Pur that is really awesome! Congratulations! I know how awesome that feels and I'm very happy for you. Keep it up - just keep thinking how much better you feel already... it will only get better from here.
As far as exercise, along these lines:
One thing that always motivates me to at least look out for myself and usually take it an extra step, is this saying: "We have time for the things we make time for." Look at everything you do in a day. Sure, a decent portion is probably work and answering to another cause other than yourself. Of the time that you can call your own, though, what is it you are currently making time for? What is it you would like to make time for? Often times the lists differ. My suggestion is to look over the list of things you would like to do, and just do it (hey, the Nike slogan is all too true). Don't think to much about it. Start doing the things you've been meaning to, and before you know it, they'll be done, and you'll be building better habits and investing in yourself.
I've read something similar in my readings looking for motivational aids. What I read is that a major complaint was that many busy people have difficulty finding time to exercise. They said to pay attention to your daily routine as far as your free time goes. If you can find the time to check your e-mail, play a videogame or watch a tv show, you have the time to exercise. I think it's about changing the way you think about exersize. You wouldn't (usually) wake up in the morning and say "Gee, I don't feel like showering today," or end your evening with "Hmm, I don't feel much like sleeping tonight." If you think about it as something required in your day - as something that is part of your "have to do" list and not something as optional as checking your e-mail or watching tv, it helps you stick to it. When I started looking at it that way, it helped me make the time so that I did it regularly. I knew it was something I
needed to do for me, not just as something temporary I wanted, but to actively improve myself. Starting to see the results in my body was all the motivation I needed to keep at it.
It helps, too, if you find a method of exercise you really enjoy. Maybe walking is too bleh for you to make you want to do it. Maybe try yoga or swimming or hell, belly dancing. Find something that floats your boat.
And then you'll find, as I did, that you will
want to do it and not look at it as a chore. You'll get to a point where if you have something unexpected come up and you don't get to workout, you will miss it.
I'm proud of you! I know how hard you've been working at this, and I'm thrilled to hear you're seeing positive changes. I hope you reward yourself with something good - have the man give you a good solid massage or something!
