How do you stay motivated?

my motivation...not wanting to cry when I catch sight of myself in a window or full length mirror, thats all the motivation I need

I do make mini goals..I guess they're mini motivators

A closet full of clothes that I no longer can fit into helps, but the over all feel I get when I finish working out, looking at the scale when I have lost a pound or two another is seeing that I am using less and less of measurement tape when I take my measurements. The fact that I have an awesome support system in the friends that I have made on here as well my family and the man that I love. :flowerforyou:

Have someone do it with you. There are some days that I don't meet my calorie goals and I don't stress too much about it. But if you have a friend or spouse do it with you they can help you make better food choices.

the way I stay motivated is to make my goals hard so I feel like I am running a race and no one can beat me...I've always been a little competitive and so challenging myself makes it feel more like a game and makes it fun...but I know that's not how everyone works...
-but people keep telling me "don't be so hard on yourself" my thought is the only things I'm good at in life are things that I have been real hard on myself

Find an exercise you actually enjoy doing. 2 of my exercise routines are Zumba and walking. I like actually going to a Zumba class. It motivates me to be with other people and just have fun while burning calories. On the other hand, I enjoy walking in the park by myself. I put on my music and just unwind peacefully while burning the cals. I have come to realize the only way to make a life change is to truly enjoy what you are doing.

Not wanting to re-experience an onset of a natural death coming is a pretty good motivator for me. That and I've gained even more confidence in myself, and my confidence is astronomic.

What I suggested to a friend, and what worked for her, is a reminder of how much you accomplish, not how long you have to go.

My fifth pound, I remember being in the grocery store and picking up five pounds of butter. It made me grin. If you look at it, all stacked up, it is an amazing reminder of how well you are doing.

At 50 lbs, I bought a 50 lb weight vest. I needed it to train for the firefighter physical ability test. But donning it is stunning. I used to carry that around *all the time*!!

So, at some point, I told a friend of mine to keep a bucket of fat and lard from the meat she trimmed. She had to look at it every time she opened the fridge for a snack. When the bucket got to big to keep in the fridge, I bought her 2 15 lb hand weights. She put it in front of the fridge. Every time she had to open the fridge, she had to move the 30 lbs she worked so hard to lose. It made her think twice when the craving came on. When she was almost at her goal weight, I found an old pic of her and put in on her fridge. I wrote in silver ink: Nothing tastes as good as being fit feels.

Later, when we talked about motivation, she told me I was her biggest one, which was an honor. Now she's mine!!

I keep a fat picture of me close by. The one that led me to lose weight

I have short term goals but have not put a date on them. That is a set up for disappointment for me.

Think of all the great clothes, bikinis I can get back into and how I'll feel

Most importantly I think of the long term health benefits.

10k race for life, i need something that i cant back out of that keeps me motivated, as well as support and encouragement from all my mfp friends

I don't think of it as motivation, just a lifestyle. I don't want to sit around at home getting middle aged.

It really isn't that hard for me right now since I started two weeks ago. I feel really good all of the time so that helps. I felt like **** before because of all the crap I ate and the lack of exercise. I was so tired before and I have alot of energy now. I am determined to change for the better! No more of the constant eating out and drinking!!! This is more of a lifestyle change for me and I'm learning everything is better in moderation. Like tonite I am treating myself to a Corona. I have been good all week and deserve a treat and I chose beer lol.

I guess that all depends on how you define motivation. Motivation to me is every little thing I do that adds up to something very big. Hence the list below.

