How do you stay motivated everyday??

I have the same problem!!

One thing you can do to stay motivated is to stop thinking about what you "could have" done, and instead focus on what you HAVE done. You have made good progress!

It helps me to pre-plan my food diary. I don't deprive myself of things I love, as long as I have them in moderation. And even though I pre-plan, I do allow myself the flexibility to change my diary as circumstances arise, provided I can still stay in my calorie range. I keep small treats on-hand like dark chocolate Hershey's kisses, and when I need a sugar fix, I'll pop one in my mouth and let it dissolve slowly. It takes a couple of minutes to dissolve, and it satisfies that craving for only 20 calories. Find something that you can treat yourself with, without sacrificing a lot of calories, and go to it when you need to. I think of my calorie goal as a bank account -- I have 1390 calories in my bank. That's all I have to spend on food. I can earn more if I work out, but either way, I dont' want to go in debt on my calories. It makes it easier to stay within my goals if I think of it in terms of "cost."

As far as exercise, I keep myself motivated because I have specific goals in mind, and I don't do any workout unless it's FUN! My goal is to have abs for my birthday. I've always wanted abs, so it's easy to push toward that goal. Maybe you don't want abs. Maybe you think it would be fun to do 20 pushups in a row. Maybe you would like to be able to run a mile without stopping. Come up with a fun fitness-related goal that you've always wanted or envied in other people, and slowly start making progress toward that goal. And find ways to make exercise fun. I like doing the workout games on the Wii because I feel like I can reach for a "high score." I'm very competitive in that way, and I like to win at games, so that works for me. Maybe you've seen a fun workout DVD, or you like to do the workouts on Exercise TV. Or maybe you don't like to do structured stuff, but you like to dance. Crank up the tunes, set your timer for 15 minutes or so, and dance your face off! Do something you enjoy doing, and it won't seem like work.

When you miss a day or go over your cals for a day, don't allow yourself to feel guilt. Just chalk it up to experience, remind yourself that everyone needs a rest day now and then, and keep pushing forward. My motivation comes from the knowledge that every moment is a fresh start. I can't change what I did yesterday, or even 5 minutes ago. But I can make a good choice RIGHT NOW. Guilt has no place in this journey. What do you have to feel guilty about? It doesn't affect anybody but you. There's nobody to apologize to. So just accept what happens, and keep moving forward.

Each day I try to eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch and the change dinner every nite and that works for me plus the exercising. Look back to those days/week were you lost and try to eat the same and exercise to see if that helps.

I agree every once in while you need a cheat day & I do plan my cheat days. But I try not to cheat too bad so that I don't feel guilty the next day or I eat less for breakfast & lunch if I know my dinner is gonna be my cheat meal so I can still eat but not go over my calories too much. Some times it works and some times it doesn't but then I just remind myself my weight didn't just appear overnight and it's not gonna disappear overnight either....lol I'm gonna hafta work at it and not give up. :-)

Truly, it has to come from within you. You have to want to lose weight/ look better/ be healthier-whatever your reason for doing this lifestyle change is more than you want that cookie (or whatever). There is no secret. For me, a few things help. One, I go back and look at the picture that started this all-I don't want to look like that again. Two, I know what my trigger foods are-cookies and chocolate. I do not let cookies in my house anymore. I can't. I have zero willpower when it comes to them. I still eat them, but I get 1 cookie from the bakery when I go grocery shopping or I seriously budget them into my calorie allotment for the day. I don't eat milk chocolate anymore. I can't stop. I can stop with dark chocolate so I eat a few dark chocolate chips every day and it keeps the chocolate monster at bay. Three-I eat every few hours so I am never ravenous. I plan my meals and my snacks. Four-if I eat something "bad" I log it (usually-I'm not as good at this anymore now that I've hit my goal weight) and I don't let it derail me for the rest of the day. Move on and eat healthy the rest of the day and the next day. You are accountable to yourself and nobody else can change you. Good luck!

It's all about the portions that i found/find difficult. It doesn't take much motivation for me to excercise music energizes me enough to do that. But eating is my downfall. I wanted to get a set of scales and weigh the things i eat before i eat them (as i don't eat out often/ever really) but people thought that idea was stupid lol

scales are a GREAT idea! It will take time doing that to really be good about knowing portion size...that and measuring cups are my best friend

Well you have a loss and you've gotten back into exercise. That could be considered a victory.

You know what they say you get out of it what you put into it. I'd say you're proof positive about that. There is no magic cure you just have to do what you want to do. If you know you need to eat better along with your workouts then you just have to do it.

