How to Motivate Yourself to Lose Weight

Are you lacking motivation to lose weight and get healthy?

Do you want to be thin, yet you can’t seem to get your head in the right place to make the right food choices?

Are you dreaming of being an active person, yet have a hard time finding the motivation to get up and exercise?

Well, I have the answer that will immediately motivate you.

It’s easy, free, and 100% natural.

Put on a swimsuit and look in the mirror.

Seriously, guys. Ugh.

Is there anything like putting on a swimsuit to give yourself a kick in the “I-Need-To-Lose-Weight” pants?

Despite the fact that I’ve lost over 20 lbs., I put on my swimsuit last night and, my head, (which had been residing in outer space) was immediately transported back into reality here on earth. And it wasn’t pretty.

How incredibly depressing! What a shocking reminder of how much weight I need to lose!

The good news is that I have something that works for me when I’m not letting my emotions control my eating. Whew.

Weigh in day & mental illness talk #postpartumdepression

It is a relief to have stepped on the scale and to have it over with. I gained .7 lb.

The damage wasn’t as bad as I imagined it to be, but also marks three weeks of struggles and being off track. I know that this is all me—it’s not the plan, it’s not because I don’t have time, and it’s not because I don’t have the right foods in the house. It’s just me. It is my mental and emotional state and my lack of using the tools I have to form new habits to replace my emotional eating habit.

It’s a new week now and I can begin again. I know that I can always begin again after even just one bad choice, but there’s something about the clean slate that is extra motivational.

Yesterday, I continued to feel down—like really down. As in I the feelings I used to have where I just yearned for that silence and peace—like I didn’t want to exist anymore. I needed to talk to someone about it but never got the chance.

I hesitate to even admit that because the real me is an ultra-positive, half is glass full kind of gal. But I want to be real on the blog, and this is what was real. Postpartum depression, mental illness, whatever this monster is (yet it is myself), is unexplainable and horrid.

I searched Pinterest last night for anything that could encourage me about this condition. I came across a few things that helped me. I will share some of these in a later post, but one in particular has stuck in my mind, “Sometimes God lets you hit rock bottom so you can discover that he is the rock at the bottom”. I am thankful that through all of this, He is always there and He does hold me in the shadow of his wings.

I have learned a lot over the past few months and I knew that based on how I felt when I woke up yesterday morning that I needed to get out of the house even though it was the last thing I really wanted to do. So I called hubby and asked if he wanted to meet for lunch. We met at Subway and that brightened my spirits.

I kind of “took a vacation day” yesterday. Baby girl and I went to Kohl’s and Wal-mart afterwards. And then in the evening, we met hubby for supper (salad at Applebee’s) and hubby let me have some time alone while I tried on some swimsuits and got groceries. The swimsuit thing kind of left me feeling worse—ack! But at the end of it all, I needed that quiet time alone—“putting on my oxygen mask first”, if you will.

While at Kohl’s, I ran into this woman who has suffered terrible tragedy in her life and very publicly. I knew who she was because I have seen her suffering in the news. We had an interaction and she was the kindest person to me and baby. This woman who has been through so so much and was still so kind and positive. I didn’t expect that, wouldn’t expect that, but it was really remarkable to me. I could feel her strength in just our short conversation.

I woke up this morning feeling better and I am hoping that I’m over this “bump in the road”. Onward and forward. I am pushing myself to get out of the house again today—this time with some family (women around my age) to go strawberry picking. I am so so hoping this goes ok!!! I must work on controlling the thoughts in my mind.

Have a great weekend!

Swimsuit Shopping

This post contains affiliate links.

I’ve spent the entire morning trying to find a new swimsuit for a good price. My current one is a little too low cut and not exactly “baby safe” if you know what I mean. I’d rather not take the risk of showing WAY too much at the pool when the little one decides to grab my swimsuit.

I’m also planning on taking the water aerobics classes this year. I’m looking forward to it but I’m a little nervous and afraid I won’t be able to keep up! I took this class once a few years ago when I was a lot more fit and active. But I have to start somewhere and I love the water so this seems like a perfect idea. I’ll also get a little alone time, which I am looking forward to. Hubby thinks it’s a great idea and doesn’t have a problem watching baby girl for an hour twice per week.

I ended up buying two things and I’m not sure if either will work. I found them at AlwaysForMe.com.

The first one was on clearance for $15 and is more of a “sport” type swimsuit which I thought would be good for all of the bouncing around in the water during water aerobics. I’m not going to lie, this isn’t all that cute but I think it will get the job done.

I’m hoping it will look ok with navy blue bottoms that I already have.

Since I had to pay a standard shipping rate anyways, I decided I might as well grab another suit. This one was a clearance for $39. I thought the little skirt was cute—I’m not so sure how it will look on me, but I’ll give it a try!

I would have liked this one in black, but they only had my size in the fuschia. Hopefully it covers well and isn’t see through or something!

I chose both suits simply because of the prices. I hope they turn out ok! If not, I’ll head to Walmart—but it will be difficult to swim suit shop with a one year old!! And I just hate trying on swimsuits. Who doesn’t?

I also hope to get them by next Tuesday when the classes start! Fingers crossed!

I’m hoping to spend a lot of time at the pool this summer with baby girl. We might get a family pass so we can go whenever. We also picked up a small pool for the yard—but it’s not super ideal. I get grossed out by all of the bugs floating in it! Eww.

Do you have a new swimsuit for the summer? Where did you find it? Are you taking any water exercise classes?