Sometimes it's easy to forget or get sidetracked on what the right path is and where the journey ends, so I wanted to get some input on this.

Anyone have anything that inspires them? Makes them keep going when those things that life throws in your way?

I have a book and website of inspirational things that keep me going - I change my sig to reflect that weekly or so.

My favorite saying is this: "Leave the past in the past or it becomes the present and future".

I think this is the HARDEST thing for most people to do. That is why sometimes we have to learn the same lessons over and over; or at least it is for me.

9 or 10 years ago, I read the best book that helped me called "Wake Up Calls" by Eric Allenbaugh. A few years ago, I gave it to a friend and have not gotten another copy, but in the past few months, it seems I need to find another one and recenter my life. I am going back to old habits and learned thought processes that only lead to used energy on negative things.

The Essence of Character

Your true character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions,

the choices you make and the promises you keep.

Hold strong to your principles and refuse to follow the currents of convenience.

What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are...you are forever.

"You can change the outside,

you can change the inside,

but deep down where it really counts,

you will always be who you truely are."

...Stay true to yourself..."

(thank goodness we got our edit buttons back, the text formatting on this one took 3 tries)

"Leave the past in the past or it becomes the present and future"

Hi Lisa!

I really don't have anything inspiring that I look to or go towards. I guess it used to be food.

I am kinda the type that just sucks it in, and pulls myself up by the boot straps -- that is once I have had my cry and fit. *grin*

Hopefully this journey will help me see things a little better, and in the same kind of light you see things.

My Grandchildren. They are probably the biggest reason I did this. I want to be there for them and to be able to play and run and walk with them. I so look forward to that.

It sounds corny I know, but my inspiration is my sweet husband. We've only been married for just under 5 years, but I want to spend the next 65 with him...so..the weight and the co-morbidities just have to go!! All there is to it!

I have a corny one too. My baby girl, OK, two isn't technically a baby, but you get the idea. I was so miserable as a shy kid with a fat mom, then as a shy, fat kid with a fat mom, then as a shy, fat teen with a fat sister and a fat mom.

I want a healthy family with issues that most people have in common, like acne... or maybe even bed-wetting.

My mom is only in her sixties, but diabetes and TIA's (mini-strokes) have turned her into a ninety year old woman who falls all the time and forgets the important things in life. I do not want to become my mother until I am good and ready, maybe 110. I will consider frailness when I hit 110 years old.

I have these size 10 pants hanging in my closet. They are my inspiration. I am a size 18 now but they are very loose almost a 16 but not quite 100% comfy in them.

Also, I have a corney story too. I spoke with a psychic a few years ago (I'm not into psychic's, it was for shits and giggles) who told me all that I have done thus far. (Maybe her predictions influenced my actions, that's why everything she said happened).

She told me one thing that has always stuck in my brain. She said, "wow, you will live in your late 80's, very very long time!"

As I packed on the pounds, I wondered, is this the only one she could be wrong about? I think not!!!!!! Not anymore baby!

My inspiration is the numbers on the scale going down, my clothes fitting less tightly, the feeling of eating until satisfied and not stuffed, having less pain in my joints, and tossing away the B/P medication... in short, getting healthy.

My sig and inspiration for the day - seems every day I run into this brick wall that is harder than my head (gotta be really tough wall then)

One day I may learn to go around the wall or just remove the damn thing, but in the mean time here it is again.

It sounds so corny and I'm not generally a reality TV person but we've just had the finale of The Biggest Loser in Australia on TV tonight and that show and the participants have really inspired me the past few months.

When you see the blood, sweat and tears that go into the training they do and the grit that one character Kristy found within herself, it makes me realise we all have that if we can only reach in and grab it - and that a chatty stroll round the block with a girlfriend is not enough to really rip the weight off.

I'd love to see what happens long term though, some of the guys lost nearly 70kg in a couple of months, surely that'll be impossible to keep off.

Boy oh boy though, do I wish Bob (they had Bob and Gillian, same as the American show) would come round and give me some one on one attention! I can say that now as my husband has gone back to The Footy Show and is no longer reading over my shoulder. I'd lose 10kg a week for him for sure, he is hot!