Sometimes, when you are trying to achieve something for yourself, it's worth writing down exactly what it is you're trying to achieve. And when things are looking really rotten and difficult and miserable, you can go back to that list and remind yourself of why you're putting yourself through it. Here's 100 reasons why I'm doing this.

1. To put on tights without a struggle.
2. To wear size 14 (US size 10) Levi 501s again.
3. To be able to wear a skirt without tights in summer.
4. To fit into the pretty clothes I used to wear.
5. To have more choice in clothes.
6. To be able to choose not to buy clothes because I don't like them rather than because they don't come in my size.
7. To wear pretty lingerie, not scaffolding.
8. To wear waisted shirts.
9. So the buttons on my shirts don't pull over my bust.
10. To buy smalls and mediums, not larges and extra larges.
11. To like my reflection at the hairdressers again.
12. To not have to lift my chin for photos.
13. To not have to wear styles that 'flatter' (read 'hide') my figure.
14. To never have to buy 'Fat Chicks R Us' brands.
15. To never have to buy extra tall tights when I'm only 5'4".
16. To wear spaghetti straps and tank tops.
17. To wear shorts and short skirts.
18. To wear low cut jeans without the muffin pan effect.
19. To have jackets fit over my shoulders comfortably.
20. To not have red lines over my body after wearing a bra or jeans.
21. To buy bathers with a minimum of fuss.
22. To be concerned with cut and colour and not fit.
23. To enjoy clothes shopping again.
24. To be able to buy clothes more easily.
25. To be proud of how my body looks.
26. To be healthier.
27. To be fit.
28. To lower my cholesterol levels.
29. To be stronger.
30. To be more flexible.
31. To be more disease resistant.
32. To eat food that is delicious and good for me.
33. To learn how to make good food choices.
34. To never have my inner thighs bleed from chafing again.
35. To never be limited by my weight.
36. To learn new ways of making my body feel good.
37. To try new things that will stretch my body further and harder.
38. To enjoy being physical again.
39. To get outside more often.
40. To feel physically accomplished.
41. To enjoy food as food and not as anything else.
42. To explore new foods and recipes.
43. To expand my favourite foods.
44. To learn how food affects my body.
45. To learn how exercise affects my body.
46. To understand portion control.
47. To be patient and let my body change as it needs to.
48. To not deprive myself of what I need.
49. To create a body I can comfortably live in for the rest of my life.
50. To be proud of what my body can do.
51. To feel more comfortable in my skin.
52. To never say to myself, "Good girl, have a cookie." again.
53. To stop being invisible to people.
54. To feel connected to my body again, not just live inside my head.
55. To understand that if hunger is not the question, then food is not the answer.
56. To be more disciplined.
57. To succeed.
58. To be motivated.
59. To be in control.
60. To feel confident in my ability to take care of myself.
61. To enjoy my body.
62. To enjoy exercising and using my body.
63. To never have to stress about my weight again.
64. To never have to focus on food again.
65. To exercise for pleasure, not necessity.
66. To eat because I'm hungry.
67. To enjoy food without guilt.
68. To not beat myself up if I make less appropriate food choices.
69. To forgive myself for slipping up and move on.
70. To understand that this is a life change.
71. To learn that my appearance does not dictate my personality or abilities.
72. To take ownership of my past and my future.
73. To be able to control what is in my control and let go of what is not.
74. To own my feelings and emotions.
75. To be proud of what I have changed and achieved.
76. To learn how to disconnect food from feelings.
77. To learn how to cope with stress without eating.
78. To learn how to stop masking my feelings with food.
79. To learn to eat because I am hungry.
80. To learn to say 'No.'
81. To not eat just because it is socially acceptable.
82. To not eat just because food is there.
83. To not eat just because I'm bored.
84. To learn how to manage cravings and understand what they really signal.
85. To learn how to listen to my emotions.
86. To learn how to cope with my emotions more effectively.
87. To learn that food is a pleasure, not a comfort.
88. To learn that food will not help me, it will just fuel me.
89. To learn to expand the way I think about managing my feelings.
90. To understand different ways of coping.
91. To forgive myself for my past coping mechanisms.
92. To learn from my past coping mechanisms.
93. To understand why I used food as a coping mechanism.
94. To learn how to fulfil myself and break old patterns.
95. To create new, healthier patterns.
96. To love myself, my appearance and my achievements.
97. To learn it's OK to be upset or angry or sad or frustrated.
98. To learn to let things run their course.
99. To learn it's OK to slip up, it's getting back on the horse that is important.
100. To never let a cookie tell me what to do.