Weight Loss Support - Anybody else think weight loss is kind of....fun?

This is my first time "dieting" (I don't like calling it that, since it was a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet), and ever getting serious about losing weight. I was always so intimidated by the whole thing that I never tried it. I thought losing 10lbs was a huge goal, and I knew I had more than 10lbs to lose. I thought dieting meant starving myself, always being hungry, etc. So I just accepted my overweightness.

Well now that I'm doing it, I have to say the whole process is kind of fun. Maybe not fun, but exciting. I like setting the goals for myself, thinking of rewards for mini goals. I like getting the rewards for mini goals. I like planning meals for the week, and I am proud of my grocery cart when it is filled with healthy food. I like when people ask if I've lost weight, I like looking at myself in the mirror for once and thinking "yep, I look good!" It's exciting when my clothes are starting to feel baggy, and I pull at the slack on my loose jeans that used to be my skinny-day pants. I like that I need to go buy some new jeans because mine are just too big. I look forward to weigh in day to see my progress, and the feeling of a good weigh in is amazing, it gives me confidence for the whole week. Even disappointing weigh ins just give me a challenge to plot and scheme on how to lose more next time.

Sorry to ramble with a list, but there hasn't been much about this process that has been negative. Sure, I miss some old favorite foods sometimes, but I realize now that my excessive junk eating was sooooo not worth it. I am not starving on my "diet," and I'm not miserable. I personally think weight loss is fun. Anybody else have a realization like this?

The most fun about dieting is reaching goal !!!

I've learned that much in life is what you make of it. To a large degree, you get to choose. Fun or boring? You decide.

I've always been able to make some parts of weight loss "fun," but it's also been hard to override and resist the social and cultural messages that weight loss is supposed to be miserable.

I think some part of me believed that if I wasn't miserable, I wasn't doing it right. And when I felt I was doing it right, I was so miserable that it wasn't long before I'd give up - because who wants to be miserable all the time?

This time around, I'm consciously choosing to have fun rather than be miserable (even if it does mean slower weight loss for me). I'm more willing to challenge not only the "common wisdom," but also my own beliefs and values as well. When I find that I'm making myself miserable, I have to ask myself "what's the point? Is misery really serving a purpose here. If so, what do I change to make the misery disappear? If not, am I choosing to be miserable because I think that's how I think I'm supposed to feel?"

While I wouldn't say it's necessarily fun, I will say it's empowering...:)

Yeah, I know what you mean. Overall, the process hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be (like you, I haven't "dieted" before).

The only time I thought, "This sucks! I hate this!" is when I went to lunch with my coworkers for the first time after starting WW Online. I sat and watched them eat my old favorites (burger and french fries) and I had broccoli. lol!

Anyway, after that it got easy and it IS kinda fun. It's almost like a game of sorts. Zig zagging calories, watching the scale go down, trying on old skinny clothes to find out they're too big, having everyone say how great you look, buying new clothes and KNOWING they'll look great on you...etc etc. Yeah, that's fun! I almost mourn no longer having the decades go down on the scale. I look forward to more toning now.

Anyway....yup, I know exactly what you mean.

Oh my gosh, it's not only FUN, it's the most fun I have EVER had! Maybe my wedding/honeymoon would have been more fun if I were not fat, maybe prom would have been fun if I were not fat, my graduation, my college days...I might have thought they were fun if I were not fat.

The MOST fun about losing weight is that I can NOT use my weight as an excuse to not have FUN! ;)

I totally agree. I love getting on the scale and seeing where I am. Even when I gain a little, I love knowing that I can beat it back down and I'm in control.

I have three different graphs that I keep track of my weight on and I love seeing the 4 month decline. It's very motivational. It really does make it all worth it and honestly, I don't crave the bad food nearly as much anymore!

I could have written this myself! I had never really tried losing weight because I always imagined that losing a huge amount of weight meant going to a specialist and starving myself etc. I actually can't believe I didn't start it earlier. I would absolutely call it fun. I love feeling good about my choices. I love how I feel after a workout, I love how I feel after eating a delicious healthy meal, I love figuring out new ways to eat yummier and healthier, and I love finding new things that I can do now that my weight isn't holding me back. And, of course, I love looking in the mirror and seeing what an incredible difference MY hard work has made. :)

...maybe prom would have been fun if I were not fat, my graduation, my college days...I might have thought they were fun if I were not fat.

The MOST fun about losing weight is that I can NOT use my weight as an excuse to not have FUN! ;)

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I always used my weight as an excuse to not have fun, which is why I did not enjoy my college years or the ensuing years. Losing weight is fun for me b/c I'm reclaiming my life with every lb I lose. I am actually looking forward to doing things like running my first 5k and half marathon this year. I enjoy jogging 3 miles early every morning with my dog Zachary. I enjoy eating healthy foods. I always did, actually; I just used to eat too much of them, mostly to quash bad feelings and emotions I did not want to feel. Little did I know, letting myself feel all of those emotions, both good and bad, is very empowering.

