If you've successfully lost weight...

HasteTheDay

What was/is your plan? What was your biggest motivator??

KrisBriMcBunny

I did sparkpeople.com   as for motivation I have no idea....I really need to get back on it because I gained 10lbs

mlm1128

The only thing that has ever worked for me is Weight Watchers.  And my best motivation is that someone else sees what I weigh every week.  i almost feel guilty if the number doesn't go down.

MrsStubbs

Working out! The more you do it the easier it is. If for some reason I can't make it to the gym in the morning, I go right after work. Sometimes I try and talk myself out of going but if I check in on the health and fitness board, I get excited and then go. Good luck.

DesignerMama

I lost 40 pounds on WW before our wedding. Unfortunately, I have gained back about 30 of it and haven't been able to drop it again. My motivation was spending $1500 on a photographer. I definitely wanted to love those pictures! Now, I can't find the motivation I need. Yuck.

reynah

I just started WW and have already lost 5 lbs. I know that is not a lot but I have only been doing it for a week and only have 20 lbs to lose. GL

hikerbeth

MELF = More Exercise Less Food

Looking at myself in the mirror is the biggest motivator. . . second is wanting to kick a$$ on the hiking trails and ski slopes.

stcroixbride

Motivation?  Fitting back into a size 6

As for what I did, I found the only way for me to lose weight was to exercise several times a week and eat more sensibly.  You can't just go on a crash diet - you need to start a new/better lifestyle.

I cut down on carbs and started eating more fruits, veggies, light snacks, lean proteins, etc.

snickerdoodle27

I lost about 25 lbs years ago on WW. That's what I'm doing now. I just started though so haven't lost any yet. My motivation is bathing suit shopping, and NOT liking the pictures of myself on the beach from last summer!

DandelionMom

Ditto hiker. ?Also, I've been reading the shape-up challenge board and that is helping with motivation. ?

femmegem

WW and working out (both cardio and weight training) worked really well for me back before we got married. WW helped me learn how to control my portions (my biggest stumbling block is portion size without a doubt) and to choose better options (less processed foods are more filling and more nutritious AND fewer points, so you feel fuller and also lose weight when eating them).

Sparkpeople is great, too, if you're low on cash and can't afford WW, but there's something about WW that I really liked. I think the smaller numbers on there made more sense to me than having to track all my calories all day. 

My biggest motivator was feeling stronger and more energetic, feeling my clothing fit better, and seeing my shape change in the mirror. The scale going down helped, too, but I try not to get hung up on the numbers on the scale. All the other stuff is so much more important than what you actually weigh. 

femmegem

I also wanted to add that even though I don't have the money to do WW right now, I have all those lessons I learned while doing it in my head, so I've been able to get back into a healthy eating regimen again and actually now weigh less than I did before our wedding (yep, I'm an AW). My clothes fit well, I like looking at myself in the mirror again, and now I just need to get some more exercise in so I'm in better cardiovascular shape (can't afford a gym or weights to do the weight training right now, but some day!).