How can I stay motivated to keep weight off?

What I heard people saying over and over is that they keep a vivid picture in their minds of what life was like when they were heavy and all the things they hated about it. They tell you that they never forget the pain of the past. You could say they’re wallowing in the past, but in their next breath they’ll contrast that with how great their lives are. They congratulate themselves that they’re somehow able to keep that comparing and contrasting fresh.

Everytime you think of giving up, eating your old favorites, slamming down the pizza and fries and cookies at will, think of how you felt when you last did that. You may have had a temporary high; you may have been satisfied for a few minutes, an hour, a day. But how did you feel once you came down off that high? Guilty, maybe? Physically ill, perhaps?   

Then think of how you feel now, exercising regularly and eating healthy meals. How is your energy level? How is your self esteem? How is your attitude?  Better, right? Ask yourself why you would give up feeling great to return to your previous unhealthy lifestyle. 

Allow yourself an occasional treat, but don't slip back into the habit of unhealthy eating. Grab an apple instead of a cookie. If your craving for pizza is through the roof, try making your own with ready-made whole wheat pizza crust, turkey burger, low-fat cheese and the veggies of your choice. 

Also, exercise regularly. Change your workout. Try using an exercise ball, medicine ball or resistance band for some of your weight training exercises if you've been exclusively using body weight, dumbbells or barbells. Go running or swimming a couple days a week instead of doing your usual cardio routine on the gym machines. 

Remember, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your chances of developing chronic diseases. Whatever your reason for losing weight in the first place, keeping it off for health is another excellent one to add to your list.