What keeps you going? What makes you say no to candy, chips, and soda? All three of these are my weakness..ugh!

I can only say time and seeing results on the scale. No matter how bad I want that chocolate chip cookie as someone once said nothing tastes as good as skinny feels! And as I'm nearing *normal* size I can say that is true! It really is just time though, there was plent of days, weeks, months where I just couldn't say no and at those times my weight loss suffered. Good luck!

Stepping on the scale and seeing a new lower number is my number one motivation. I also enjoy the occasional comment from someone who hasn't seen me in a bit or fitting into those skinny jeans that I have had put away for eight years. When I am feeling low and at a weak moment, it really helps to come here to 3FC to read stories and look at before and after pictures. I think to myself that if they can do it, so can I. I still have low moments where I give into temptation or make an excuse for not exercising. I am really realizing that only person I am cheating in the long run is myself

I look in my closet everyday and see an array of clothes that either don't fit or are too tight. I like my clothes and want to wear them. This keeps me motivated.

Sharon

I find blogging helps keep me on track - even if only one person is reading it! By logging my intentions and logging everything I eat, I stay on track as I don't want to lose face!
abbiemcgrail.com

I allow myself two diet sodas, or one diet soda and one coffee, per day. I never allow myself more than one caffeinated drink - so if I had coffee, I'll have a diet sprite with dinner if I need it. I cut back drastically on sodas (usually having 1 a day), but I find a diet one here or there helps.

As for chocolate, and all candy for that matter, I work it into my plan. I know myself. I like chocolate. If I make room to have a little whenever I want it, I'm a happier person. I'm good at controlling my portions of it, though. I ever go over 200 calories (and usually eat much less than that).

Chips, well, I'm terrible with. I'll eat a bag if they're in front of me. I open a large bag and portion them into individual servings in ziploc baggies. Then I put the ziploc bags into the large bag, so I can easily see the calories when I grab an individual serving. That helps a lot. Popchips are FANTASTIC - if you REALLY need a chip splurge, the entire bag is about 300 calories. They taste amazing - I like the salt and pepper. I haven't had them in a while, because I DO eat the whole bag, and they're expensive. But they make a great treat, esp for movie nights with friends.

Get naked, or close to it, and stand in front of a full-length mirror. Look from the side as well as the front. That kinda did it for me.

Take a photo if you like, that you can pull up on your cellphone or print and keep in your wallet, so that when you want to buy that candy and soda and chips, you can look at the photo and consider what you really want.

Or you could say to yourself, "Let's see... early death or good health... which will it be?"

Jay

When I decided to get healthy and lose the weight - once and for all and permanently - I had to make peace with and accept the fact that I could never eat "like that" any more. I was ready. I was ready to give up "those foods".

The truth is they never made me happy. Sure they tasted good, but that was not good enough. Not anymore. I started requiring more from myself. I wanted more than just good TASTE. I wanted foods that tasted good and was good for me, long after I was done chewing.

So, I made the decision to ban those foods (very strict in the beginning). I banned them, didn't leave the door open TO eat them. I went cold turkey. I had a real hard time stopping to eat those kinds of foods. Once I started, I couldn't/wouldn't stop - my solution - don't start. I was done being fat and I wasn't taking any more chances. I tried the moderation route - for decades. It didn't work for me. One bite, led to two, led to a whole day of poor eating. Led to disaster.

So, I don't rely on motivation. Motivation never seems to be around when the pizza and ice cream are. Nope. I rely on my commitment to be the best me possible. I rely on my commitment to good health. These are my convictions and beliefs and I stick to them (for the most part, 100% so in the beginning). I basically remember what it is I want the MOST. The few minutes of good taste (and your tastes WILL change if you allow it too) or the long lasting affect of healthy good food.

And speaking of which, I gave up a bunch of food - but I make darn certain to have plenty of healthy great tasting foods ALWAYS on hand. No deprivation here. I may not be eating the junk any more, but I sure as heck ain't starving either. I've ALWAYS got delicious foods right at my finger tips. So set yourself up for success and be certain to always have healthy, delicious options.

Feeling better about myself, lots of energy (before I was always tired) Not wondering what I going to wear because nothing looked right before and thinking about the shopping spree I am planning to do when I hit my goal weight.

Lord, I've got a list.

Knowing that next time I go shopping, I actually want to go down a size and not worry about finding clothes to camouflage my trouble zones.

Remembering when a friend asked me if I liked shopping at Ashely Stewart. I'm overweight, but I can't fit anything in that store darn it!

Thinking about all of those thinspo clothes that I bought, that I'd like to wear before they go out of style.

Being able to look just as hot in the summer as I do in the winter. I know I'm not the only one who's heard of Winter being "Big Girl Season"

And just to not have to worry about if I look fat or not.

That's what helps me to say no to my temptations.

Thanks everyone!

You literally have to take one day at a time. Some days I write a message on my hand. Like yesterday I wrote " Being fat makes you miserable do you really want to eat this?" (just incase I pick up any junk food) I also make minigoal rewards for myself. For instance if I lose 10 pounds I'll get my nails done or something. This has really helped me. Also since I have family that likes to eat junk food I taped a few pictures on the pantry door that remind me what I want to look like so that I wont grab that bag of chips.

For me, it's easier to keep going once I'm going than it is to get started. Taste buds DO adapt, and new habits become just as comfortable as older ones. I'm not suggesting it will be easy as pie, but it seems SO much easier once you're in the midst of it.

Saying no to foods for me is a commitment. Like RockinRobin, moderation doesn't work for me. I guess I'm an all or nothing gal (at least in this case). I can look at the foods that most tempt me (cake, sweets) and say no because I am sticking by a decision I made long ago. There's no debate, there's no "I want it", there's no "just one...". My mindset doesn't allow for that because of a decision I made when I started out. I'm constantly conscious of what I want to achieve and the steps I can take to reach my goals. That's been my approach and it's working. The best thing is to figure out what's going to work for you and then stick by that .

I also find exercise keeps me on track. It acts as a very effective reminder. There is NO WAY I'm going to stuff my face with unhealthy food after pushing myself to exertion at the gym and spending time each day very well aware of the blessing of having a healthy body, the feeling of strong muscles, seeing other people at the gym who are pushing themselves and are focused on healthy living, etc. I think exercise and the gym are what saves me.

For me, mostly I just try to avoid eating junk food.But sometimes I'll treat myself every once in a while, and control how much I have.Also, one thing I do to keep myself motivated is to look online at stores like American Eagle Outfitters and look at all the clothes and imagine myself wearing them someday.Good luck!

NOT the scale. It's too fickle and does not accurately represent what I do.

I struggled with a mighty force of will power for about three weeks. After that, my body decided I wasn't going to feed it the same way anymore and it hasn't fought me since. I honestly no longer crave that stuff.

With South Beach it was easier. Within three days of going cold turkey with no carbs I was good to go.