Sheri’s Stick-It-Out Strategies

1. Trick yourself: "If I wake up thinking I’m too tired to work out, I tell myself, ‘Just 15 minutes today, and then you can stop.’ But once I get going, I’m good for the full 45."

2. Don’t deprive: "If I really want something that’s too calorie-rich, I take one bite to taste it and one bite for fun. Then I’m done."

3. Avoid temptation: "When I can see the kitchen, I sometimes feel tempted, so after dinner, I go upstairs to read or watch TV."

4. Jot it down: "After losing 100 lbs., I found a year-old slip of paper on which I’d written that this was the exact amount I wanted to lose. Writing can be very powerful."

5. Be vigilant — but positive: "As I lie in bed at night, I review my meals’ calorie content. I congratulate myself when I’ve kept them in check, and I don’t dwell if I went overboard."