No matter how strong your willpower is, everyone gets cravings and weak periods. I think it's really important to keep your goals in mind while trying to lose weight, because when you forget the reason you're on the diet, you forget the diet. When I have a weak moment (every time I drive by a bakery) I try to remember why I want to lose weight, and why those reasons are more important than any yummy chocolate pastry (oh god, chocolate!). I am constantly looking for new ways to motivate myself. Anyone who has any special motivational methods, come share them here, so we can all remember why we're doing this at all.

I don't have any special motivational techniques, Iris Five! But here's my list of why I'm trying to lose 27 pounds at the moment:

(1) I had previously lost more than 100 and gained a little back, so I want to go down again BELOW where I was to the goal I originally set (hope you can figure out that sentence);

(2) I wish to regain a previous fitness level because I felt better when more fit;

(3) I don't wish to buy larger size clothes ... I gave away all the large sizes and don't want them back.

(4) Life for me is more fun in a sensible-sized body ... it just feels better.

(5) I only have one life (that I know of) and I want to extract the maximum from it and be around as long as possible. When I was heavy, I had less chance for that to happen. I don't want to go there again!