On my closet door hangs a little black dress (typical, I know) that I hope fits me by my wedding anniversary in July. My major motivation for weight loss is intrinsic -- good health, achieving my goals, feeling good -- but I can't downplay the fact that I'm excited about squeezing into that slinky dress.

Weight loss, I think, is it's own motivator. As diet improves and the weight comes off, you just feel better. Energy levels improve, exercise becomes easier and you don't have to work so hard just to go through the daily process of living.

But external motivators have their place too. Looking in the mirror and liking what you see, well, that's a powerful feeling. We told you about WeightView last year, a service that lets you see yourself up to 50 pounds skinnier in just 48 hours. WeightView has gotten so popular that in January, it was the most active weight loss application on the popular social networking site Facebook.


How to lose 192 pounds in 7 seconds from PastaQueen on Vimeo.

"The application is built on two proven techniques to help people achieve weight loss -- visual motivation and peer support," says Dr. Doron Katz, co-founder of WeightView. "By simply uploading a picture of themselves, users can visually see what they might look like at their target weight and connect with others trying to achieve similar success. This type of positive reinforcement can make a big difference for people trying to make a positive change in their lives."

If you're like me and hate to have you're picture taken, My Virtual Model is another option for people who want a glimpse of their future, fitter selves. Simply punch in your current weight and your goal weight, then go try virtual outfits on Skinny You (swimsuit shopping has never been so painless). Print out a couple of copies for your closet, fridge and car, and you've got yourself a simple, free and powerful motivation tool.

Tools like WeightView and My Virtual Model can be great for jump-starting a diet or carrying you through a particularly bad craving. As the weight comes off, looking back at old photos can be motivating too. Jennette Fulda, aka Pasta Queen, used photos to track her progress when she blogged about her own weight loss and even put together the above video when she reached her goal.

Have you ever used WeightView or My Virtual Model? Share your experience with us in comments.