oh, man, i totally feel you on that. ever since september i've had to untag any facebook pictures that include me and sometimes even ask my friends to take pictures down (ones that are just of me).
i hate it.
i want to look good in spring and summer so i can enjoy the outside and my friends without feeling bad about myself.

Great question
 

So many of these replies resonate with me... wanting to be healthy, wanting to be able to enjoy life, even the pride-related reasons as well! I also want to be a good example to my two daughters. I think modeling good eating habits is the only way to teach them.

I got pregnant right after I turned 18. My daughter is now 18 and I have a 1 year old. I figure if I continue to not make myself a priority at all until all of my kids are raised, my life will have just about passed me by. I am learning that it is ok to be a priority too. I love the way I feel when I work out. I love how the little changes in my body look. I have quad muscles! My fat rolls on my back are just about gone. I'm loving it. I am going to hike the Grand Canyon with my girlfriends in October. I am becoming an athlete. WOOT!

What motivates me is seeing my spare tire shrink. I hate it. I look in the mirror and feel like a foreign object is stuck around my middle. I have won some money that I am saving for a tummy tuck once I lose this tire. That's what motivates me knowing "it" will soon be gone.

Hello to everyone, I have been a member here for a long time now but never posted anything mostly just reading...... I had lost the weight in the past and gained it back. This time I positive is going to stay off because I refuse to keep making excuses or letting go.

Now for the question what motivates me is health and the fact that I don't like to take pictures when I am overweight becasue I tend to look even bigger in pictures. And I feel life is passing me by hiding. And last of not least my husband likes to take of his body and I feel like I should do the same.

What motivates me?

Fear of the ravages of aging. I wan't to be able to walk and be a normal weight when I am old. I just learned that you lose something like six pounds of muscle per decade starting at age 30.

My grand change in motivation...
 

I've decided that I can't let my children be the only thing that motivates me - it has to be something in me, something that I can control. I need to stop letting outside forces determine who I am, and what I do. I decided that 3 kids were enough because I was almost 35 at the time the last was born - and now it's ME TIME. No more thinking only of my kids. I will get healthy because I want to be healthy. I want to run without gasping for air, I want to walk up the stairs with no pain in my knees, I want to ride my bike again, I want to be comfortable in my own body, I want to feel sexy again (okay, that might affect DH too). ME, ME, ME - I am important, too, darnit!:p

Don't worry - obviously I still love my kids, but they're their own little people and don't define who I am anymore.

What motivates me...looking at pictures from "before" (even at "heavier weights") and seeing how happy and refreshed I looked. I see pics of me lately and I just don't look happy at all. I don't feel well. I seem to be sick more often. Stressed out - check!!!

I put pictures of the "skinner" me on my fridge, on my wall next to my desk, anywhere I need it to keep me from eating. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't.

My new motivation...I need to show my 8 y/o the right way. Taking the easy way out and just being fat is NOT acceptable. I have to find a way!!!

PS - I want to look better in my clothes!!!

Kuchick, I TOTALLY understand! I truly believe as women we have it pounded into our heads that it is selfish of us to make ourselves a priority. Just because we don't want to ONLY be defined by being a wife and mother doesn't mean we're selfish. We can be a priority along with our kids, and the house, and our hubbys, and everything else.

What motivates me is thinking about all the cloths I will be able to wear after I shed the lbs. Also seeing old pics of myself.

I am definitely a member of the group that untags Facebook photos, and asks friends to remove some as well!

What motivates me: I've moved to Europe, and gained so much weight, contrary to what everyone assumed would happen. Friends thought I'd get super thin like their 'idea' of European women, yet I've done just the opposite. My goal is to get back to my pre-expat weight- by the time I go to a wedding in July back in the States.
Also, I must agree with a few others. An ex will be at that wedding, and I admit, I really want to look sexy for that reason too!

What part of Germany are u in? We were also expats there.

LOL--yes, what the "idea" of European women are--I get that. LOL.

I motiviate myself. Tired of being tha fat chick. Tired of my feet hurting never having enough energ for my three kids. And well being single again.

I want to wear sexy lingerie for the hubby, and feel good about myself around him.
I want to not wear a cover up at the beach this summer.
I want to run after my kid and not stop to breathe.
I want to buy clothes from ANY store....and not in the "Womens" or "Plus Size" department.