Even the best weight-loss regime won’t work if you don’t stick to it. Our weight loss experts stayed motivated even when they slipped up. Here’s how.

If you have a bad day or a bad week, take a black marker and scratch it out in your food journal, look at where you made your mistakes and start fresh the next day. Because if you beat yourself up over it, you’re only going to get into a vicious circle where you eat more because you’re depressed.
Dottie Kettle, 32, lost 103 lbs

My goal was health, not to weigh this much or be that size. That made a difference to my motivation. I was facing my 40s and I have a 10-year-old son and I envision our lives together for the next 10 years traveling and doing energetic things and I know I need to be healthy to participate in that.
Anne Sutherland, 41, lost 40 lbs

I bought new clothes as I worked through different sizes. I shopped at consignment shops because you could pick up an armful of stuff for cheap.
Pauline Wallace, 43, lost 50 lbs

For every five pounds you lose buy yourself fitness magazines. It was motivating for me because you get exercise articles and food plans and success stories of other women who are doing what you’re doing.
Joyce Brown, 45, lost 96 lbs

Plan ahead. I bring salads, fresh fruit, and low-fat cheese for lunch at the office and I don’t go out to eat unless I’m meeting a client. I also keep food in the freezer at the office so if I have to work late I can still eat dinner by six o’clock.
Cheryl Gray, 47, lost 50 lbs