Hi Ali, I would love to know what is your motivation on the "Hard" days. I myself just remember my children on the mornings I find it hard to get out of bed or keep going. I do deal with some depression on occasion and I am not ashamed to admit it, I just know that when it gets bad that I just think of my children and it gets one foot in front of another until " I fake it until I make it"

My future is what keeps me trying to eat/live healthy. I was diagnosed with juvinile diabetes at age 14 - tough age to suddenly tell a kid/teen they have to change everything they've ever known. You can't eat this this this anymore. Not ever! (well, that's how it was put to me by a hard doctor at the time) Naturally, I decided forget that and went about my business - unfortunately until I was 27 years old. I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy which is basically damage to the blood vessels in the eyes from years of poor blood sugar. This is what leads diabetics to become blind. I am an avid read, computer lover that would be absolutely lost without my eyes - not even going to cover how horrible it would be regardless. I had laser surgery and today my eyes are better than they were prior to the retinopathy and I even impressed my eye dr. Near escape or someone out there deciding that I needed to know this was serious business? Who knows - but I took the wakeup call. At 31 I'm healthier than I've ever been and have a "controlled" diabetes diagnosis for the first time in my life. I'm still a work in progress though! Sure, I cheat on occasion but I keep a close monitor on things. Just when it feels disouraging or I think I'm so tired of "counting" carbs even if I eat a cracker - I look around. I work in a hospital and constantly see diabetic amputees. It's a life's work and it's tough but I thank God I got that wakeup call in time.

For working out I find new motivators all the time. Right now it is my mom fighting through gout. My mother's side of the family has always had poor circulation and arthritus issues... both of which can be fought off with exercise and healthy diet.

When I started my new life it was because I realized I was missing so much of my daughter's life.

@ Amanda... I so wish there was a "You GO girl" button.... YOU GO GIRL!!!

my family and my friends are the reasons i stay motivated. i was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in october. ihave been through chemo and radiation none of which has worked but i am still fighting. they keep me going.

I am a 36 year old diabetic I too was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in june of 2008 unfortunately mine required 7 major surgeries to fix my left eye is the one that responded the most i am 20/30 in it my right eye has not responded as well it is only 20/60 however i am very happy with that as i went completely blind for 2 years My kidneys failed in oct of 09 and i have been on dialysis since then i have to lose at least 30 pounds in order to go on the transplant list and this has been the hardest 30 pounds of my life im on such a strict diet as i have to watch the amt of potassioum and phosophurus i take in and im only allowed 32 ounces of liquid a day i suffer from deep depression but i wake up each morning with a thank you to the lord for letting me wake up thank you for giving the doctors the knowledge to keep me alive and i thank the good lord for the blessing that is my family that is what keeps me going everyday my motto is give it to god and he will give you the blessing keep your chin up my great grandma used to say look around you can always find someone in worse shape than you be thankful for all you have.....god bless

Hi everyone,

My motivation is defintiely my family. They are so supportive and helpful that each day I live to make them even more proud of me and do what I can to help and support them! Love makes the world go round. Simple as that. :)

Also, I started a NEW thread in the Forum called "How do you carry it all?"

I'd love the input of some moms who have been there, done that! The thread is about my sister, who has a newborn and is struggeling to literally CARRY everything-- she is pretty small (my sister) and so is the baby (ellie) but she is scared to try to go anywhere alone with the baby, in fear that she can't get from A to B with the baby and all her stuff, etc. CLICK HERE to leave your advice! Thanks!!

Hi Ali,

Before I was a wife and a mother, my own willingness to be the best person I could be was my motivation.  After I got married and became a parent, my motivation has been magnifed by 1000 times.  I strive to be the best person I can be to serve  as a role model to my children.  I'm also motivated to live the best life possible to be able to give my children the best life ever.  My children are my life and when they are not happy, neither am I.  So, I do what I have to do.  I learn all that I can  so that I'm able to teach them, keep them safe and well.

Skye

Thanks for starting this thread Ali!!! Love reading people's responses!!

Jamie, I love how you ended your post: "Fake it til I make it".  What a great motto!!! I do that ALL the TIME!!  

I try to be a very positive person and obviously, just like everyone else, I get brought down by things that are (sometimes) out of my control.  Usually, when I'm not feeling positive, I tend to "fake the positivity" because I don't want the stupid things bringing me down.  Even if I'm not feeling uber great, I tell myself I am.  Then usually at some point, I realize I'm no longer "faking" my positive attitude...I actually am feeling better!

The same thing happens almost on a weekly basis when I'm going to the gym.  I come home from work or wake up and really don't feel like working out.  Though I know I really don't want to, I usually end up "faking it" and telling myself "Alright, come on, you know you want to be at the gym right now".  I force myself to go and after a while, I realize I no longer have to convince myself I want to be there.

I said in the original thread my motto is "Appreciate today's successes".  I get so annoyed when I feel like I'm no where near the goal I set for myself.  But I've started sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting on what I've done.  

Pretty much every day, there's atleast one thing I did that I was proud of (maybe I avoided eating that cookie, or did two classes at the gym instead of one, or decided to walk the stairs rather than the escalator).  Taking it one step at a time is so helpful!!  I can be happy that I made a good choice today and I feel less stressed about not neccesarily getting closer to my goal.  I know it'll happen sooner or later!

Ok... so many ladies fighting and fighting hard! I'm going to have to just post a "YOU GO GIRLS" for everyone!

As far as "Fake It Till I Make It" I like that... reminds me of when I was working in a dinner theater and we would just SMILE through it all... actors at the table as well as on stage...

Sometime I do that started with my work outs and has moved into other aspects of life ( like my politically not so great job) is to chante "You can do ANYthing for <insert time here>"

I can do anything for 10 minutes..... I can do anything for just one more year.... and ten minutes later, a year later.... I chant it all over again.

Apparently I can do anything but avoid typos!

Claire, I love that you can laugh at yourself, that is so important when we are all trying so hard to be the perfect (fill in the blank) and it is important to remember that laughter and humor is a great release just like crying and venting. I try not to take myself too seriously but it's hard to do that all the time when your whole life is trying to make sure everything is close to "Perfect" for everyone else that we forget we are just as important. My "Fake it till I make it" motto is great because like Diane said, it is usually in no time that you realize that it has become real.

Right now I don't have anything to keep me going.  I just found out today that I have kidney disease and it's pretty depressing.

{{{  Barbara }}}} Prayers and thoughts with you honey.

Hi Everyone,

I am a 32 year old mother of an eighteen month old little girl. I have struggled my whole life with my weight (literally my whole life as I was a 10 pound baby) LOL. I was married in 2009 and got down to a weight of 168 which is the lowest I have been since high school. During my pregancy I ended up on bedrest due to kidney stones and right before I delivered my little bundel of joy I was 234 pounds. I have struggled ever since and the lowest since that time I have been able to get down to is 184. In the last 8 months however I have gained 22 pounds and currently weigh in at 206. Did I mention I am 5' 4"? So I saw a picture of myself on the beach from this past weekend...it was a side shot....I did not recognize myself! I felt so embarassed and angry and disappointed in myself. Then I realized that feeling that way is not going to help matters. I did this and only I (with the help of a strong support system of course) can undo what I have done. So, my motivating quote this week is "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got." When I have been tempted to over indulge I have reminded myself of this.

In addition I read Ali's story in Self this morning....WOW! Super motivating! Thanks Ali!