[PWSX3]

A girl the other day asked me what I do for motivation to keep working out, etc?

I told her I wasn't sure, just that I can do more things then I did before but yesterday I went 4-wheeling & had to walk back down the hill about 25-30 yards to help spot for some of the other vehicles & when I was done I jocked back up the hill to my vehicle.
There is no way I could have done that last year at this time, in fact I would have walked up the hill, stopped half way & catch my breath.

I look at those types of things & for me that is what is keeping me going now, knowing I am in better shape in my 40's then I was in my 20's.

So what do others use as motivation? I would like to hear ideas so I could share them with my co-worker.
She did bring in a pair of her old pants that she used to wear & it looks like she has lots a LOT of weight, but she is still pretty heavy I would like to keep at it to lose more....

She said she doesn't like to work out so that makes it a little harder as well.

[StayClose]

I'm also in my 40s.

What motivates me is that it is hitting home that I'm no longer in my 20s, and that my physical shape WILL deteriorate if I don't take proactive steps to reverse it.

For the past year and a half, I've reversed the downhill trend and have gone uphill, which is the direction I'd like to 2keep as long as possible.

Also (and maybe a little less positive), my marriage is kind of shakey and I'm aware that I'll need to be in the best shape possible in case I become single again (but don't tell my wife that).

[josie54]

I suffer from depression that only gets worse when I don't exercise. Eating foods with refined sugar (which I LOVE) also can send me spinning into a depressive spiral--the more sugar I eat, the more I crave, the more weight I gain, and the more depressed I get. I cry, I can't get out of bed, I can't do my work, I don't see any point to anything.

Antidepressants did not work well for me, and the side effects were unacceptable.

I found that when I give up foods with refined sugar AND exercise vigorously for 45-60 minutes daily (breathing hard, pushing my limits), my depression lifts. It may not leave completely, but it lessens so that I can have energy, focus on my work, and even feel hopeful for a moment or two. On some days, I'm even somewhat happy.

My motivation to exercise is so that I can have those moments. When I want to have cake or cookies, I can resist them only by reminding myself that this moment's enjoyment of a sugary dessert will turn toxic very quickly.

Every morning, I have to remind myself that exercise is MY side-effect-free antidepressant pill and if I don't take it, things get bad very quickly. That's usually enough to get me going.