Not that i am anyone who is destined to be a public speaker on weight loss, or the motivation behind it, but I try to think of why I want to lose weight and I write it down. i keep pictures of my son by my bicycle and on the fridge. That way I can look at his face and know that I want to be around to be his mother, and That he needs me.

I have decided that my willpower is about as shot as my metabolism and my mind. I would like to have it back one day, but at the moment I can't rely on it.

SO...this time around *sigh* I am going for strategies rather than the old willpower. I am not sure if this is going to work for me - but, I am going to keep some healthy options in the freezer for when I don't want to cook or when I am tired. Hopefully the fact that they are frozen will mean that I have some time to think about whether I really want them now, or wether, I could manage to throw together an eaven heathier salady something :-) That's the theory anyway.

I have a family so those cute little frozen dinners won't do, but I am going to try to remember to make extras of pasta sauce and the likes and freeze the excess.

Could you hightlight (when you are not hungry) healthy choices on the takeout menu?

Heres good luck to all of us - I think this is a problem a lot of us share.

i laughed a little because i had this discussion with my fiance tonight at dinner no less... and mentioned that i considered him my willpower.... lol

i have been finding great help with a food journal where i not only write down the food im eating (i dont concentrate on the calories, just quantity) but i also write down little notes, like if i ate when i wasnt hungry or if i hid that specific food because i was ashamed that i actually wanted to eat it... or good notes like i stopped when i knew i was saisfied and not overstuffed!
i also wrote if a food made me feel good, or agreed with me.... so i know to buy that when im grocery shopping... the notebook is small and fits in my purse.

i find this helps to be honest and helps ME point out my strengths and weaknesses so hopefully i will make good food choices the next time i will go to put something in my mouth...

hope this may help!!

Jess

My willpower is coming stronger and stronger with each pound that I lose. With every mile longer that I walk with every flight of stairs that I can walk up and not get out of breath.. With riding bike with my kids..
It takes time and slow progress, but with eating correct and lots of exercise.. You will get willpower..
I use Sparkpeople.com and have lost 46 pounds since March.. I love being responsible for every calorie that I put into my mouth and ever calorie that I exercise...
Good luck.

I think about all the negative things that could come from overeating or eating poorly. For me it is easy because I have health problems that have either stemmed from or could be affected by overeating: GERD, Crohn's Disease, red spots on my ankles, on ankle/foot that is slightly swollen, back pain. So when I am tempted, I think about what the bad stuff can do to me. I also use prayer or meditation. If I am tempted, I repeat the Lord's prayer in my head or sometimes I will sit and meditate or go for a quiet walk to think things out. Other times I just try to do the healthiest thing possible. Using your example, if I am tired and don't want to cook, my wife and I will go out to eat. Sometimes we get Vietnamese food. I skip the fried stuff and just get a big bowl of noodle soup, which as thin noodles and lots of broth. It fills me, has realtively low calories, and the only bad part is the salt. Or after church sometimes her folks want to go to a Chinese buffet: I stick to the plain white rice (no fried), the veggies (I tried to avoid the ones soaked in oil or heavy sauces), and white meat chicken (with no batter) and shrimp, and fruit. I limit myself to one plate of food, one bowl of broth with a couple wontons, and one plate of fruit for dessert. I guess my point is, for willpower, I use prayer, meditation, and reasoning based on my health problems and the desire to live a long and healthy life. When my willpower starts to wane or when circumstances land me in a tempting situation, I just try to do the best for myself that I can.