I would love it if everyone would let me know what they do to keep themselves motivated. Hopefully it will help me find something that I can do to keep me going.

Well... there are lots of things, but standing in front of a mirror without my clothes on and asking myself "Are you still overweight?" usually does it. Because I am!

Wanting to see the number on the scale drop is motivating for me also. I've been stalled for a few weeks now.

The fact that my fasting blood glucose went from 109 to 87 after losing weight and exercising 5-6 days a week also has been great motivation!

Having to buy new clothes because I can no longer wear my old, big ones is great motivation! And reward!

That's all I can think of right now... more if I come up with them!

Jay

Motivation is fleeting, so I depend on organization and routine to keep me on track. I have a plan for eating and exercise each week that I stick to. If for whatever reason I don't stick to it, I usually feel guilty. So the guilt I guess is somewhat motivating.

It's not exactly what I would consider "body image healthy" but the images in fitness magazines also motivate me to work out harder, and eat better.

More than motivation is the knowledge of how I will feel if I DON'T stick to my plan!! Not good!

I have a picture of the wedding dress I want to get for my March 2008 wedding... it comes in my current size but that's clearly NOT what the model is wearing!

I also have a pair of jeans I used to toss on for cleaning the house, going out to grab a sandwich, etc. that are 5 sizes smaller than I am currenty to remind me of what is possible if I get back to eating right and exercising.

Nothing motivates me for success like success- I also hop on the scale every 1-3 days.

I used to check out a new nutrition/diet book at the library every few weeks. The reading kept me focused. I stayed within the realm of the "plan" I was on so that I didn't get confused by other "plans." In fact, that's how I found out about 3fc. I read the book first!

i like the idea of continually reading new weightloss literature, that's a good idea because I always read the magazines. I think I am going to read in the morning for a while instead of at night and see if that helps motivate me better. It seems that I go to be motivated and then wake up and blow it!

I like to window shop for ideas for clothes that I want to fit in to or be able to wear more confidently in at least a size smaller.

Hmm...i'm not good at staying motivated, but if I do find something that really really helps me, I'll be sure to let you know!!

zenor-thanks for having a link to your fitday! I haven't had time to set up and account and i've been wondering how it shows your information and what exactly it would do for me! It looks clearly outlined so I think I'll check it out!

Right now, I'm with the look in the mirror approach! I've actually been forcing myself to look at more than just my cute face in the mirror so I can stay aware of why I'm changing my life

Motivation comes and goes, but the commitment I made to give back everything I took from myself by overeating remains. Some days the motivation is so strong, I don't consider straying from my plan. Other days, I am hanging by a fingernail, and have to constantly remind myself why I am doing this.

Thank you everyone! like always, everyone has amazing advice...now lets see if I can actually take it :-)

you can!!
I WAS using a pair of old jeans - a "truer" size 12 than what you can get at many stores now due to rampant vanity sizing.. they were my first goal...they last fit when i was around 170... due to upping my exercise and building more muscle they fit me NOW. i'm 18lbs heavier now than when i wore them last but my measurements are almost the same as they were at 170... it makes me feel GREAT to wear them... but now i need a new motivator!! just the fact that i've never been smaller than a size 10 in my adult life and not only am i almost there but i AM going to "exceed" that goal is plenty for me!

What's this 'truer' sizing? Anyway, I think that I need to LIVE on this thread for a while, because I just am super isolated and continually forget about my focus. How can one just forget? I don't know, but it seems to happen most days between 11am. -- 4pm. Another reason I'm super isolated, is kind of quirky > it's because I abstain from media. Media has helped my selfimage become very unhealthy in my teens, and through my 20's I just learned to look the other way. It's not for everybody, but it's something I've had to do to survive in such a superficial world of looks and fashion and cosmetics. I know, I'm very much like my Title, a hermit. I do think this forum helps, for it continually reminds me that I'm trying to do something about this condition.

BattleAx said : "Motivation comes and goes, but the commitment I made to give back everything I took from myself by overeating remains. Some days the motivation is so strong, I don't consider straying from my plan. Other days, I am hanging by a fingernail, and have to constantly remind myself why I am doing this." and I couldn't feel more like her. IT is a cruel thing I've done to myself, nearly in total sabotage. I had so much going that depends on my physical fitness, and well, I just have thrown it all off of a cliff. Getting it back is way harder than throwing it off. Geez.

My pre-pregnancy body is my motivation!

I lost 70 lbs in 2004. The one and only pic I have of myself at that time is my motivation, because due to medication I have gained it all back and then some.

My short-term motivation is my engagement ring, which I've been unable to wear since I got married because wearing both bands hurts my chubby fingers! I'd love to be able to wear it again. Long-term motivation is health (no-brainer).

I guess what keeps me motivated aside from wanting to wear my ring again is reading and writing about diet and nutrition and health, as someone above mentioned. I have a couple of good magazines laying around, plus there's the internet and these forums, and I think keeping a blog keeps those pertinent topics at the forefront of my brain so I'm always thinking of making healthy choices.

Sounds like a lot of brain power involved but I swear it's not