Hi, I’ve been trying to lose weight on/off for a few years now, this year starting in January I decided to properly commit to it, at 182lbs, 5ft5, my heaviest. Now it is april, and I am 175lbs, quickly losing motivation, I also recently got the contraceptive implant, and I’ve been craving food, and giving in. My end goal weight is 130lbs, my mini goal is 150lbs, do you have any tips on how to stay motivated and how realistic is my goal?? Is it feasible?? (I’m 21)

While I can’t answer what the right weight is for you (because every body is different), I can give you a link for what your body might be trying to tell you. When you’re craving certain foods, your body might be trying to signal to you that it’s actually deficient in certain nutrients. 

HERE is a handy little list of what you’re craving, and what nutrient you might actually be lacking, so what you should eat to fulfill that craving.

As for the motivation; just remember why you started. Why do you want to lose weight? Are you getting healthy for a specific reason? Are you wanting to feel more confident and happier? Are you learning to love your body in the process? It sometimes helps to have a “motivation wall” somewhere that you look at every day – it can have inspiring quotes, maybe an outfit you want to wear one day, before and after pictures, etc. Give that a try to keep your motivation up!

* This article was originally published here