looking to stay motivated and lose weight!

The real motivation to get focused & determined to loose weight needs to come from within... The fact that you are here & asking the question shows that the desire is there. Only you can decide just how important this is to you, & why...
If you are committed & ready, then you are in the right place, & among the right people.
MFP is an AWESOME tool if used properly.
& MFP 'friends' will help with tips, suggestions, & mutual motivation...
Feel free to add me if you'd like.

I am the kind of person who has to have a reward system set up. I just don't do well working with amorphous goals like, "I want to keep myself healthy" or "I want to lose xxx pounds by xxx"

nope. Now, for me, I need daily reinforcement 'atta girls' and daily/weekly/goals. Snicker at me if you will, but I got a piece of poster board...lime green...and some foil stars. I put a grid on the board with each square just large enough to hold a star. Then, I posted my goals. My goals are 'log into fitness pal for 6 months straight ( a star on the chart for each day);...I get to do a zip line ride WHEEEE Lose one pound per week...star...I get to buy a book for my Kindle for that week, etc.

It may seem a bit elementary school, but putting a star up each day...I don't know...that in itself is a point of pride and makes my day a little brighter.

btw Since November 30 2014, I've lost STEADILY and I'm down 48 pounds.

You just have to figure out what floats your boat.

I quit smoking back in 2000. My daily 'atta girl' at that time was "for every day I don't smoke a cigarette, I get to watch ONE episode of X-files from the new collection I have " You don't know how many days I literally didn't smoke a cigarette because I really, really wanted to watch another episode of the X-files...LOL