What motivates you to not give up?

I actually didn't find dieting to be particularly hard. I had a reasonable calorie deficit and made sure I exercised regularly which gave me additional calories. I've been in maintenance for 6 years now (save for winter weight gain and spring loss) and I've maintained my healthy eating habits and regular exercise. I enjoy living a by and large healthy lifestyle and it requires very little motivation.

A couple of things. My health markers aren't great. My father died of hardening of the arteries, so I am genetically predisposed toward having heart disease and if I'm 36 and my numbers aren't great, it's going to be unpleasant in 10 years. I want to be 46 and still young, not 46 and on pills and dr. appointments.

I want a specific kind of body. A slim, svelte, yoga, runner kind of body. I've always wanted it. Now that I have marital and financial security, I have the time to sculpt it.

I work at a corporate job with a lot of ambitious, type A personalities. The people who get ahead are put together - hair, makeup, weight, clothes, shoes, etc. I also want to get ahead.

And - vainly - I want to be the hot stepmom. My teenager is on the swim team and the coach called over the parents. She looked at me, blinked twice, and said, "You're too young to be a mom!" It was very satisfying.

And most of all - I want to keep traveling as I get older. That means being strong and in shape. So even if I die of a heart attack at 52, I will still be able to hike up to the top of the cathedral and take some photos.

The right hip that's fatter than the left. I know that when I lose weight, they even up so they basically match. Weird motivator, I suppose. But what gets me is when I walk in my hallway toward my bedroom, the light casts my shadow onto the wall and it drives me bonkers to see the bulge on just the one side of my body. Even as a shadow, it's a good motivator for me!

I miss the size 4 body I had most of my life until I hit my 40s. I took my body for granted and now I want it back. I'm a size 8-10 right now, so I have a way to go. And I have too much fat for my weight, especially on my back, thighs above the knees (with cellulite) and my upper arms.