How do you stay motivated?

Hi there
I've lost 'only' 17 pounds and I started back in September, so that's about 2 a month, that's even less than you did, but I'm trying to keep myself motivated FIRST by the fact that I've actually lost weight, it's gone down, so yay! And then you have little things (big things actually) like a pair of jeans that suddenly fits, clothes getting too big, not being out of breath when you go up the stairs etc. And I'm doing this with my Mum, she's very supportive, and that also helps Just look out for every single positive thing and BAM, motivation is back Good luck to you x

well, if you already thinking that you're going to fail then you will! You shouldn't focus so much on the number on the scale, but maybe start recording your measurements. I would recommend weighing in only every 2 weeks or once a month or else you're going to go crazy. Weight changes on an hourly or daily basis. I would just recommend giving yourself treat days and switching up your exercise routine every couple days or weeks. I really wish you good luck! I was on MFP in April and lost 8 lbs in less than a month, but then I got stressed and just quit. Thankfully I didn't gain any of that 8lbs back, but I started back on this journey only a week ago. Even if you fall off the wagon you can ALWAYS climb right back on!

I stay motivated on a day to day basis in kind of a silly way. I make a game out of my diary. It's a challenge to balance all the nutrients and if there's a red number on something like fat or carbs, it's a loss for the day. The next day is another chance to get it right.

In the long term, I've heard taking body measurements can help you see loss better than the scale. Sometimes you'll shrink without the number going down because you're building lean muscles while burning fat.

Just remember that if you keep at it, you will see results. It may not always be as fast as you like, but if you slip, you'll have to wait even longer for your results!

More often than not we start losing weight, but we never finish, or at least we do not finish in the time that we expected to. When we do not lose ad fast as we would like we stop caring. We stop asking for help and support. We ditch another diet. We throw in the towel on our exercise efforts. Whatever the cause, it is not at all uncommon and we should never beat ourselves up about it. Everyone has given up at some point, maybe for a day, a week or for years but that doesn't mean you're destined for failure. Even if you've started and stopped 100 times before, this time doesn't have to end the same way. I have researched the top 50 most recommended things to do when you are losing steam, not pounds

It is too long to post here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/kirstinkrueger/view/50-ways-to-not-lose-steam-when-not-losing-pounds-112950

What helped me was to have a concrete goal beyond losing weight. I started the Couch to 5K program and registered for a 5K race. It kept me motivated to do the training 3x a week knowing I had a race to run in.

A few things keep me motivated.

1) My goal is first and foremost to be healthy. The last straw for me was getting ill back in September. I realized then and there if I didn't get healthy I would spend the rest of my life catching everything coming down the pike. Why? Because my body was healthy enough to fight it off.

2) I look at the small victories like my feet and ankles no longer being swollen, no longer having lymphedemas on my legs and I realize it is because of the new lifestyle I have adopted.

3) Adopting a new lifestyle, not a diet because diet = temporary and I plan to eat like this for the rest of my life. I am focused on health, not the scale.

4) Remember slow and steady wins the race. it took me over 40years to get here so it's not going away overnight.

5) Acknowledging I feel better than I have felt in years due to my new lifestyle.

Take pictures of yourself every month. Visual progress will give you automatic motivation. It works wonders for me since my weight loss on the scale is slow. Measurements, my pants falling down, and pictures are my greatest motivators:bigsmile:

That is a great idea and one I need to start doing. I hate looking at myself in the mirror and have dreaded taking a picture of myself but maybe you are right and it could be a great motivator to let me know how far I've come.

I've been on this site since January 2010. During that time, I've only lost about 24 pounds. HOWEVER! I started this as a promise to myself: After all, if I break a promise to myself I cannot possibly sink any lower and who would really want to sink so low. I would wake up early every work-day morning and workout for at least 45 minutes: on days-off or weekends if we have to go somewhere, I'll wake up early & workout for 45 mins. My point was not necessarily to lose weight, but to stop gaining it and at least tone & firm up a bit. I really did not think I could get "skinny" nor did I want to be, I'm in my mid-30's, things aren't the same as they were in my 20's so I was at a stage of acceptance with who I was. What I didn't know, is that little Promise was really Potential in disguise.
I found I really enjoyed my workouts in the morning, they got me up and moving and I felt better (after battling depression and weaning myself off meds, I found that the "natural high" from exercise was what my body, mind & spirit had been craving all along!)
I now workout for almost 1 1/2 hours each morning, and workout at least 3 extra times per week when I get home from work. The reason for that is, we just switched to a new system and ALL the rules have changed: I've been stressed & working A LOT! My option was to either come home and eat junk and drink a couple glasses of wine while sitting on the couch with the Cats and then still have dinner with hubby and another glass or 2 of wine OR I come home, take 30-40 minutes and workout and then prep dinner: yes, I still usually have my glass of wine (red, it's good for you ) but I have 1 and that's it (except sometimes on weekends I might have 2 ).
My motivation is that I suddenly saw results late last year that I did not think were possible. I had been toning and firming and only lost about 20 pounds total & being told that I looked like I had lost about 40. While I was secretly hoping for the weight to "fall" off, I forgot that as I'm working out and building muscle I'm also losing fat; I was "balancing" so to speak. I realized I had gone from a size 13 almost 15 pant & L almost XL tops to a size 9 pant & M tops. Whatever I was doing was paying off, but it was part of my original promise. I'm not here to "lose" weight: I'm here to be healthy and what I do now I can keep up with for 5, 10, 20 years no problem: I didn't do a "diet" I did "4-Life". And slow and steady really does win the race!
Earlier this year I got married - we just went to the court house and then we had a party planned for the following month when we could enjoy without the other stresses that go with wedding/receptions: I couldn't believe the change in myself and how I looked. My original motivation had just been kicked up a notch: I was not upset at ANY of the pics taken of me that day which was a first in my life! To make it even better, 6 weeks later we had our party & someone took a picture of me from behind as I was cutting the cake: 1 year ago I would have ripped that picture to shreds & burned the negative: Now, that is one of my favorite pics since it really shows my back & how toned I am getting.
I am now wearing size 7 to 9 and S - M tops: If someone had of told me 2 years ago that I would be this size, I would have laughed and said "INCONCEIVABLE!". My motivation is 4-Life, to be healthy, to stay healthy, to love my life and everyone in it (OK - part is also to keep Hubby's eyes on <ME> at all times, too ).
I am living, walking, breathing proof that ANYONE can do this, no matter what you condition or physical limitations (of which I have plenty of both due to car accidents but I no longer use that as an excuse, I add it to my strengths because I am conquering the damage and buffering it with health). However, YOU have to want to do this for YOURSELF first before any other reason comes into play. Don't diet, don't do this for Husband or Wife, don't do this for the Kids or Grandkids. This is one time it is OK to be selfish. Do it for YOU, and if that isn't enough you may not have the will to keep it going 4-Life.

For me, motivation comes in many different ways. I look in the mirror and start to like what I see, it becomes addicting. I want to finish Insanity so I can get my t-shirt. I want to look better for my lady, not because she cares what I look like, but because I like to do nice things for her. I want to see my kids graduate from high school, college, get married, etc. if and when I have kids. I don't want to end up like my dad. I want to have more confidence. I like to have a sense of accomplishment. I like to relieve stress.

After a while I just keep doing it because it's what I do.