Before we can start losing weight, we need to know our motivation. Why do we want to lose weight? There are many different motivators out there, you need to discover one that transforms weight loss from a wish into a desire.
Let's start with a comparision.
We may all agree that the lady on the right cannot compare to the man on the left when weightlifting. If she were to attempt lifting the weights of the man, she probably could not shift them on the ground. However, suppose this lady came across her child on the verge of death, crushed beneath a car. The car is heavier than the weights the man is lifting. That lady can and will raise the car off her child and then turn around and ask herself how she did it.
In life-or-death situations, desire kicks in. It surpasses our wishes and wants, which are temporary and of no significance. We should desire, not want or wish, to lose weight, especially if we intend to keep it off for as long as we live. Each of us needs to find the unique desire that motivates us. Otherwise, weight loss will remain a want – something that may never happen or last for a significant period.
Exercise is Life.
When I was twelve, I recall watching my dad as he exercised at home. He looked at me and said, “Exercise is life.” He then proceeded to ask me if I knew what he meant. I looked at him with a blank face. I could not figure out what he meant, and he said, “If I don’t do it, I will die.” At the time, I regularly went jogging with my dad in the mornings before school. Honestly, I did not notice my fitness shape until I visited relatives; one of my cousins asked if my dad was cutting the fat out of my gut.
It took me about 25 years to understand what my dad meant by “Exercise is life.” As an adult, my weight ballooned from 127 to 198 pounds. I was out of breath putting on my shoes. When I saw 198 pounds on the scale, it registered in my head that my dad went up to 200 pounds before getting back to regular exercise. I could not afford to get to that weight. I knew I had to start exercising.
Getting Started!
When I tried jogging, I could not keep up for more than a few seconds. My heart was racing, and I was out of breath. I began walking for the first few weeks. Over time, I mixed jogging into my routine. After a few months of consistency, I could jog farther than I thought was possible.
I had no known health issues at the time, but I was uncomfortable in my body. I felt like I was near death just doing basics things. Things that were easily done when I never had on so much weight. For me, weight loss became a choice between life and death. That was more than enough motivation to not only get me started but to persevere.
Why lose the weight?
One of the most important questions we should ask ourselves before venturing into losing weight is, why? If it is to achieve something temporarily, we will likely pack on the weight after that achievement. Many things can motivate us to lose weight, as we will see later. We need to dig very deep to be constantly reminded and stay motivated to keep the weight off.
Nobody with a sound and healthy mind wants to die. Many people would give up all material possessions, including billions of dollars, to live a few more years. For some people, it’s living to spend more time with family or help family and others. I want to be able to run with my grandchildren when I am 60 years old.
Find your desire and make it your motivation!
I enjoy running effortlessly in my late forties and challenging teenagers and younger adults. For others, it could be the ability to crawl or walk at my age because they had a condition that made them bedridden. Remember, we are unique. For someone, walking a few metres may be their joy. For another, running a mile is their joy. Whatever it is, we should find how it relates to our unique situation and apply it to our life.
To continue reading, I suggest the post on what causes weight gain.
