What is driving you to stick with your diet?

LivingtheLeanDream

I don't stick to a diet because I'm not on a diet I cut back on portion sizes (counted calories), still ate/eat the foods I love, started moving more and whaddya know, weight loss happened ....and what's more: have been maintaining goal weight for 4 years now.

Machka9

KeepRunningFatboy wrote: »

I sign up for races: half marathons & marathons. I use those as goals to keep my diet in check.

Yep ... mine are long distance rides.

When I moved to the area where I now live, I couldn't do the long distance rides I used to be able to do because I'd put on a bit of weight and this area is very hilly. I might have managed on flat ground, but hauling that weight up hills put me out of the time limits for my events.

So I lost the weight so I could get back into my events ... and I keep it off so I can keep doing my events.

frawley23

I had gestational diabetes which is a pretty good indication that I will develop type 2 diabetes in the future. I'm.dedicated to changing my lifestyle so that I can avoid diabetes as long as possible. Being a positive role model for my little girl as she grows up will be an added bonus.

Tacklewasher

What is making me stick to it is that it is working. I now understand how to lose weight (thanks MFP) and have been losing consistently since September. as the weight comes off, I want more to come off.

I'm doing this for me. Not for my wife or family or anything like that. This is all about what I can do for me. And it's working.

courtneyfabulous

Tacklewasher wrote: »

What is making me stick to it is that it is working. I now understand how to lose weight (thanks MFP) and have been losing consistently since September. as the weight comes off, I want more to come off.

I'm doing this for me. Not for my wife or family or anything like that. This is all about what I can do for me. And it's working.

Same here- I've wanted to lose weight/not be overweight my whole life but nothing was working or if something did work it was temporary (like crash diets)... I was ready to give up when I discovered tracking macros and counting calories with myfitnesspal and figured "why not"... not expecting it to work but I'd tried everything else so might as well give it a shot... and it WORKED!!

I also had a health crisis in my early 30s which made me truly value my health. Once you lose your health you realize how valuable it is and will do anything to get it back and keep as healthy as possible!!

So yeah a combo of a major health wake up call, having wanted to lose weight for practically ever, and finally finding something that works!!! Yay!

OP remember to plan for maintenance once you lose the weight. You don't want to do all that work, win (or lose) the bet, and then go back to your old ways of eating and end up gaining it all back!! Make sure when you're finished losing weight to do a reverse diet and then keep tracking everything but at your maintenance calories instead of a weight loss deficit. Losing the weight is only HALF the battle! The other half is keeping it off!

Boland_D

My hot bod from two years ago.
Jk, but kinda not.
I just feel how out of shape I am in everyday activities. It's a lot to carry around and it's weighing me down.

Budjola

overall feeling of being healthier and looking good while doing so

comeonnow142857

On the negative influence side, I'm sick of alcoholism and obesity, and see what is happening to people who don't make the changes, people I know, from heart attacks to prison and other forms of misery and denial. It's terrifying.

On the positive side, literally everyone I work with in my new office job weight train really seriously and eat reasonably and helped influence me to make these changes quietly and painlessly. It's very easy to not worry about how motivated you need to be, and just get stuff done, when you're on duty with people 40-60 hours a week, and have those examples to step up to.

gregfrompenn

I probably should be eating a little heathier but I am sticking to counting calories, 1,600 per day and I have been satisfied.

everher

I was slowly killing myself.

My mother died relatively young last year from heart failure. My grandfather died from heart failure as well.

I made up my mind I was going to fight genetics as much I could for as long as I could. I might pass away young one day too from heart failure, but I'm not going to contribute to my risk one cheeseburger at a time.

christys03

My mom died @ 55 of cancer. My whole goal is to surpass her, and watch my grandkids grow up (when I have them)...I want to live a healthy life, active, be an inspiration to my kids and all who know me....every clean meal I eat, and every minute being active fulfills that...

GottaBurnEmAll

My health was my initial motivation and my health is still a factor keeping me in the game, but I never realized just how much I'd enjoy being thin.

I put on weight rapidly starting with puberty and never experienced living without having a weight problem since I was a preteen. I'm middle aged now and for the first time, I know what it's like to feel thin. And I like how that feels. I'm in this now for vanity if I'm really being honest about what's my main motivation at this point.

I also can't stress how important movement has become to me. It keeps me sane. Running, and when my joints are being uncooperative idiots, walking -- are essential to my mental health. Weight lifting supplements those activities nicely.

matt2673

My motivation is reversing type 2 diabetes and getting off of insulin. Even though I've only been diabetic for a month, I'm already sick of sticking myself with needles. Life is just plain too short for this.

Brans34

I began my journey for my health and to set a better example for my kids. I don't eat "clean," but I do stick to my calories, and I don't hardly ever have days that I'm hungry by the end of the day.
Now that I have had a 22 lb loss, what is driving me is the results. My reasons now are mostly vanity. I really want to look good in a cute little sun dress on spring break. I want to rock the dress for prom (masquerade theme this year). I want to look good in a swimsuit without me or my kids being embarrassed by the size and jiggle of their mom. The fact that I haven't had a plateau of more than a week at a time with the same 2 lbs coming and going before the scale finally started moving in the right direction again gives me the drive I need to keep at it. I have just over a week of February left, and my goal is to lose 2.4 more lbs by the 1st. After that, 10 lbs in March. That will allow me to be amazing in a cute prom dress, because those pictures in the yearbook last forever, and then only 5-10 lbs after that to goal range.

noobletmcnugget

Vanity, pure and simple.

breannemarie1993

My cousins wedding in July and figuring out how to live properly with a high gluten intolerance!'

NatashiaGonzalez

I want to be at my healthy weight before getting pregnant.
Kicking PCOS's *kitten*
Finally fitting into my clothes
Not being the chubbiest of my friends

HOORAH!

leanjogreen18

Me.

This is the first time I'm losing for me! Not at event, occasion or person.

I stick with counting calories because I want to do this for me.

fit_chickx

I have lived in the shoes of a significantly overweight person and healthy person. I've been at my goal weight for two years. I understand the struggles.

What motivates one person may not motivate you. Find your reasons! I waited until I had a health crisis and my heart stopped in the emergency room. I get a second chance. What has me sticking to this is I make myself and my health a priority. We only get this one life...... use it well.

The work does not end after your weight loss goal. You still have to maintain it. This app has been key. I had to learn how to eat and hit my macros. I'm not on a diet...I eat to fuel my body correctly. This is my healthy lifestyle that has become my new normal.

Tacklewasher

noobletmcnugget wrote: »

Vanity, pure and simple.

Nothing wrong with that.