Realizing what I am capable of is the most fun thing about losing weight of all. For years I always thought I couldn't do it, that it was possible for others but impossible for me. I would lose 20 lbs max and then gain them back. Not anymore. This time I feel different. This time it is permanent.

Above all, this journey has taught me to not underestimate myself or sell myself short. After growing up in a household where my father tried to demean me every chance he got (and still does to this day), this is an important lesson that I am glad to finally be learning.

Sometimes, yes. It's not all one long grim slog.

But there are difficult moments & times I grit my teeth & search desperately for distractions & call up friends & write furiously in my journal.

I want to honor those difficult moments because I honor myself for having gotten through them.

And if someone came to me earnestly seeking my advice, and I cared for that person, I would not describe the whole project as "fun."

It's just life in a microcosm. That's what it is. No more, no less. Sometimes it's fun, empowering, even elating. Sometimes it feels like a lifelong sweat session for very little reward, since I'm mortal & will age anyway. (But I'll age ***healthier,*** even if unable to forever maintain to accepted standards of physical beauty.)

It's taken plenty of commitment, and the ability to white-knuckle my way through some challenging times, but, yes, overall, it's been a LOT of fun. Not the kind of fun I want to have to go through again, mind you, but so much fun. The transformation has been great, the lifestyle change has been awesome, and even though one part of me thinks I am currently caught up in an incredibly silly, shallow, vanity-driven phase where I am almost constantly enraptured with my new physical appearance, the other part of me thinks I've earned it, and I should be enjoying it to the fullest. I'm sure I'll settle down, but right now, I am walking around with a huge, happy smile on my face most of the time. It's been great, and it's only getting better.

Definitely, I love the feeling of losing weight when I'm actually losing weight. But I have a way of starting off strong and then plateauing and I've never made it past the slow down. So it's a yes and a no for me. It's frustrating when I work my rear end off and get nowhere.

But this time I'm focusing more on the fact that I want to see where I'll be a year from now. And recently I've added fitness goals which always makes me feel really good about myself. I liked bragging last night that I've signed up to do a consecutive 100 push-ups challenge.

The journey has its ups and downs for me, but I'm also not new to this...at all.

I could have written your post. I think it is fun. It is a challenge to figure out what will work for me. I am never hungry on WW so that def. helps me stay on track.

I love losing weight, I mean there are days when I just want to eat whatever...so I eat whatever and then get back on plan the next day. I LOVE the feeling of looking in the mirror and knowing my body is constantly changing. Or seeing people who are amazed by my weight loss, and most of all I love feeling lighter! In a way I've started to value myself more, I don't feel the need to hide behind my loudness, I am who I am - I'm not perfect but I'm getting there slowly and surely!
xx

Hmmm, 80% of the time I think it is fun and 20% of the time it is really hard.

The problem is failure in the 20% can negate the progress in the 80%;)

Hmmm, 80% of the time I think it is fun and 20% of the time it is really hard.

The problem is failure in the 20% can negate the progress in the 80%;)

This, except I'd reverse the percentages. Actually no, I'd say it's 95% not fun and 5% fun. Or maybe even 99%/1%. It's more like small moments of fun interspersed with a long, hard, slog.

The results are fun. Feeling more in control of my choices is fun.

But the day-to-day is not fun. It's hard work, constant vigilance, constant effort. That's not fun. Constantly worrying that I'm not doing enough, or that I'm deceiving myself about some aspect of it, or that this is just going to be another failed attempt - none of that is fun. Working through the times when I don't lose, or getting back on track when I've had a less mindful couple of days - not fun.

The challenge for me is to focus on what I want, to accept that any positive feedback I get is necessarily delayed and attenuated. I am not good at delayed gratification, and this process demands that I be satisfied with it - that every single day, many times a day, I remind myself to value the possibility of being trim at some unspecified future time over the taste of that wonderful cheese or of the steak frites, or over the buzz from that martini I'd really like to enjoy. Against my nature, I have to force myself to subordinate these immediate pleasures to a long-term goal that I might not even reach.

Nope. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I just have to be realistic - for me, this ain't fun.

Fun? Yes! Absolutely fun!

The MOST fun for me is doing stuff again that I thought I couldn't do anymore...

It's like finding a twenty-year old inside my forty-something body. A lot of times when I'm running, I start smiling from sheer joy.

The second most fun thing is wearing stuff I couldn't have worn before.

The third most fun thing is KNOWING that I look okay-- not at goal yet, but not that morbidly obese lady that people look funny at.

The fourth fun thing, I don't know, maybe it's the first fun thing... is realizing that I ACTUALLY CAN DO THIS and I don't have to be a prisoner of my failed attempts in the past.

I guess I was really ready, because it has not been that hard-- not anywhere near as hard as it was living as a morbidly obese person.

This is not my first go around. The other times I gained all the weight back and I realized it's because I didn't have a maintenance plan. I am not at goal but this time I am having a ball. This time the difference is the support of my husband and what I get here at 3FC. In past times weight just falls off but then I get stuck and panic because people are telling me how good I look. Before I started this journey I have a lot more things in my favor. My husband was telling me how good I looked to him so now the compliments aren't as new to me because of my husband. He is on the journey with me and I have no desire to cheat. The weight is falling off this time too so that part is easy and I am indeed having a ball.