You know this. So it's up to you and your inner self to determine what you want and how you're going to get it.

Good luck.

I visualize myself every morning and everyday and repeat to myself my goal weight.

I also have friends here who want to reach the same goal as me, and we log together everyday. We cheer each other and I stay motivated. Getting a bit "competitive" with exercise and in reaching the goal helps a LOT.

If I have to cheat, I rather do it with something I know what it has in it...
Today I had two portions of the Spanish Cream Cheese pie I made last night -right before going to bed, so I would not feel tempted. Two portions of the pie are 90kcal and 3gr of protein.

This is why I love this site so much! The responses are motivating and make sense and you get a feel for what other people are going through on their own journey. :flowerforyou:

I personally started with the food I ate and then slowly added exercise to my routine. I was afraid if I did it all at once that I'd go back to my old ways. Maybe it's time to take a serious look at what you're eating and research some healthier alternatives/recipies or limit how often you eat certain things. What's your biggest food weakness? Mine is chinese. I allow myself to have it twice a month. I plan for it, and if I go over, then I go over. I don't beat myself up for it, and I just make sure I'm being good to myself the rest of the time. My lifestyle change would never have worked if I didn't allow myself Chinese ever again. I also eat a fudgicle instead of 2 cups of ice cream, and I just don't buy snack foods that I would "lose control" over anymore. (Smartfood - I do miss you!)

Everyone is different. What works for one may not work for another. Just keep at it, go at your own pace, and remember you have to do it for you or it won't stick.

I weigh and measure everything, that way I can eat what I want but only the portion thast fits into my cals per day.

One thing you can do to stay motivated is to stop thinking about what you "could have" done, and instead focus on what you HAVE done. You have made good progress!

It helps me to pre-plan my food diary. I don't deprive myself of things I love, as long as I have them in moderation. And even though I pre-plan, I do allow myself the flexibility to change my diary as circumstances arise, provided I can still stay in my calorie range. I keep small treats on-hand like dark chocolate Hershey's kisses, and when I need a sugar fix, I'll pop one in my mouth and let it dissolve slowly. It takes a couple of minutes to dissolve, and it satisfies that craving for only 20 calories. Find something that you can treat yourself with, without sacrificing a lot of calories, and go to it when you need to. I think of my calorie goal as a bank account -- I have 1390 calories in my bank. That's all I have to spend on food. I can earn more if I work out, but either way, I dont' want to go in debt on my calories. It makes it easier to stay within my goals if I think of it in terms of "cost."

As far as exercise, I keep myself motivated because I have specific goals in mind, and I don't do any workout unless it's FUN! My goal is to have abs for my birthday. I've always wanted abs, so it's easy to push toward that goal. Maybe you don't want abs. Maybe you think it would be fun to do 20 pushups in a row. Maybe you would like to be able to run a mile without stopping. Come up with a fun fitness-related goal that you've always wanted or envied in other people, and slowly start making progress toward that goal. And find ways to make exercise fun. I like doing the workout games on the Wii because I feel like I can reach for a "high score." I'm very competitive in that way, and I like to win at games, so that works for me. Maybe you've seen a fun workout DVD, or you like to do the workouts on Exercise TV. Or maybe you don't like to do structured stuff, but you like to dance. Crank up the tunes, set your timer for 15 minutes or so, and dance your face off! Do something you enjoy doing, and it won't seem like work.

When you miss a day or go over your cals for a day, don't allow yourself to feel guilt. Just chalk it up to experience, remind yourself that everyone needs a rest day now and then, and keep pushing forward. My motivation comes from the knowledge that every moment is a fresh start. I can't change what I did yesterday, or even 5 minutes ago. But I can make a good choice RIGHT NOW. Guilt has no place in this journey. What do you have to feel guilty about? It doesn't affect anybody but you. There's nobody to apologize to. So just accept what happens, and keep moving forward.

I COMPLETELY agree with your last paragraph. If you have a bad day and skip a workout or splurge on jelly beans (guilty), so what! Recognize that you could have done better, and then do better! Give yourself a break and start with a clean slate every morning if you have to.

I like analogies....so I compare losing weight to paying off a credit card. I just hack away at it bit by bit until it's gone.

I have some clothing items in my closet that I just love, but they are too small for me. I put them where I have to touch them every day when choosing my clothes, it reminds me that I want to be able to wear them. Looking good is better than any cookie or burger. It helps me stay on track.

I try on the pants I want to fit into everyday.keeps me on track, but there are times when I indulge, we all do, just get ack on the horse!