I couldn't agree with you more, Lisa! I also took my measurements this time around, because I know how discouraged I got when the scale wasn't moving for me.
I think the more ways you have to measure your success, the more motivating it is. Honestly, when I lost 44 lbs. on SBD in 2004, I would look in the mirror and not notice much of a difference on a day to day basis. I felt much better. I slept better, my feet and knees didn't hurt and I could feel the difference in my clothes. Of course, when I look back now at the few pictures I have, I do see the difference.
This time around, I am limiting myself to weighing once a week (it is a challenge some days...) I measure myself weekly and I also keep photos of me in a bathing suit (monthly) -- front, side and back. The idea of this at first flipped me out because I have been camera shy for so long. But I use my digital camera/timer and consider those pictures to be for my eyes only.
That way when I feel like all my effort is not making a difference, I can take out those pictures and look and see... yes it is!! And tell myself to KEEP GOING. On the week when the scale says I stayed the same or gained 1 or 2 pounds, but I've lost 6 inches in various areas... I tell myself, SEE IT IS WORKING. Getting all my motivation from a number on the scale was a dangerous thing for me. I can honestly say it is the reason (after a very long plateau) that I just gave up.
It's tough on the days when I let myself think back to how I was down to 188... I try not to dwell on that and just move ahead. I did learn a lot because of my first attempt -- for one, not to just rely on the scale to measure my success. I figure this time around... I have more experience, more knowledge, more determination and a support system here... how can I go wrong?