The following is what Glory said in another thread:

This just blows me away. It is so simple, but so important! I have been trying to ask myself if I am really hungry before I eat something. The problem is that I really don't know if I am hungry or not. I sure as heck do know how dripping water works and whose hand is feeding me

I can't imagine anyone can top these two mantras, but has anyone else got a good one?

I really love those!

Those are really good mantras.

Another thing I do to try to keep myself on track is carry a picture around of me when I was skinnier. Everytime I think about going to the vending machine at school or having an extra serving when I know I'm not really hungry, I look at that and think about how much I want to lose weight so I can be happier and healthier.

Thanks for the posting! I'm going to start saying those things to myself as well.

Wow, thanks for this post! I honestly thought most people would think I was nuts, muttering to myself and then throwing away cake. I have to confess, I actually got "dripping water can eat through stone" as a tattoo - my 1 year maintenance anniversary.

It's a Chinese proverb that means "perseverance," 4 traditional Chinese characters, vertically on my back. It's about 3 inches long and starts about 1 inch below a normal shirt collar. When I got it, I had no idea that so many people thought Chinese tattoos were tacky! I loved the meaning and the way it looked then and I still love it every day.

It's important to me - I have to make sure it's true everyday. If I gain all my weight back, I'll be wearing a lie. It definitely keeps me inspired and motivated!

I really like Glory's mantras.

I'm not sure whether I'd call it a 'mantra' as such, but I have spent a LOT of time over the past 4 years (just over two years losing the weight and just on two years at maintenance) telling myself "It isn't an option".

When I didn't feel like exercising - "It isn't an option".

When I wanted to eat junk food when I already had healthier foods prepared - "It isn't an option".

When I wanted to go back for seconds, but didn't REALLY need it - "It isn't an option".

It is also great to fall back on that when I ever worry about putting the weight back on - "IT ISN'T AN OPTION!" I intend to keep up the healthy lifestyle, so gaining the weight back just isn't something I am willing to consider.

It has worked for me. I am the same as Glory in that I sometimes said it outloud. When I was shopping, early in the journey and I wanted the bag of chocolates or candy, I would actually whisper to myself "It isn't an option Zelma". People may have thought I was slightly insane, but it worked to deter me.

Zelma

Well, next time I see a woman muttering to herself as she walks by the candy store in the mall, I will know what it is all about!

Glory and ZedAus, I have enjoyed reading your stories more than once in the goal section!

Glory, I am 65 years old, so I am not into getting a tattoo myself, but I always liked the chinese characters on young women. They don't look tacky to me, but what do I know. Anyway, I can see why you don't want to "wear a lie". Besides, gaining the weight back would probably mess up the tatoo.

I think both of you are stressing personal responsibility with your "self-talk". No one but me is making me fat (in my case, anyway, I know some folks have medical problems).

I took a long at your website, Zelma, & I must say, you are TRULY inspiring! You look like a completely different person, & I can only imagine how wonderful you must feel! Thank you for sharing "you"!

Those are great. My friend always says there is no try, just do it.

Ha Yoda quote

Luke: All right, I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

Wow, these are great, thanks for sharing them. I love the "my hand, my mouth" !!!

Glory-

Great tattoo idea. I only find Chinese tattoos tacky, if they mean something tacky. (About a decade ago, I had a friend who had Chinese lettering that meant "loves women", which I think is a perfect example of this... )

I think that if it is your mantra, and something that really helped you, then it is perfect.

These are really great mantras and Im definately going to be using them the next time I get a craving