Need some motivation

 How do you get yourself motivated?  I have had a rough year and I am having trouble getting myself motivated back into my diet and working out.   I lost 46lbs last year and I do not want to gain them back.

 You must set a goal.  A lot of us use races as the goals.  Pick something doable out a few months from now and focus on training for it.  In that way all of your workouts and nutrition choices have a visualized purpose!  You got this!  We've all been in your shoes, the first steps are the hardest!  

Like Andrew said signing up for a race or something is a big motivation.  I know for me if I am signing up and doing something I am not going to do it half assed.  While my goal is to cross the finish line, which is a victory in itself, I want to know that when I cross I have given everything I had to it.  My second motivation is refusal, I simply refuse to go back to the life I had and person I was last year.  I have learned that life can be fun when you are fit and am experiencing all the things I had only dreamed of before.  Then their is family My family has a lot invested, not finacially but emotionally in supporting me throught his process.  I want my wife and kids to have the life they deserve and not just the one I am able to do.  Being fit and active allows me to have the energy to do things with my boys which ultimately will improve their lives and give them the memories they deserve.  My exercise also sets a good example for my family my 9 year old son did a 5K with me in Dec. and this April both my 9 and 7 year old will be doing one with me.

 I have never ran in my life let alone ran a race, it seems so impossible to sign up for a race and be able to effectively train for it in a short amount of time.  How would one go about training for a race?

There are a number of ways to get started.  Many use the C25K training program and apps, I didn't, because when I started I just couldn't do the intervals. Or like I did you can make up your own intervals. You start with a walk and when you feel good you jog/run a bit then when you can't run you walk and go back and forth.  As you become more comfortable with the interval you then increase it just a bit.

Now I train on a treadmill as muc as I hate it but it allows me to add distance and maintain a constant pace which I have recently found out can be far below what I would run a race at.

As for training for a race, well no rule says you have to run the whole thing if any of the race.  Many people walk 5Ks as it is typically more about the cause than the awards.  I jog/walked my first 5K and was happy to have just finished, over-joyed I wasn't last and ecstatic that I did it in under an hour (47:39).  This small accomplishment was a huge victory and gave me the push to continue on and push harder.  I ran my 3rd 5k 2 Saturdays ago and finished in 32:19, yes I was able to shave 15 minutes just following my plan.  I can now easily do 5K on a good day and have to fight the voice in my head saying I am to fat or out of shape to do it. 

Remember showing up to your first 5K is a major victory and finishing it regardless of time is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

I am curious when you said you couldn't co the intervals on the C25K.  What exactly did you do then?

 Thank you for the tips.  I find it is easier to work out during summer and spring than fall and winter.  It is getting to be nice weather so hopefully that is a motivator.  I am going to start walk/run inrervals though.