What's the strangest thing that keeps you motivated?

I guess its not so weird, but my clothes motivate me. I have old clothes I *LOVE* and will not wear because they just don't look good on my body-tight and clingy and despite the fact I'm not bursting out of them, I feel self-conscious in them. I know when I get my weight back on track, I'll be able to put them on and see the difference.

New clothes also motivate me. I'm no shop-a-holic or fashionista but the practical side of me loves being able to just walk into a store, pick something I like and know they'll have my size; and that it'll look good on me.

My amazing boyfriend. He thinks I look amazing as I am, BUT, he said to me, "I fully support you in what you choose to do, and I'm always here to help you achieve your goals". Awesome. Although we've been out to lunch a bit recently and it's put some weight on me, so I need to work even harder now!

Other than that, the success stories I've read on here, of people with far more weight to lose, who have done it. It makes me believe, even with my most recent blip and setback, that I CAN do this!

Right now I am completely motivated by a hoop retreat coming up! I know it is going to kick my *kitten*, so I need to get it in shape. One of the instructors is Spiral, and that woman is cut!!!!! I aspire to have body composition similar to hers one day! She has trained like a beast, so it keeps me in check when I think I can just pop in the gym and look amazing after a couple of weeks. It takes years of diligence and determination!!!!!!

You have just given me my reaching the end goal reward idea = Grand Canyon !!!

OMG, this is my motivation!

Earlier this year my husband and I walked a bit of the Bright Angel Trail - about 6 miles (we had to turn back because my husbands back was hurting, plus we didn't leave early enough in the day to go much further).

We are going again next year - I'm going to kick that trails butt! I'm doing ALL 20 odd miles.

Maybe we are going to have to set a goal of a MFP 'We Did It!" Party at the Canyon! lol

Seeing women my age or in their 50s+ having to use a scooter because their knees are probably not able to handle their weight. It sounds mean but women usually don't age gracefully. When I'm grocery shopping, especially at Walmart, this stops me from buying "treats" in my tracks.
But also, my reality is if I don't get it under control I may have to get a hysterectomy....that scares the $&!t out of me.

Oh kay...here it goes...my most recent motivation is STARS...yes...I am workin' for stickers on my calendar. I get one for each 20 min of planned exercise. Green for when I walk...blue stars when i swim and GOLD stars when I lift weights...sure easy to look at my calendar on the wall and see how it is going! Yepper 50+ years old and workin for stickers!
:laugh:

I want to see a picture of me as a thin person with my son.

Not strange or unusual and certainly not the only thing: In the subway, I saw a jerk I went out with years ago. I look a lot better than he does.

Clothes. This sounds strange but last fall it occurred to me for the first time that I HATE everything in my closet. I am still wearing clothes from my pregnancy 6 years ago (most of them missing the buttons or hook and eyes because I was so fat) and the only reason I buy clothes is because I have to and then I only buy what's on sale and covers me. It never even occurred to me for years that I could go shopping for something and buy it because I like it AND it might look good. I want to lose enough that I can literally empty the whole darn closet and burn the contents!

The person that can no longer have me but still has to see me on a very regular basis . . .
*starts singing* "You don't know what you've got til it's gone" . . .

Watching The Biggest Loser UK or US - any country will do. I identify with the one about my shape/size/weight and see how much better they look and how much happier they are when they've lost some....

Walking around the house in my underwear. If I am not comfortable, I need to work harder

Yes!! This ^^

my sister. for years she has given me clothes that are too small (picture a very tight size 12 trying to fit into a size 8). she finds it hilarious because she is really thin, but it depresses me a lot. i might really dislike her but the clothes are cute.

I don't really consider it strange: but my biggest motivation is the anticipation of trying on wedding dresses. I have been on a weight loss journey for 4 years, but 4 years ago was NOT in a serious relationship. I am now and prob will be getting engaged/married within the next year, but I figured 4 years ago, I'd get a jump start on it so that my weight would be one less thing to stress about when the time DID come.

I have a paper chain (yes, like the kind you made in kindergarten to count down the days until Christmas) and there is a link for every pound down to my first major goal of 200lbs. Every 10lbs the color changes, and the last 10 are red (b/c they are the tougher ones). I only take links off on Sundays, and it is strangely fulfilling and motivating seeing the links slowly come off.

OOooh! I like this one!