Best piece of fitness/weight loss advice you have...

You didn't gain it all in one week, so don't try to fool yourself into thinking that you can lose it all that fast.

and

Don't sweat what the scale says. There will be slight ups and downs.

It's all centered around what goes in your mouth. It's very similar to quitting smoking. It's never going to work until you set your mind to it. If you go in half assed, you won't make it. You have to dedicate yourself to change and stick with it.

Do only that which you can imagine doing for life.
Don't start out on a crazy, 2 hours + per day workout regime, if you know you wont be able to sustain it...and realistically, not many can. Don't cut out foods, if you know you will end up eating them again eventually. It is much better to find a way to integrate your less healthy favourites, whether that be a little each day, a little a few times a week, or a nice meal of your choosing once or twice a week, or heck, just having a day once a week where you eat what you have been craving the other 6 days, within reason. You have to find what will suit you for life, not what is the latest, hottest fad, or what worked for others. Don't start anything you can't finish.

Believe in youself first....If you don't, be prepared to see the faces of those who said you couldnt!

When I was finally told that all that mattered was calories in and calories out

Pick something that works for you and stick to it.
For ever.

I'd suggest the opposite - be flexible. This isn't to say you should give up on healthy ways before they've had a chance to work; rather, check in with your body, see what works (however you define working), and adapt as necessary.

Also,

Give a Damn!

Love this ...You should care about and for yourself

If you look as "pretty" as you did before you worked out after you finish, you're not working hard enough.

Love this quote Joanna!

Instead of setting one big goal like "I'm going to lose 45 pounds" set a million tiny goals like "I'm going to lose a pound this week" or "I'm going to be under my calorie goal today" or "I'm going to work out for two hours today."

You'll feel like you are accomplishing something instead of just thinking about how far away from your big goal you are. And as these little things keep adding up, you'll watch your big goal get closer and closer.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue tht counts"

You will never truly succeed until the end. Just because you have succeeded at the immediate goal doesn't mean you journey is over. Just because you "fail" doesnt make you a failure. Pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes, and in all things find the courage from within to continue on and achieve you goals. Make it count.

I didn't tell anyone I was trying to change my eating habits, I didn't want anyone to try and tell me what I should do. I knew if I really wanted to succeed I had to find my own way. For the first month I didn't do anything but decide what I was willing to give up as far as food, what type of activity I was willing to add, and what healthier food options I could use as swap outs. I also promised myself that I would never say, "I am not going to put the weight back on this time." I always say that and it always comes back on. So now I tell myself if I start to gain back the weight its ok, I'll just get back on the right path as soon as my head is back in it. Also I still haven't added working out, I am not very good at being able to do more than one thing at a time. Once I stop loosing the weight with just diet then I plan to slowly add a work out plan (I move around alot at work, not a sit down job). Last but not least I log my food everyday. Since I have started I was unable to log during a huricanne for a few days but kept a written log of everything I ate. After we got internet back I logged the food. I always try to plan what I am going to eat the day before so if I want taco bell I can eat lower calorie healthier options through out the day so I can still stay under calories. I try not to have what most people call cheat days, I do eat McDonalds and go out to eat, I just try to base my calories around that meal. I try to limit the days I go over my calorie intake to once a month and when I do, its usually not by much. FYI if you have a absolute fav that you have to have see if you can find a go lower calorie option. For example I love ice cream, weight watchers has several low calorie ice cream options and walmart has a 100 calorie ice cream bar. I also incorporated non food rewards, every two weeks if I have done well I go and get my nails done, a pedicure and my eyebrows waxed. I set my first three goals at every twenty five pounds, now that I am in the final stretch my goals are now every five pounds because I know those are going to be harder. I treat myself to a nice new outfit or a few new nice shirts (not tee shirts). I never reward myself with food.