How Do I Motivate Myself to Lose 30Ibs?

Not trying to sound like a jerk, but if you're not all that interested in losing this weight, why would anybody else be? Motivation comes from within and looking for it out here is doomed to fail.

You have to look inside of you and find *your* reasons, and they have to be strong enough to get you out there to do it. They can range from wanting to be able to spend better quality time with kids/grandkids through wanting to run a marathon. No amount of cheerleading from the internet is going to do it for you if you don't take that first step of wanting it.

If you're unmotivated, you just don't really want it more than you want other things in your life. That's fine, really. You need to examine why you feel unmotivated and why you "want" (although your post sounds like you don't really) to lose this weight.

You sound like your health is basically good (not a lot of info there) and the only problem you allude to is your pot belly. You don't sound like you want to lose weight, so what's the problem? It almost seems like something is nagging at you to get on the exercise/weight loss bandwagon, but you can't get excited about it. Personal question: are you depressed? You actually sound a little depressed, although I don't mean to imply in any way at all that I am offering you a diagnosis. Talk to your doctor about what you've said here. You might get some clarity from a medical professional who can look in your eyes and hear you talk about this in real time. When you can articulate a good reason or two why you need to lose weight, come on back - some folks on this list have some very good ideas. Good luck to you in your quest for better health.

I believe Alchemyguy is absolutely right. The only way to do it is to want it. Coming from a mother of three, i know this too well. I want it bad and i work very hard because it is hard work. My advice is to read anything about what it's going to take to get that motivation needed. In my opinion, a good book always helps. And motivation is what you need.

You sound like you believe motivation is something artificial, something you can whip up out of nowhere like a casserole (mmmmm casserole) on a whim. You talk of not liking how you look these days yet that doesn't seem like enough to get you started. So you think you can log online and ask for motivation from a bunch of strangers? Like someone here is going to magically deliver some motivation for you?

There are different reasons for wanting to lose weight and get fit: appearance, health, sense of accomplishment, etc., but it has to come from you! Nobody can get you going. Just ask those people whose doctors have warned them to lose weight or risk serious health issues or death and they still don't bother. It comes from within, you either get it or you don't.

Pretty much what everyone else said. No one here has a magic motivation pill for you. If you don't want it enough to do something about it, then there's nothing we can say or do that will make it any different.

Same as what others said.
I never did believe you can expect anyone else to help motivate you.

The statement
"I REALLLLLLY want to lose weight but I just can't get motivated" is contradictory to me.
It's like saying I REALLY want a warm bath but I just can't be bothered to turn on the hot water"

Motivation COMES FROM the 'really want'. If you dont want it bad enough, then motivation can't be expected. If you cant find the motivation, you obviously dont want it bad enough.

I'm sorry if i come off as rude; i do not mean to be at all. But it is that cut and dry in my eyes.

As people above have said, it's not possible for anyone here to whip up some motivation for you. It has to come from within. That said, here are some things that helped me:

- Break it down into smaller amounts. 30 lbs sounds like a lot of work. 5 lbs doesn't sounds so bad.

- Offer yourself rewards if you lose weight. I treat myself to something small for every 5 lbs - a new shirt, or a pedicure, or overpriced cosmetics are what I tend to go for, but that's just me. Your rewards need to be tailored to your likes and income.

- Do you have any big events coming up? Weddings, parties, whatever? Picture yourself attending this event slimmer. What will you wear? How will you look? How will you feel?

What has happend here is that you gave up. I'm sure you were very healthy when you were younger and you did a lot of sport, but you have lost the will power to do something more like you used to. Now you see yourself as having a "pot belly", and you have given up hope. What i think best for you to do is to join a fitness group or a place where there are activities. You could go with friends or meet new friends there and that will give you more of a will power to go and to loose weight. Once you have been there for a few weeks treat yourself to a day of shopping and pick things you like, don't hold back because of what you think about your weight. If it doesn't fit, it will give you more of a will power to loose weight and to be able to wear it. Do remeber though no one else can get you to do this, it has to come from inside. I do hope that this helps.

Hi Donna! Try reading "Toxic Fat" by Barry Sears Phd. The knowledge you gain from the book will certainly shed a new light on what it means to truly be healthy. The book is an excellent motivator.

I lost 30 pounds, Donna. It took me 5 years, though, so I'm not much motivation for you. I started by not starting. What I mean is, I just thought, let's eat moderately and exercise moderately and see what happens. If you want to read some motivating stories, take a look at my blog, www.thirtyways.blogspot.com. I talked with 30 people about how they lost weight... one woman lost 220 pounds. I feel like an amateur compared with some of the people I talked with! I truly hope you find something that motivates you... it is so worth it!

Donna,

I suggest you buy some thigh-sucking, tummy-flattening, curve-smoothing underwear ... a decent pair ... then put your favourite outfit on ... and look at the difference in the mirror. See if anyone comments on your outfit [they wont notice it's your underwear making you look nicer] ... Once you like this image of yourself, think, if you diet ... this is how you will look underwear free.

Worked for me : )

Sara x
Birmingham, UK

Hello Donna. Well am glad to hear that youre 62 years old and you still care about yourself, and how you look. I wanted to let you know about this nutrition programmed that I am on and that i believe it is what you're just looking for. I've lost weight boosted my energy but the best thing about it is the people that recommended it to me. There always on top of things and always making sure you reach your goal. They do this things in California and Arizona Called the nutrition club where people around the area come together and have breakfast or dinner together, But the most interesting thing is that everyone is there to motivate one another. You make new friends that are on the same page you are. I dunno what state you live in but if you'll like i can find out for you if there is one around your area.