How do you keep the motivation with so much to lose?

Make smaller goals! Aim for 20lb, then another 20, then another. Change your ticker to reflect this. I'm in the same position, but I find I'm a lot more motivated if I just set small goals at a time. It's a long journey but as you meet each mini goal you'll feel a lot better and more motivated!

I know the feeling. When I tend to get bummed I go through the sucess stories part of the forum and see how many people have made amazing changes in their lives. If they can do it, so can it with hard work. I have also started a picture log to be able to see the changes when the scale doesn't want to be my friend. I take measurements too for another back up. It has kept me going so far

I totally understand what you are talking about... even now after losing close to 80lbs I look in the mirror and will be discouraged about how much more I have to go... but then I find myself out for a run or hitting the gym extra hard and realizing that this time last year (really not long ago AT ALL) there was no way in hell I could ever be doing this... in one year from today what will I be doing that would be unthinkable of me now?

That is what helps drive me... plus so many very supportive friends on here! They all work so hard and do so well how can I let them down by not doing the same!

When I began, I had 230lbs to lose and so far I'm down 27lbs.

I agree with you, it looks like a long depressing road when you look at the whole thing, and I tell you, I don't even have a glimpse at the light at the end of the tunnel. So I've set my sights differently.

I look at the journey, not the destination. I set mini goals to work towards. I make certain what I'm eating is food that I love so that I never feel deprived. I'm slowly working in exercise so that it doesn't feel like a chore.

Yeah, it's going to take me a few years to get to my goal, but I plan on having fun on the way. My life is now, not when i get to my goal weight.

Which is not to say that I don't have down days. I do. But I look for silver linings, reminders of the successes I've accomplished, be they weight or how many days or whatever.

Set up small goals 10 to 15 pounds. Celebrate every pound you loose (Yay for you its a pound less). Make sure to make time for exercise at least 30 min a day it makes you feel soo good when you are done with exercising its a accomplishment. Make the best choices you can when eating (you will slip from time to time, everyone does). Be kind to yourself. If you take a step back get back to the right direction and keep going. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!! Everytime you give up you are giving up on yourself! I gave up sooo many times, nothing worse than letting yourself down. You can do it!!! Believe in yourself. You deserve to be the best you can be!!! Best wishes on your jorney! Morgana

For me, the key is mini-goals. Do you do any online gaming? You start off with, like, $5 in Mafia Wars or Farmville, while your friends may already have $5 million. But the game keeps you hooked & playing by offering you little challenges that give you a feeling of accomplishment. Same psychological principles can be applied here.

I have 150 to lose. So I gave myself a realistic timeframe (March 2011 - Christmas 2012) and then did the math to divide up the time & the weight, and created mini-goals for myself. For example, by February 2012 I hope to be halfway there, and by this time next year I hope to be down to my 2001 weight, etc. My current goal I'm working towards is to lose 10% of my starting body weight (30 lbs) by the end of July. I'm on track to hit that one early! But I tried to create new goals every month or so, and I focus on reaching them, rather than looking at the big scary number. It works for me!

I agree with everyone who has said to set smaller goals...try not to focus on the BIG picture because I know at times it can seem VERY overwhelming I too have about 175lbs to lose after already losing 25 and sometimes I am just like ugggh really?! but you just have to keep pushing forward and think about the progress you have, and will continue to make if you just stick with it...to me 25lbs compared to what I have to lose doesn't seem like much but at least its 25lbs I dont have to worry about anymore try and stay positive and take things one day at a time...some days are harder than others but you have to take the good with the bad and always say "I will try again tomorrow" try to not let one day or even one week mess up your progress thus far you have a great support system here we wont let you fail! Keep up the great work!!!

Recently i read that the weight goes on slowly, same as it is for coming off. I took 10 years to gain this weight and will take years to get back to my normal weight. It is a life long change in your habits. But have faith in yourself and know that everyone will have bad days, just pick yourself up and carry on the journey.

I think this was said, but along with your 10 pound goals, give yourself non-food related treats every time you lose 10 pounds (or pass into a new "decade"). For instance, get a pedicure, buy yourself new shoes, go on a mini-vacation, etc. You will look forward to rewards, so you'll try extra hard to lose that weight.

I agree with everything that's been said. When I started in April, I was staring at 150 lbs to lose. And that still leaves me obese. But it's my first major goal that I've set for myself. And I break it down into minis. Ideally, I'd like to lose 10lbs per month. I have specific dates with specific weights that I want to achieve. Believe me, I understand. In the past, when I've thought about weightloss, I always felt like I had this enormous mountain to climb. And being over 350lbs, climbing a mountain doesn't sound like any kind of fun. But then I decided to do this and I have just been taking it one day, one week, one month at a time. I think about my reasons for deciding to climb this mountain. And I just HAVE to stick with it.

