The Good, the Bad and the Ugly — What’s Your Dieting Motivation?
What keeps you from running to the kitchen in the middle of the night, when you hear food calling your name?
What makes you say "no thanks" to a yummy sweet staring you in the face?
Where does your willpower come from, to resist food temptation (well, at least most of it)?
In short — what’s your dieting motivation?
For Others?
You always hear that you shouldn’t diet for other people, but only for yourself. And I agree with that in most circumstances. The idea being, if you are losing weight for other people (friend/spouse/other), you are only going at it half-way. And as soon as the pressure on you is gone from the other person, you’ll just gain the weight back.
Raise your hand if you haven’t had that happen at some point in your life?
What, no hands? 
Still, there is one good reason to lose weight for another person. The most common reason I hear is "I want to be alive to see my children grow up". (Or the alternate — being alive to see the grandkids.)
Wanting to be around for your children and grandchildren can be a powerful motivator indeed.
Dieting Motivation — For Yourself
Aside from the above example, the best dieting motivation is to do it for yourself. Because you want to make a difference in your life. Because you have a specific goal.
Me, I’m working towards a little black dress to wear on the cruise.. What cruise? My husband and I agreed that when I reached my goal, David would buy me a little black dress (designer, even) and we’d celebrate by going on a cruise where I could wear that dress.
Actually, I’m not doing it for the dress or the cruise — I’m dieting because I want better health. The dress and cruise are just welcome celebrations. And keep in mind — my weight loss goal is to lose 140 pounds, so I think a little celebration is in order! (And if you’re curious, I’ve lost about 65 of those pounds already.)
Ok, you know my dieting motivation — better health. What are some others?
Well, there’s the "hottie" factor — to be able to look great in clothes again and draw admiring looks. That’s always a fun motivation!
Or, maybe you just want to get down to a specific clothing size? Maybe you have a little black dress that’s several sizes too small — now. But it’s hanging where you can see it everyday, encouraging you.
You could be like many of us these days. You’re growing older and realize one day that if you don’t do something now – today – that your health will take a nosedive soon. And that you’ll spend the remainder of your years confined to a nursing home, because you aren’t healthy enough to care for yourself.
Powerful motivation, that one.
So what about you? What’s your dieting motivation?