator! You've already done so much. Don't get discouraged - you can do it!! 

I would suggest that you take a little time to find out what your TRUE motivation is for losing weight. "To be thin" is not the answer. What is it that you truly want for yourself out of this? Is it a partner? Is it belonging to a certain group? Is it to be healthy for your kids? There can be so many deeply personal reasons. Find the TRUE reasons for losing weight - and you will find your TRUE motivator for doing it. Find out which reward YOU will get from it - and go for it. I have been trying this for so many years, and always failed. This time, I found my TRUE motivation, went for it, and now I am almost done. I hope you find it. I hope the best for you. 

Keep in mind that we're not going to be all "rah rah, let's lose this weight!" the entire time. Sometimes I'm going through the motions & not really feeling it. The good news is that you don't NEED motivation to lose weight (although obviously it helps), you only need the commitment. I've found that at times my motivation is low, as long as I execute my routine the motivation inevitably returns, with the added bonus of not losing any ground. I equate weight loss to work or school, do you feel motivated to go to work/school every single day you do it? Doubtful. Yet you find a way to get it done. How do you do it? Think about that, & apply it to your weight loss. 

Wow, lots of great advice for you here. Esp. good insight from kingkeld and kstubblefield....all so very true. If you truly want this, you WILL find a way to work your way through this. 

WOW!! You guys are really awesome to provide true and meaningful responses-I appreciate the great feedback. TRUE MOTIVATION and COMMITMENT. Today - I can't answer or find either. So therein lies my problem...right now, I'm searching my soul... 

Are you happy? Because if you are, and you really don't have any particular reasons to make this your 'priority'... then you likely won't. Just remember, those that GIVE UP...fail 100% of the time. Maybe you are done. Maybe you are content where you are. Maybe you don't really care if you lose weight, but would rather focus on being strong and healthy, and full of life for you and your loved ones. You don't have to have a goal to lose weight. There's no perfect weight and you don't have to follow the world's 'guidelines.' It's taken me a long time to feel this way... (funny sounding coming out of me!) But I mean it. Search well, my friend - because in the end, only you have to live with your choices. If you're tired of being at the weight you are...and you still want to lose... then there's no better place (in my book) then for you to get back connected here faithfully... and getter done! 2012 can be your year to finish this! If it's what YOU want! Much Love. 

Hi Paula/ALL, thanks for your words of encouragement. The big questions - Am I Happy? - NO; Am I done? - NO!! Still searching for the true motivation - which really revolves around my overall health. I was feeling pretty good with my walking - no pain in knees and hips. But I haven't maintained my exercise - been blaming my work schedule and I have gotten slopping in my eating habits. I will be challenged over the next three weeks - but this is also when I started a year ago so I know the holidays can be conquered :) Appreciate your support and look forward to "re-engaging" for 2012. Love Denise:)  

For me this is all about how I will eat for the rest of my life, with that mindset I try to make good choices towards that end. Not always a total 100% success, but overall, better....WAY MUCH better than where I was a year ago. For me, it always helps a lot to reflect back to where I was (I mean Really was & be totally honest), & how I was eating & why I was eating, etc. Appreciating what I have learned about myself & the good changes that I have made makes it easier somehow to carry forward, just thinking about today...now...the choice that I am making NOT to eat the donuts or cookies or whatever that somebody brought in to work today. Those are the little steps that really count in the end. Since you have lost almost 40 pounds (& by the way that is HUGE...Good job!), you must have been doing & are still doing something right for yourself! We are all facing huge challenges to get through the holidays...you are not alone!  

Well I have 37.3 reasons to be sure you can do this!!! READY, SET... RUN! ;)