And recently, something I've started doing that has been a phenomenal motivation is to join a team challenge (or two or three! ). Everyone on your team is striving for the same goal. And I feel like my teams depend on me to really do my best. Not only has it motivated me to work out on the days where I really felt like taking a day off, but it's motivated me to work even HARDER! You can surprise yourself when you see what you can actually do. When I started working out, I was going for 15 minute walks around the block. Then I started doing workout videos in the house. And those were 20-40 minutes. And then I finally decided it was time to hit the gym. I initially did 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the bike and then I was done. Now, I'm up to at least 40 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes of weight training, and if I get there early enough - at least an hour in the pool. And it's all because I want to support my team. I want us to be the best that we can be.

And the last thing for me has been all of the support that I've gotten. I share my weightlosses with my friends on Facebook and I have been so blown away by the support from people that I never expected to receive it from. And not only that, but the friends that I've made on MFP. We're all in this together and we all want to see one another succeed. If you're looking for a cheerleader, feel free to friend me. I would be happy to cheer you on!

Someone just posted this video in another thread (which I am currently trying to find so I can thank her for posting it). VERY inspirational!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbXgQqbOoU&feature=related

Also, every time I want to give up I remind myself " A year from now you will wish you had started today". That is my new motto!!!

It's so hard. Some days are easier than others, whereas some days are nothing but a struggle. I have over 100lbs to lose... I'm at 13. 13? 120 left. It's SO discouraging. I know it's not a race and it will come off slowly, but 133 lbs to lose is a lot....... I have an entire young woman to shed off of my body, and I dont know how to handle the mental aspect of this sometimes. It's so hard. Some days I'm completely dedicated, and I have the passion, drive and enthusiasm...... other days, are like today.....Any advice?

I'm probably not going to add anything that hasn't been mentioned before. So, I'll just reiterate what has been said. Set small goals initially and give yourself a reward for reaching those goals. The rewards don't have to be expensive or even cost you anything. Examples might be to give yourself a mani/pedi at home, take a day to pamper yourself at home, get together with friends and have a makeover party, go to a few of your local thrift stores/consignment shops and pick up some pretty new (to you) clothes in smaller sizes (even if they don't quite fit yet) as incentive to continue on your path.

When I first started in December, I wasn't sure what my goal weight was going to be so I started out with an initial goal weight that didn't seem so daunting. As I got closer to that goal I would add another 5-10 lbs to the goal and worked my way down from there. Initially started out wanting to lose at least 75lbs and currently I'm down nearly100 lbs and still going strong.

Ideally, the motivation to continue will come from within and from your own desire to be the best you can be.

I know it's a lot to lose (I'm in the same boat). But think about how much 13 lbs is! Go to the grocery store and just pick up a 10lb bag of sugar or flour. Really hold it in your arms and think to yourself how awesome it is that you don't have to carry that around 24 hours a day anymore. I love doing things like that. I've lost 13 lbs now myself, with about 130 left to go. I use things like that as a good example.

I know it's a lot to lose (I'm in the same boat). But think about how much 13 lbs is! Go to the grocery store and just pick up a 10lb bag of sugar or flour. Really hold it in your arms and think to yourself how awesome it is that you don't have to carry that around 24 hours a day anymore. I love doing things like that. I've lost 13 lbs now myself, with about 130 left to go. I use things like that as a good example.

I am so gonna do this...what a moral booster.
cheers ~ Nat

I know it's a lot to lose (I'm in the same boat). But think about how much 13 lbs is! Go to the grocery store and just pick up a 10lb bag of sugar or flour. Really hold it in your arms and think to yourself how awesome it is that you don't have to carry that around 24 hours a day anymore. I love doing things like that. I've lost 13 lbs now myself, with about 130 left to go. I use things like that as a good example.

I am so gonna do this...what a moral booster.
cheers ~ Nat

No kidding! Every time I think I haven't lost a lot of weight I think of what my weight loss looks like in "real life" terms. I've lost 21 pounds - that's as much as my nephew weighs and really - after hauling him around for a while last weekend, I was glad to give someone else a chance! I also think of my weight loss in terms of packages of butter. 4 sticks = 1 pound....do the math. [Hm, I'm starting to see why I don't add butter to my food very often anymore! :laugh: ]