[BillyTheBear]

I know being overweight is hard, and changing the way you eat is hard. . . so at some point in life you just have to pick which hard you wanna go with. I chose changing the way I eat. But like everyone here knows. . . it's a physical and mental struggle. I was just wondering what you all do to stay on track and keep motivated.

Personally these forums have helped me to stay positive, but I've also printed out a picture of me and posted it on my fridge. . . and I have also an eraser board right by the fridge that I write down my daily food intake and water on so I can have a visual aid right by the fridge of how well I've been doing before I try to splurge or cheat .. . and in that case I have the man I am now posted on the fridge. . that I no longer want to be!!

This Thursday will mark my week and I am still just as positive and staying on track as when I started. . . AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE IT ALL TAKES ME!!! =)

[benson012094]

Well, you're definitely on the right track! I do most of the same things you do....STAY ON THE FORUM. When I take a break from the forum, I take a break from my diet too. Seeing all these successful people keeps me motivated. Plus, I just look at pictures of myself and get disgusted. Plus, being help accountable helps. That's why I stay in challenges as much as possible.

[BillyTheBear]

Yeah, I'm very excited about the Christmas challenge. . . it feels good knowing we can all count on each other!

[daiseered]

The forum is GREAT. I was here early last year while on phen, then got preggo, and didn't come on here at all... Came back here in June and I don't think I could do ANYTHING without this forum. I'm a person who constantly needs motivation and I get it from here!

Welcome to TEAM BENSON!!!

[gothprincess]

This will sound lame, but my main motivation right now is my 'wish list' of clothes I want from Hot Topic. I love that store! When I don't want to exercise, I pull up my Hot Topic bookmark and go thru it. I so want my skater/punk clothes back! I have a closet full of clothes I could wear last year...damnit!

Love this site and everyone on it...cause we motivate/support/argue/laugh/cry/talk about anything and everything!

[wanting2bethin]

Well I am trying to always remember that I WANT to lose all my weight before my 40th bday.(7months) I will say that coming here to the forum helps alot and also the challenge. Keeps me thinking even more that I HAVE to do my best.
Oh I do try to log foods (keeps me accountable

[Winterwind]

I know there are hundreds of books on dieting......but I found this interesting. I went to his presentation at the USDA Nutrition Center in our town: Brian Wansink, PHD. his book is "Mindless Eating: Why we Eat more than we think." He does have a website also. He was featured on 20/20 and Oprah.

What he says:

Food is such an important part of our life and our world. We eat with our eyes and not our stomachs. We overeat due to signals or clues around us for example: we stop eating because there is nothing left...that is our clue to stop. Ever finish french fries that were cold, limp, or soggy? It doesn't taste good but we eat it. It doesn't matter if we are full and it doesn't matter that we don't like french fries. We eat as if it is our mission to finish.

One challenge he puts out to you is to ONLY eat food that is on your plate. Ok how many times do you when cooking that you taste something?? Or you take something to see if you like it first? We forget we eat that so we don't add it to our calories for the day. Or for me eat two before putting it on my plate so no one can see how much I took and can eat.

A couple of things I changed is NEVER EVER use the big dinner plate for any meal. I use a smaller plate for my food so it LOOKS like my plate is FULL but it is a lot smaller portion. Even those 100 calorie bags -- I never eat it out of the bag because before I know it they are gone and felt like there was nothing in there.....so I empty the bag and arrange them so now --wow I have 8 cookies to eat!! He also says to use a tall skinny glass instead of a short fat glass -- it makes you think you got a lot more whereas you get less.

Hope that can give you another perspective on why changing eating habits or behaviors is such a huge challenge..........why it is so very hard to stay on track some days.

[thin4good]

This forum is definitely one of the ways I stay motivated.

My grandfather's 75th birthday is the beginning of October and I'd like to be down 50 pounds by then when I go see the family. So setting mini goals is another way to stay on track.

I also try to do more miles on my bike every week than I did the week before.

Those are the biggest things that help keep me on track!

[newoutlook]

I keep thinking about my approaching 40th birthday Oct 12 and I just don't want to be middle aged fat and fourty! I was on the phen/fen years ago and got down around 145 or so,many,many years ago.I felt better had more energy and did alot more physical activity.I want that back!I have dejenerative joint disease and I ache alot all the time especially my neck.It helps having to see the doctor monthly to get more pills and it is costly and I want results.I love the Beck Diet Solutions book,it is all about behavioral techniques to train your mind to help you lose weight.I have the book,workbook and cds.The cds are the best I listen to them all the time in the car.This board is very helpful and I just joined the Christmas challenge!

[MrsB419]

How do I stay on track? Hmmm.... some people are NOT gonna wanna hear this... lol
But I LOVE working out, I don't really like getting my arse outte bed at 4:30-5 AM to do it, but once i'm up and moving, i'm good to go! And afterwards I feel SO good and SO strong!!!
If I didn't have to come and sit behind a desk all damn day, i'd prolly workout at least 2 hours a day. I love that natural high that I get from working out, sweatin my tail off, and getting stronger! Gotta love those endorphins!!!
oh and getting back into my skinny jeans that my hubby loves so much (without the muffin top) helps too! lol

[MaggieinATL]

My motivation is a very key saying, "NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS BEING THIN!"

And, about $6000 worth of beautiful clothes I haven't worn in 3 years