I hope you don't mind me posting in your forum considering I am not a maintainer but I am curious.
Suppose one day President Obama came up to you and made an executive order. You must tell him one and only one thing that you think has helped you the most in taking off and keeping off weight? What would it be?

Counting calories.

Eating more whole foods, eliminating/greatly reducing SAD (standard American diet).

Restricting portion sizes.

Jay

ETA: I'd like to have Obama tell me what HE does to maintain his weight! And Michele too!

Running.

Taking off - counting calories
Keeping off - exercise

3Fc!

Exercise, specifically weight lifting.

Everything flowed from that: creating a new self-image, learning self-discipline, persevering through discomfort, eating to fuel my body, emotional and physical strength, postponing immediate gratification for a greater reward, and discovering that I had the power inside of me all along to make my dreams come true.

Working for it!

Midwife, you are right, I should have said 3FC too!

I'm with bargoo. Calorie counting.

Very hard to pinpoint one thing. Two of my top helpers were picked by Glory and Bargoo.

Hmmm, one thing, one thing.

Willingness.

Willingness on my part to do whatever is required and whatever is necessary to get the job done.

Consistent exercise.

It puts my head in the right place so I can do all of the other things that are equally important - counting calories, sticking to the food plan, etc.

One thing that has enabled me to continue on this Journey

My JOURNAL,because it holds me accountable to all the steps necessary to make this happen.

I couldn't have said it better. When I'm exercising consistently, it makes me 1) a happier person (thus less emotional eating), and 2) it serves as an appetite suppressant, and 3) it just makes me want to eat more healthily, and smaller portions. If I go to the gym I want to follow-up with a healthy dinner, you know?

I should say that my exercise goes through phases. I went through a running phase, then I got into weightlifting and run less now. I took belly dancing classes for a little while, went to yoga classes for a while but they're not at a good time for me anymore... as long as I'm doing something physical, I think it's ok to switch it up. Keeps me interested.