motivation

We're inundated with tips and systems to lose weight, but advice on keeping it off is harder to find. Perhaps that's because the current recommendation is to basically stay the course: stick with your plan, we're told, and the weight will stay off. But researchers surveyed more than 1,000 people who lost weight, and found the keys to success — no matter what your goal. It turns out that losing weight and keeping it off require separate skills.

I have a theory about why I’m so unmotivated these days. For some reason, every summer since I graduated university, an overwhelming lack of motivation hits me. I am neither motivated to work (which I have and want to do), or go to the gym (which I should and want to do), or even make plans (which is just pathetic).

Are you looking to shed a few pounds? We've got advice from someone who's been there, and who's kept it off for almost 20 years.

In case you haven’t already noticed, I like to move, and I’m attracted to activities where the challenges seem great.

Don't talk to me. It's the countdown to race day, and I'm a ball of nerves — prickly, anxious, snappish, and guilty. Sorry, kids! Sorry, husband! What was I thinking when I signed myself up to compete in a triathlon? Someone remind me, please.