How do you keep yourself motivated?

I made changes into habits (exercise, logging, reading labels, etc.). Now it's part of my life, like brushing my teeth, and not something I feel I have to do. No more motivation needed.

If we wait for the motivation fairy to sit on our shoulder, it will never get done. For me personally, it's very simple: I want to lose weight, very, very much. There's only one way to do that, and it's not by trying to feel motivated, it's by being disciplined. There are so many days where I don't feel like exercising because it's winter here and the thought of changing into my workout clothes makes me shiver. But, I don't stop to think about how I feel about that. I just DO it without giving myself time to talk myself out of it. Once I get going, I love what I'm doing again.

As for food: I try to make healthy choices, but if I'm craving something, I don't stop to think about how motivated I'm feeling. I just make a decision on whether or not I'll eat the food I'm craving, and if I eat it, I track it. I want this. Nothing is going to stop me.

Agreeing with others who find motivation too unreliable for something as long term as weight loss. I think mostly in terms of good habits and, when needed, determination.

Try this. Pick a time frame for an experiment. Log everything you consume that has calories during your experiment. Try to hit your calorie number. But if you go over, keep tracking. Even if you run off the rails, everything gets put in your diary. Don’t know the calories in that meal or dish? Make a good faith estimate and keep going.

A good test would be at least 1 month, 3 would be better.

You don’t need a big wave of motivation to wash over you to carry you along. Just try this one habit. It can be a pain in the neck, especially at first. But it gets easier.

Initially I set up an overall long term weight loss goal and constantly strive to meet that goal and then once I hit it I will re-evaluate my health (where I was and what I will be when I hit that goal) That is long term motivation, I see it and know its there. I know I will make mistakes along the way so I don't beat myself up over them I just stay on target.

Now that being said my short term motivation is just noticing the little things, sure I would like my gut to shrink faster but it has shrunk and I need to take notice of that, not what I think it will be after my long term goal. One of the first things I noticed when going on my weight loss journey was my collar bones becoming more visible, my face losing fat, and muscles replacing flab. Take the time to notice the physical changes and the mental changes as well. I am able to cope with stress better these days, I sleep better, I am definitely more creative and productive these days and my blood tests have been the best they have been since my early 20s. Take all of those little things and continue to improve them is what keeps me motivated short term. I don't focus on the scale as much these days since it can cause negative feedback loops in a sense and I know weight will fluctuate so there is no point in adding stress. I was able to finally fit back into an XL shirt with room to spare recently, heck that is motivation enough to keep me going through the rest of the summer.

Lastly make it all routine. I login to MFP through out the day, I track steps, I work out at regular times, I meditate daily, and work on something creative as well. I really try to keep to a regular sleep schedule as well. It's gotten to a point that when my routine is interrupted for some reason (travel, visitors, etc.) if feels really odd and not right. Also when I really don't feel like working out or meditating is when I really need to do so and those times are usually the most beneficial to my state of mind.

I don't want to get back to my highest weight (BMI 36-37)... also, got tired of always being tired because I was so out of shape... and I was only 18 when I got to my heaviest! I should have been in the best shape of my life, not tired after walking up some stairs or down the street