When I got to the hospital in labor the nurse asked me to step on a scale (I still joke that this was one of the meanest things anyone has done to me); I weighed in at 190 pounds, my weight usually stays somewhere around 150 pounds. One week after he was born I weighed in at 174 and I need to be honest here, that number did not move a whole lot for awhile.

 

When my son was one week old I started walking. When he was six weeks old, and I was able, I showed up for workouts. The key phrase here "showed up". It did not take me long to come to the realization that I was simply going through the motions. If you’ve learned anything about me it should be this: introspection is high priority to me. I dug deep and I found that I HAD FORGOTTEN MY WHY. From the time Cannon was born to right around 4 months postpartum I was showing up to workout because “I had to workout” and because “I had to lose the weight”. 

 

If you want something your WHY needs to be stronger than you HAVE TO. Have to might get you started but your why will keep you going. When you have a weight loss goal, or really any goal, the first thing you have to do is focus only on that which you can control.

 

There is no sense sitting around wishing you didn't have 40 pounds to lose, that is already out of your control. Then, you have to decide what you want: I didn’t want to lose weight, I wanted to feel like ME again ... weight loss just happened to be a very small piece of that. I didn't want to feel tired after walking for short distances, squeeze myself into clothes that I then felt uncomfortable in, or feel tightness all over my body when I bent down to tie my shoe.

 

So I sat down and I wrote all of the reasons I could come up with WHY I wanted to feel like me again, literally I set a 10 minute timer and I scribbled all over a page every reason that popped into my head. Here are just a few: 

 

1. I deserve time to myself

2. My body deserves to be treated with love and respect and it was designed to move

3. I want to be a good example for my son

4. I want to look good in my clothes

5. I do not like spanx, I barely like bras.

6. I’m doing this for ME

7. I sleep better when I’m living well

8. Eating healthfully has been the best medicine for anxiety and depression

9. My stomach cannot withstand carelessness 

10. I am more confident when I am giving myself my all, I work better, I am a better friend, I am a better wife … I’ll be a better mother.

 

Today, take just a few minutes and come up with your WHY. Write down your goal and then dig deep and write down all of the reasons WHY you want it.  Sometimes you may find that’s not really want you want, or it just might not be what you want right now, and that is okay. The beautiful part of life is it is your journey, and your journey alone. Give up the have to’s and start living out your whys. 

 

Sweat & Smiles,

Melissa