trying to stay motivated

journal/blog. keep motivational pics of you at your heaviest, and you at your lightest (or your goal pic). reach out for support- through MFPers or the people in your life.

although my fitness has been great and continously improving, my diet has been a rollercaoatser at times... but the people here and in my life have been motivating and supportive- and they keep reminding me of my goals while praising my accomplishments.

you can do this.

Take pictures of yourself right now and take pictures of yourself ever X amout of pounds down, be it 10 15 20 whatever number you chose and compare them and look at them often, when you've lost 40 pounds and feel like giving up take a new photo and then compare it to the first one you've taken, and boom! That does it for me anyway (see profile photo)

Also measure youself now and measure yourself every month the inches you lose should motivate you as well

If you are not motivated you will not reach your goal,, How important is your goal to you?
You should be totally committed to reaching your goal so that any thing that will take you off track should not even be given consideration.

This is war and needs to be an all out assault, after all its a battle for your life. Treat it as a war, do not give any ground to breaking your food plan. That will loose you the war.

Closely look at why you want to loose weight, is it for you? for someone else? etc

It needs to be for you to stay focused.

The need should be very deep, a desire that takes precedent over everything.

If these are present you will stay on track.

You have a long way to go so you need to break your goal down to mini goals to keep you on track.

Half a pound to a pound per week should be realistic for long term body changes.

Think this is not a diet it is a life style change.

You should look at planning your diet either the day before or in the morning, enter this in your MFP diary and then keep to plan.

If something changes in the day then with experience you will be able to change things on the fly choosing the right foods.

Remember nothing ever tastes as good as feeling fit trim and healthy.

Every thing that you eat should be planned so you know what your eating. And yes it needs to be an obsession.

Do not allow others to side track you. Its your life and you have to live with it not them.

Watch out for hidden calories in drink.

Exercise does not have to be excessive, plan an hour of walking fasted before breakfast its the best non exercise weight loss tool for you. No matter what your level of fitness you can quickly build up to this. If needed you can start with 15 minuets per day the first week and increase according to your ability, extra 5 mins every week or more if your able to get you to the hour. It does need to be fasted, just drink water before you go and during. It needs to be at a speed that just raises your breathing so your not puffing and out of breath but just elevated. And do not eat any carbs for at least an hour after you finish.

look at and learn about macro nutrients Protein fat and carbs. Learn about good fats and how they are your friend. learn about carbs how they are not your friend. Carbs like you and like to stick around, around your belly around your thighs around your chin.

Make some rules that you never ever eat fats and carbs together. These will make you fat and keep you fat.

If your a chocolate sweet tooth person, Then plan healthy alternatives. Protein shake with water not milk while your on it. I use chocolate protein a lot and it does help stop the cravings.

Keep a track of your starting statistics on a spread sheet, Weight, and size as you will loose inches some weeks and not pounds.
Plan your mini goals and only focus on each mini goal not your end goal.

This way you can see and learn what works and what does not work for you.

This is a life style change that will provide a great deal of self esteem and confidence. Great health benefits, and as a result your quality of life now and in the future will be greatly enhanced.

This is simple but it is not going to be easy. Little cheats are not good they are distractions and will stop you reaching your goal, it is an all out war.

Very best of luck, go into this with your eyes open knowing what you face.