1) Eating clean and healthy is my #1 priority.
2) Exercise my #1 priority (yep - I have two #1 priorities). I commit to exercising 6 days a week, even if it's only a 20 minute walk. The habit of exercise, no matter how little, eventually becomes a life-long habit.
3) I cheat once a week on my favorite food - coffee with dairy coffee creamer. Many others here have their favorites too. Pick one thing that suits you and only indulge once a week so it feels like a luxury to be savored.
4) I journal every day and read through my journal weekly looking for triggers that might have caused me to not want to exercise or eat clean and healthy.
5) I seldom, if ever, keep junk food in the house. If I have to drive to get it I usually resolve it isn't worth the gas and mileage. If I choose to walk of course, then by the time I get to the store and back home I figure I've earned the extra calories exercising to indulge.
6) I only surround myself with positive, supportive and encouraging people. Negative, jealous and bitter people, and people who constantly lay guilt trips on me have no place in my life for any of my goals. Family or not - if they fall into this category I don't associate with them or at best limit the amount of my exposure to them to say once a year for about five minutes.
7) I take all my own foods (without shame, guilt or fear) to places I know do not serve foods that are part of my meal plan, and yes that includes to my friend's and family's houses.
8) I pre-plan my daily meal first thing each morning (well, actually the night before), and have everything pre-made or pre-prepared to help me stay on track. This way I never find myself starving, standing in front of the fridge wondering what to eat. If I left it up to my hungry stomach and unprepared mind I'd be eating junk almost every time.
9) I forgive myself for every mistake I make, including eating forbidden foods, over-eating, under-eating, not exercising, exercising too much, etc. And then I resolve my determination and move on. Guilt has no absolutely no place in my life.
10) I seldom watch television and mute all commercials. Television has too many food commercials that subconsciously mess with your mind.
11) Tthe only thing I eat in front of the T.V. is a pre-measured amount of hot air popped popcorn with some Frank's hot sauce. Otherwise, that's what the kitchen and dining table are for.
12) I seldom eat in front of the computer.
13) Because I live a busy life and travel a lot in my car, I pre-plan all my foods and beverages in advance and make sure I have all the proper containers, utensils, ice packs, etc., necessary for my success.
14) To help with boredom eating, I have lots of hobbies.
15) I never use weather as an excuse not to exercise (although I do prefer NOT to cycle in the snow lol!).
16) I never use my monthly cycle as an excuse not to exercise.
17) I never use my monthly cycle as an excuse to binge or eat foods that are not part of my daily eating plan.
18) I never allow my emotions to rule my eating habits. When I find myself reaching for food in between meals and snack time, I sit quietly 5 to 15 minutes and investigate what's really going on.
19) I never eat when I'm mad, stressed, irritated, frustrated, elated, or any other 'high' emotional state.
20) I am rigid in my portion sizes and seldom deviate. I follow the diabetic portion sizes even though I am not and never will be diabetic.
21) I eat 10-20 grams more fiber than MFP allows for. This helps curb sugar cravings and keeps me full.
22) Although I don't drink eight 8 oz glasses of water every day, I get my daily water intake by drinking two 500 ml of water, copious cups of herbal teas, low-sodium broth, and water-rich vegetables.
23) By helping others to stay motivated in their goals, I find it much easier to stay committed to my own. A support system is key to all success, regardless of the goal.
24) I live, breathe, eat, drink, sleep and rest a healthy lifestyle. It is my #1 priority (yes, I have three #1 priorities).
25) I try to maintain my sense of humor at all times. It's amazing how powerful humor really is.
26) I listen and read every word I say for negative or self-defeating self-talk and instantly correct myself.
27) I transform every negative into a positive, be it thought, action, emotion, or experience.
28) I make myself my #1 priority (yes, I have four #1 priorities). I don't believe in being selfish but rather being "rationally selfish". When I take care of myself I am better able to help care for others. When I don't, everyone loses.
29) The scales, my clothes, and the mirror are only half of my personal truth. The other half lives deep within myself - it's all those things I believe about myself that determines whether I fail or succeed. That's why it's essential you make this journey just as much about psychological as diet and exercise.
30) Rest and relaxation are my #1 priority (yes, I have five #1 priorities).

Of course there are many more, but I thought I'd throw these your way to give you something to think about to get you started.

I imagine myself thin. I really make an effort to do that, I try hard to think myself in my thin body (the one I had 10 yrs ago lol). And it's nice. I then say to myself 'you can be that again, you just have to want it enough'.

You will get motivated when you've had some success. If you can put in a tough couple of weeks and stay on track with your eating and exercise and lose a little, it will get easier to do what is working for you.

A word to the wise, fast food is the enemy of your eating plan and of your pocketbook.