Yeah, what Sniggle has said here is dead on. Vague ideas about being skinny, or wearing a particular size outfit can seem like a motivation to begin with, but when you have a long road ahead of you, with a continued concerted level of action required to make that goal, there needs to be something else there to help you to make it through the ups and downs. Most people don't have the willpower to stick to something they aren't enjoying in the long-rung.

By treating your goal as a collection of benefits that you will see improvements to along the way, you give yourself the opportunity to see rewards frequently, which can help motivation. If you're improving your health, slowly but surely there will be many milestones (mini-goals personal to you) that you can find encouragement from. They will help you to continuously recommit to your plan.

So be sure that the plan you have is right for you (if it's too complicated, involves you eating things you don't enjoy or is too restrictive to fit into your everyday schedule...it won't work. Be honest with yourself.) Once you've got that plan picked out, you need to prepare for the new WOE properly. Make your plan bullet-proof by anticipating anything that could get in your way. Have solutions at the ready. Never assume that you'll just coast on through and cope with everything thrown at you.

And like Sniggle said, find out your 'Why'. Is it something that will sustain your commitment in the long run? Is it realistic? Is it something that you really want, or just vaguely think you might like This has to be something that you're willing to work for, willing to change your life for and willing to accept as a permanent fixture in your life. Try to improve your behaviours surrounding whatever food/health/exercise ideals you want to achieve. By changing how you relate to these things, you will develop better relationships with them, which in turn will allow you to make improvements.

Work at getting your head in the game, before you start trying to jump in at the deep end. If you're unprepared, don't understand your motivations, have no long-term plan to make you commit to the long-haul and no way of measuring improvements as you make your way along the path to your goal...then you probably won't be able to stay the course. Spend a bit of time thinking about everything Sniggle said. Maybe jot down your thoughts in a notebook or journal. Get to know your reasons and your motivations. Make a list of smaller behavioural improvements that you can see constant betterment in, to help give you those mini-goals or senses of achievement.

Just give yourself the best chance you can to succeed and do your best to pre-empt or head-off anything that might scupper your efforts, before they have a chance to rear their ugly head.

Stay cool and good luck!

Blue