What motivates you? What do you want your loved ones to say when they see what great shape you’re in? What kind of exercise is enjoyable and keeps you coming back? Discovering your motivating factors is a huge part of transitioning from "diet" to "lifestyle change." When you find out what keeps the fire burning inside, becoming and staying healthy will be something you can stick with. SparkPeople’s Main Motivation Worksheet is an easy and convenient way to find out more about what drives you. Check out the Main Motivation Worksheet exercise here.

When you need a jolt of inspiration, a personal quote or motto is the perfect remedy. A motto only takes three seconds to read but can have lasting effects on your mood and performance. Quotes like these are powerful tools:

"From a tiny spark may burst a mighty flame."
"Remember to live."
"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

Who said dieting is all work and no play? The best part of drawing inspiration from a movie is that there’s an inspiring movie out there for everyone. Some of us draw inspiration from cheering for the underdogs, especially in sports films. Others find inspiration in stories of tremendous courage or overcoming setbacks, through films of personal tragedy and triumph. A movie conjures emotions in us unlike any other form of entertainment. We can often understand what the characters are going through and think about how we can aspire to be more like them. That’s why this Action Step can impact your diet – it helps you draw inspiration to keep making changes in your life. Here are a few suggestions, but feel free to pick your own:

Stand and Deliver
Shawshank Redemption
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Apollo 13
Simon Birch
Patch Adams
Rudy
October Sky
Rocky
It’s a Wonderful Life