Well, having 30 pounds to lose after you have a baby is also great motivation. It's depressing, but hey - it got me moving so I lost it all!

The more I read about the next generation being overweight and under-exercized makes me think about the example I am setting for my girls.  I want them to be healthy and not have the "body image" problems that I have.  Its amazing, but just thinking about being a good example to them has motivated me to exercise a TON more in the past year than I ever have before.  It's a good feeling when my daughter says - "Why are we driving to the Library?  I want to walk"  (Saves gas too!)   

What keeps me motivated?  The fear of dying young keeps me motivated.  I'm 42 and have had high blood pressure since I was 30.  I have about 20 extra pounds on me that shouldn't be there that gets harder and harder to take off (and keep off) with every passing year.  All four of my grandparents and both of my parents died at young ages (my mom was 49--she died of kidney failure--and my dad died of a heart attack at age 64).  Both of my parents had high blood pressure so the thought of leaving my kids motherless before I'm 50 years old does not appeal to me in the least.  I was 24 when my mom died and it was one of the most awful things I ever went through.

So I try to eat right, take my meds, walk A LOT, and just pray that I'll wake up to see tomorrow.   

I am addicted to exercise.  Once you start, really start, you feel addicted to it.  I go to the gym 5 days a week.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do cardio classes and abs and on Tuesday I weight train my upper body, with abs, and on Thursday I weight train my lower body, with abs.  I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years so I know exactly what I need to do for my body.  I am actually smaller than I was before I had my 2 children.  It also helps that I am married to a Marine, so we exercise a lot together.  Plus, I always have the kids outside during the day.

So sorry to hear about your loss.  It's never easy to lose parents.  My mom passed away two years ago and my dad just passed away three months ago.  I thought losing my mom was terrible but losing my dad was even worse.  I guess because I at least had one parent alive now I feel like an orphan.  A grown married woman with 2 children but an orphan none the less.

I gained 70 lbs with my first pregnancy and then lost 40.

With my second pregnancy I gained 40 and lost 40.

I was stuck at +30 6 years later.  When I 'came out of the pink fog' and got a part time J-O-B I chose something that is very physically demanding.

So, 3 or more nights a week I work at the airport outside on the ramp.  The most physically demanding part of my job is loading airplanes with luggage.  I work on small planes, but I have loaded as many as 90+ bags into a cargo bin.  Some of those bags are heavy, and especially since people are packing their liquids in their bags now!

So far I have gone from 172 to 164.  I highly suspect that I have lost more fat and gained muscle, and I anticipate the weight to start falling off now.  I can't complain too much - the pay isn't that great, but we get to fly for free and I am getting back in shape so HOORAY for my J-O-B!!

I have a hard time doing standard work outs at a gym because I don't have the support I need (childcare wise) or the money to pull that off.

I like how I feel when I am active and exercising.  I travel a lot because of work and get headaches, migraines and have stomach issues.  I notice an immediate difference in my mood and health when I am not exercising like I should (like right now).  I have had a head off and off for about 3 and 1/2 weeks.  When I look back at my exercising, it has been pretty poor for that same time frame.  I try to do something to be active (ride my bike, run, walk, something) at least 4 or 5 times a week.  These last 3 and 1/2 weeks, I would be lucky if I have worked out 4 or 5 times.   

Bad I know.  No excuses.  Just being lazy or something.