Hey am new to this :)

Hey u lot, what a great site this is.  Right well I've been dieting for about a year (on and off) and have lost about 3 stones.  Still got another 3 to ideally lose, but seem to have lost motivation. Not sure why because I am so much happier being slimmer and never want to go back to how I was but just can't seem to say no to bad food! I work from home so thats hard too, need a lock on the fridge and cupboards! Any of you guys got any self-motivation tips?  Look forward to chatting with you all

kel xx

Personally, I have zero willpower.  If there is fattening, unhealthy tasty food around the house I'll eat it.  I can only succeed by just not having it in the house. 

I also try to keep fresh fruit around, and always have some vegetable salads or homemade soup ready to eat, so if I'm hungry its easy to grab something healthy.  My husband has been trying for literally YEARS to get me to cook for the entire week (or at least the next 3-4 days) on Sunday, and I've finally started doing that earlier this year and its been a huge help.

Okay, as a chronic dieter, I will say that dieting doesn't have much to do with will  power or motivation. If you are hungry, then you will eat. Period. At least you will want to, and think about it and think about it and drive yourself mad until you ravage a huge blueberry muffin.

I think the key is to keep yourself satisfied all day. I mean, don't gorge yourself, but maybe try getting a 1/4 a cup of nuts to snack on for the WHOLE day in between meals. This has helped me so much with controlling my hunger. Particularly walnuts. If I do this, then I am never really starving and can forgo the cheeseburger/lasagna/french fried/zucchini bread or whatever!

But then again, if you are what you eat, then that means that I must be a nut. So, maybe you shouldn't take my advice!

Thanks guys - yeah I find cashew nuts fill me up although after a while I do crave salted peanuts! But you are right its important to never go hungry as this is when the probs start.  Are you lot all American?

Well, I am all-American. You're not?

Nope I'm based in England now am from Scotland originally, didnt realise this was an AMerican site!

Welcome!! We're so glad to have you!

Original Post by kel1982:

Nope I'm based in England now am from Scotland originally, didnt realise this was an AMerican site!

I think most who post here are american, but I've seen a lot of posts talking about losing "x stone" so I know there are a significant number of europeans too!

If you read and write english (americanized, or not) then its all good!

Welcome aboard!  We don't care where your from, this is a great site because of its great members from around the world.

XD  There are people from GB, USA, Canada, etc on here so feel free to chat!  Personally I like to use stone measurements because it confuses my fellow Americans. :P

I find sometimes just taking a break from the weekly caloric deficit thing to be a huge help motivation-wise.  Sometimes it's just too oppressive to fight to come up under my daily burn calories, so I'll take a week (or two or three) and just try to do maintenance.  Then I find I'm a little more ready to get back to working on the weight loss.  I've heard this can also really help for when you hit a plateau.

Good luck and welcome!