Want to lose weight for life? You will have to find creative ways to stay motivated. Permanent weight loss means successfully navigating daily temptations.

Let’s face it – life gets in the way. You get sick or injured, or a looming deadline at work means no time for exercise. Healthy eating is derailed by business dinners or family gatherings. It’s challenging to hang on to the healthy habits you’ve worked so hard to adopt.

Here are 5 powerful secrets to stay motivated to lose weight for life:

1. Scare Tactics

Want to avoid debilitating chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks? A healthy lifestyle is your best defense.

The next time you’re tempted to skip your walk or eat that piece of chocolate cake, think about a close friend or relative that has suffered from one of these awful diseases. Don’t you want to do everything in your power to avoid their fate? Then it’s critical that you maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise.

2. Reprogram Those Rationalizations

How many times have you heard that voice in your head telling you that one dessert won’t matter or one missed workout is OK?

When those voices start chirping remember how far you’ve come. Think about how much better you’ll feel after your workout. Remember how bloated and sluggish you felt the last time you ate a fatty, sugary dessert.

Every time you reprogram your thoughts your confidence soars and the next time will be easier. Pretty soon it’s automatic.

3. Don’t Delay After a Setback

We all have setbacks or “learning moments”. Don’t let one binge or missed workout turn into a string of them. Don’t put off getting back to the gym or your morning walks until “after the holidays” or “when school starts”. Do it the next day!

Every unhealthy meal means you’ll have to work harder. Just because you ate that steak doesn’t mean you’ve already blown it so you may as well have chocolate mud pie for dessert. Instead order some fresh berries to naturally purify your body.

4. Just Do It

The most difficult part of exercise is the first 10 minutes. Once you start, you’re likely to feel so much better that you’ll finish your routine. So if you’re feeling tired or rushed, tell yourself you’ll only do 10 minutes. Usually once you get past that initial hurdle, you’ll keep going. And even if you don’t, 10 minutes is better than nothing.

5. Use Your Competitive Drive

Are you competitive? Then harness that drive to succeed at permanent weight loss. Picture someone you admire for their svelte physique and vibrant health. Tell yourself you’re as good as (or better than) they are!

Suddenly you have energy for a more intense workout. That cheeseburger just doesn’t look as enticing. Set mini-goals for yourself every day and keep the big picture in mind of who you want to “beat”.