Beck's Exercise #1 Motivation

We are to make a list of our motivations to loose weight as well as percieved disadvantages. As I have read the introduction and chapter one, I have become very uncomfortable because it seems that I may be well on my way to opening a pandora's box of old feelings and thoughts. I have been obese all of my life and my fat is an old friend. But I plan to push through this process one moment at a time.
 

Motivations to loose weight:
Cured blood pressure, cholesterol, and avoiding diabetes that runs in my family
Looking and feeling more attractive
More energy
More able to participate in activities comfortably
Able to travel more and comfortably
More fashionable (and often less expensive) clothes
Better perceptions from others
More attractive to the opposite sex
Comfortably wear heels
Not always having to wear girdles under everything
Feeling 'light' on my feet

Percieved Disadvantages to Loosing Weight
Not knowing 'who' I will be (identity crisis)
Being more attactive to the opposite sex (deep rooted fear of men)
Loss of approval from friends/family members
Feeling deprived
Loose and saggy skin
                                                            What is YOUR list?

Motivatios:
Less pain (SI nerve)
No longer need cane/walker
Lower blood pressure
Lower cholesterol
Able to walk distances
Able to breathe while/after walking
Able to buy pretty clothes


Perceived Disadvantages
This is FOREVER
Feeling deprived sometimes
Tired of the effort planning takes sometimes
Will my recovery from other cosmetic surgeries be as slow as this one
Being "different"
Would I get my energy back faster if I ate more (the answer is really NO)

Motivation
Be healthier
Be more energetic excercise without thinking about it
Able to walk distances
Dress the way I wanna dress
Go to my kids game and be able to walk yup the bleachers
get on plane and people wanna sit by me
keep shoes on comfortably

Disadvantages

hangy skin
always having to wear a girdle
loss of nutrients
loss of hair
Eating change for life

It's interesting to me that so many people have a hard time accepting themselves as slender people. I was not obese most of my life. Consequently, I had a hard time accepting myself as a fat girl. In fact, I didn't ever accept her. Having lost 92 lbs., I finally feel like I'm back to the person I really am inside, and I absolutely love it. But I'm scared to death that I'll blow it. That's why this group is so important to me.

Motivations
Shave my legs without having to do contortions
Visit old friends without being ashamed of how I look
Work the ropes challenge course and be challenged mentally, not physically
Feel attractive
Shop for cute clothes
Improve my health
Be active with my grandchildren
Sit cross-legged on the floor
Get out of a chair without having to get a rocking head start

Disadvantages
Making a drastic and permanent reconfiguration of my anatomy
Fear of losing the social interaction associated with food
Losing the pleasure that sugar consistently gave me
Possibility of complications
Fear of taking this leap, then failing at weight loss
Expense and inconvenience of taking supplements
Gas - lots and lots of stinky gas

I agree with the disadvantage od not being able to use food for comfort and having to deal with the real issues.

Motivations to lose weight
TO be Off all my medications
To Reduce my risk of cancer reoccurrance
TO Feel better about myself
To Feel sexy
Shopping outside of speciality stores return to active life
Going white water rafting
Being healthy enough to enjoy my nieces and nephews
Freeing my spirit
Being seen for soul because it shines not because it is painful to look at my body


Perceived disadvantages
fear of loss of my relationships
Needing plastic surgery for baggy skin
Need to accept responsibility and not blame failures on weight
 
I read my motivations if tempted by food
Michele L

Motivations:
Being able to move easier
not be embarrassed when in small spaces
be able to buy "regular" clothes
being able to play w/ 4 yr old niece - getting down on the floor- ride bikes,etc.
Not being afraid to sit on a lawn chair
get healthy

Disadvantages:
Having to plan meals out
No turning back
Dealing w/ why food was my drug of choice
saggy skin
loosing my hair - i have lost a lot of hair, and it is not as healthy looking as it use to be.

I love the 'dealing with the issues of food being the drug of choice. Scary 4 me too. It's all I know

OK, here's mine - I "borrowed" a few from some of you .  

Advantages

        1)    It will make me more successful in business and financially (others will respect me)

2)    Pride when I look in the mirror

3)    Save money on food

4)    Knees and ankles won’t hurt

5)    Can go to the gym w/o pain

6)    Can go kayaking

7)    Can wear heels

8)    Travel in planes comfortably

9)    Hike with husband

10) Keep diabetes under control

11) Visit old friends w/o feeling shame

12) Save money on clothes (won’t buy multiple items in an effort to find something that makes me look less fat)

13) Shopping in regular stores

14) Freeing my spirit!

15) Not being anxious about sitting on chairs (will I fit?  Will it break?)

 Perceived Disadvantages

1)    Not being able to use food to soothe the savage beast of anxiety 

aahh yes...that anxiety beast... rears his ugly head more frequently when he's not being fed. I am SOOO sick of him! I am determined to beat it!! I want to be happy damn it!! Here's to our new journey!