How do you motivate yourself?

We all need help now and then keeping the up the moral and determination.  What do you do to try to stay strong?

I've found something motivational to do if I ever get into a slump. 

Grab a backpack and a whole bunch of books.  Head to your scale and weigh yourself normally.  Then hold the backpack and slowly add books until the scale reads your old weight.  It's amazing how heavy it feels and how big it looks.  Carry the backpack around for a few minutes, do a few of your daily chores like emptying the dishwasher or vacuuming.  Feel how uncomfortable and burdening it is, how it hurts your shoulders, your knees, your back.  Now take it off.  Feel the difference, think about how far you've come, consider what all that extra weight was doing to you body, how tired you would be if you had to carry that backpack around with you all day.

This has really helped me.  Even if you've only lost a few pounds, it looks like a lot if it's a bunch of paperbacks.  If you've lost a lot of weight you may have to use something else, like soup cans or bottles of water. 

I'd love to hear from you guys on what motivates you when you need a bit of a push.  I'd heard some people keep old 'fat' photos of themselves, or post a long list of 'reasons why I'm worth it' or 'things I won't miss'. 

So, what motivates you?

That is an awesome idea! Going to try that the next time I plateau. Thanks!

I go onto some of my friends sites here and read their journals. I am motivated every day by the courageous accounts of battle with weight and health issues and what worked for them. It inspires me to new effort.

My motivation is about 4' tall, seven years old and has freckles.  It's my son.  I want to be a healthy, happy, active mum to him for as long as possible and not some fat old crock that he has to push around in a bath chair. :-)

garbluv, gi-jane, those are both great!

I too use the other members journals, especially those who have lost a ton of weight, their success is so motivational.

I don't have children yet, but I can imagine that would be the greatest motivation.  I do want to have children sometime in the next 10 years, and when I do I want to have healthy pregnancies and give my children the best start that I can. 

Thanks for the posts.

These are wonderful ideas!  I do use the photos of myself to see how far I have come.  I also think of the fact summer is coming and everyone is going to want to come and use our pool so I need to be decent enough to wear a bathing suit!
The other thing that motivates me is wanting to look good when my little bro arrives home from Iraq this summer - I know he will be proud of me. :o)

Well, you would not believe it if you told you, but I sleep in the at home gym. I have a everything I need in there, a soft let out couch, a nice T.V. Every Machine I use to remind me to get off my butt and hit it.

Another I use to do before moved to the gym/den. I have no husband, so there is no one to complain.

I would take my shower get ready for bed, I didn't go into jam-jams like I do now, but I use to go to sleep in my workout gear.. What ever I had plan for that day I would be already dressed, with my shoes pointed to the door...

Someone gave me that idea..... It worked well.

My newest Motivation is having to work hard just so me and my boyfriend can do our friday lunch... I have a trick so I will not over eat...

here goes.. Just to share.

1 portein shake

2 8oz  glasses of water.

When I get there I order water, and drop a equal in it.

Drink half of it, and go fix my plate.. Very Carefully.

By the time I'm done.... I don't have even half of the food on my plate.
His plates to my half of one by the time I'm full and done..

Good Luck

I've just started CC and thats been a huge motivation for me. Right now i'm trying to figure out new recipes to keep me at my daily max of calories, i'm focused on the gym, it has made the process exciting. And reading these forums have been helpful to.

I would like to start reading other people's journals and share mines as well so if there are any takers let me know!

Motivation for me is probably my weakness.  I have a tendency to get distracted or to sit here and just say I will do it later.  But when I notice myelf eating the wrong foods (like tonights drive thru of Del Taco and ordering the Macho Nachos very baaaaad) I think of having to log it into this site and I think of the summer when I want to fit into a nice bathing suit.  But my biggest motivation has been losing the weight so I can go and get a tummy tuck.  After 3 pregnancies, 4 kids, 70 extra lbs, and very unforgiving skin I fantasize of having a beautiful stomach again.  But I know I can only do that if I am at the weight I need to be.  Don't see the point in spending that kind of money if the rest of me is still huge. 

I think about my grandmother.  She turned 75 last year and called from the top of a mountain that she was hiking.  I want to be able to hike a mountain when I am 75 and I know I won't be able to if I don't make healthy lifestyle choices -- including losing the extra 60 pounds I've been carrying around.  I am on my way though -- I have lost about 20 pounds -- only 40 more to go!

Shelbug I like that one!

I have two grandfathers, one who has always been active like your 75 year old grandmother.  I saw him around 10am at our ranch last year and I had just woken up after arriving late the morning before, and he had already climbed 2 ridges and worked in the garden.  He's in such great shape, he's active, he does the New York Times crossword everyday, he travels all over the world, he's 87. 

My other grandpa is 85.  He hasn't done much since he retired.  He's healthy, but he has gotten really thin, and weak.  He has started to lose his memory and is becoming senile. 

The difference between the two men is extreme and I know which one I want to look like when I'm in my 80's. 

I use the "just 5 more minutes" line whenever I feel like quitting, and when I make that 5 minutes I tell myself the line again.

When I was beginning my new diet and exercise regimine I would think of all the healthy/skinny girls I envied. I don't do that now, because I am liking myself more and more and I don't want to be like those girls.

I also drink so much water now, that if I dont frink at least 45 oz my lips start to get dry.

CC has helped more than any thing. Education has been my biggest helper, there is tons of stuff I learned that I was ignorant on. Now I am educating those around me (if they want to know, dont wan't to be annoying)