The faded fabric has worn to a soft texture and they fit like they were designed specifically for you.

They are the jeans you wore to your son’s baseball game when he hit his first homerun and you went hoarse from cheering. You wore them to the concert in the park on your anniversary date last summer.

Donning these jeans is like slipping into a warm bath. It is disheartening when after a long day your plans include these denim friends and a glass of wine on the patio; yet, when you go to pull them on, you find you have to suck in your breath-or worse-lay on the bed to wrestle them on.

That is when, filled with consternation, you realize that last 5 – 10 pounds has once again crept back up and are now clinging to your thighs and waistline with a vengeance.

Our wardrobes become part of our lives. They express our personality and our current moods. We spend vast amounts of time and money putting together our classic, staple pieces-and of course-there are the items that hold emotional attachments. We work hard to return to our pre-pregnancy sizes and feel indignantly aggrieved at the thought of needing to buy “that next size up.” Then…we get comfortable.

Today’s woman is bombarded with multiple roles. It is easy to let those extra calories slip by with little or no thought. Often, we eat on the run-grabbing whatever is convenient-although not the healthiest.

We attend birthday parties where we have just one small piece of cake. There are office parties, potluck dinners, barbeques with the neighbors-all involving mass amounts of calorie-laden, fat containing, sodium filled food.

We know that birthday cake, hotdogs and chips are not helpful in our quest to fit comfortably in our skinny jeans. We also know that drinking plenty of water, cutting out the sugary soda, processed carbohydrates, and increasing our fiber intake will help with weight loss.

http://www.high-fiber-health.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fiber-foods/nu00582

We even know that in order to burn off extra pounds we need to create a deficit between our caloric intake and caloric expenditure. So why is that strappy summer dress still hanging in the closest because it is too snug to wear?

Surprisingly, the true culprit may not be the special occasions and events that cause the calories-and pounds-to creep up (as we try to convince ourselves), but rather our inability to get and stay motivated.

As strong women, we successfully overcome the challenges of multiple obstacles each day. We outwit clever children, balance the demands of homes, and close business deals; yet, finding the motivation to lose that last 5-10 pounds-and keep it off once and for all-eludes many of us.

The key is to find what motivates you-and then continually re-motivate. Obviously wearing a strappy summer dress to your class reunion will not have the same motivating power after the class reunion has ended and it is in the middle of winter.

Your class reunion may have passed, but you would love to buy that little black dress to wear to that event in the spring… Dig deep, and find reasons that are important to you, then you will feel motivated to do the work.

Do not procrastinate! Once you find your own personal motivational goals, begin immediately. Think of it in terms of kinetic energy…a ball in motion stays in motion. Those same excuses that you use NOT to lose the weight are the ones that will get-and keep you motivated.

For example, if the excuse “just this once” were used differently, your life would change. You don’t want to go to the gym? Go “just this once.” You want that sugary snack? Leave it “just this once.” This is a good place to start as we all know that “just this once” happens multiple times per day…every day.

Find a workout partner. For example, I work out with my husband and I find it much more difficult to miss that early am workout when he is pulling the covers off and turning the lights on.

Talk about it. You are less likely to give up when you have the support of those around you.

Be your own biggest fan. If you have convinced yourself that you are unable to lose that last 5-10 pounds, then you have sabotaged yourself before you have even begun; however, if you are confident that you can and will reach your goals-you will find that motivation becomes much easier.

Accept compliments. When people notice the changes and tell you that you look great, don’t minimize the compliments-accept them. You will be surprised at how many you start hearing.

Set realistic goals and reward yourself. However, be careful not to undo your work with a sabotaging reward. When you reach the two pound weight loss goal for the week, that new top you had your eye on may be in order, but not a big hunk of chocolate cake. When you see progress (and you will), you will feel invigorated and motivated to reach the next goal you set for yourself.

To help you remain on track and feeling motivated, don’t forget the unseen culprits that contribute to seam stretching and sabotage your hard work -including your hectic schedule and lack of sleep. When you are under stress and sleep deprived, your body will store more fat due to changes in hormone levels. It is essential to get between 6 and 8 hours nightly to keep the bulge away.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/47181.php

To avoid busting a seam, instead bust a move! Increasing your heart rate is a sure way to rev up your metabolism, burn calories, and keep you feeling energized and motivated. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to personalize your exercise routine.

Change it up frequently. You do not have to become a gym-rat if that isn’t your thing; put on your favorite music and dance Jlo style in your living room. Go for a brisk walk after dinner or dive into a pool and swim some laps.

Better yet, get out in the back yard and play baseball with the kids or join them on the monkey bars. You will feel great and look fabulous in your jeans-and as you know-nothing feels better than sliding into those fabulously fitted old denim friends.

Kelliann Bateman is the Creator of www.TwinPregnancyInfo.com and www.FitWithTwins.com. She is the mother of 6 children-including 1 yr. old identical twin boys. She is a certified personal trainer and specializes in pre and post-pregnancy fitness and nutrition.