Thanks to you all for the encouragement.

I can totally relate to that! I LOVE the adrenaline rush I get after working out - when the endorphins start kicking in...and the thrill of seeing the pounds coming off - well, there's just nothing like it!!

Then there's the thrill of feeling your clothes fitting more and more loosely. Another thrill is watching your ticker climb closer and closer to your goal - I've never used a ticker before, but I believe it to be the greatest invention in the history of weight loss - just being able to SEE your accomplishments is a GOOD thing!

My sister says I'm too obsessed with working out and keep weight loss on my mind way too much...but why not? It's a constant part of my life now. It's not like I'm going about losing in a harmful way, such as binging and purging or starvation diets - I'm all about being healthier...and I don't see why that is EVER overkill!! Best of luck to you, my friend!

~April~ :df::df::df::df::df::df: - a dragonfly for every 5 lbs I lose!!!!

I guess I was really ready, because it has not been that hard-- not anywhere near as hard as it was living as a morbidly obese person.

Amen to that! Taking really good care of myself physically, emotionally and spiritually is fun. And I feel so much better. I cannot imagine going back to living the way I did before. It's just not worth it.

That's great, I'm glad it's going so well for you! :)

This is the first time I have worked on this "lifestyle change" (I see it the same way), but I really didn't believe (and still am working on believing) that eating healthily can = weight loss. I feel like I MUST starve myself, and I'm still having trouble making sure that I eat. I feel like I am the exception to the rule; that I must starve. It's because it's worked before, but it doesn't anymore...I have a hard time with balance and end up not eating and exercising a ton, and I don't lose...then I feel like I won't ever so I eat whatever I want.

Now, I've been eating what I think is good for me. I still HATE calories, tho, and I eat as little as possible.

Ah, well, babysteps, right? :)

I first saw this thread title and thought "fun???" ha.

it's not my first go round either. I'd say for me there's been a lot of all kinds of work involved in it; I don't enjoy the frustration when I have trouble sticking to the eating plan and gain a few, lose a few (that yo yo scene). no, it's not always easy, I've spent many hours b&m'ing about it. a few tears.

But there actually are many, many elements that bring me lots of happiness. the smaller sized clothes, the improved health, better looks, the improved health (oh, did I say that already?), the improved health, ha.

I definitely feel so much better now that I exercise and eat healthily -- mentally and physically. it's a very hope filled thing, and yes, empowering.

I think it has been pretty fun. At first I got a lot of enjoyment from watching the numbers go down on the scale. It's strange how addicting that is. Then when my weight loss slowed, I did get a little bummed with the whole process. Losing 2 pounds a month was a lot less fun than losing 2 pounds a week! So I had to shift my goals, and I started focusing more on fitness goals and less on number goals. Once I did that, the enjoyment really came back. Now I get excited when I do something like jog a little farther or a little faster. Any improvement is enough to keep me going. I never really thought I could actually enjoy exercise, but I can honestly say I enjoy watching myself (albiet slowly) improve over time. Overall, it's been a fun journey.

This won't be the same for everyone. We all come from different places, addictions and illnesses play different roles, as do many other things.

But I would say it's fun to the extent that I try to only make changes I really believe in. So I'm not doing it just to have lost weight. I'm rebuilding a life in which most of my choices really reflect what I believe to be true - and that is bound to make one feel better.

If I'm really struggling with something over the long term (after accounting for the hard work always involved in changing habits), then I think most of the time it's because some part of me is not totally on board yet. And the answer to that is looking to my beliefs, not white-knuckling it and suffering through.

lovingsam, as I get closer to goal, I'm starting to become the same way. Now weight loss isn't such a priority as is toning and fitness. I think my weight loss is going to putter out here pretty soon, but I'm not close to my ultimate body goal yet because I'm not very toned at all. I've been working out, of course, I just haven't focused on getting pretty biceps, getting firmer abs, etc. Working out has just been a means to burn calories, not sculpt as of yet.

I am having a ball. I am energized and motivated and ready for anything. My workouts are challenging now and not mundane. The only thing different this time is my attitude.

Here is a quote I read that I thought was really profound:

You will not appreciate the outcome of a journey you did not enjoy...

I've said it so many times - the weight loss portion of my journey was an absolute BLAST. It was thrilling and exciting beyond belief. Like nothing I've ever experienced and most likely will never, ever experience again.

It was FUN. In a big way. I had so much fun amazing myself with my newly found strength and control. Had a blast and looked forward to weigh-in day, knowing that I was manipulating that scale. I loved the challenge and loved stepping up to the plate to meet it. It was fun discovering all of my bones. It was FUN watching my clothes literally fall off of me. Having people tell me that I'm melting away, disappearing and what happened to the other half of me. It was fun seeing people jaws drop when they ran into me. It was fun having people that knew me (& hadn't seen me in a while) literally walk right past me in the street. It was fun when on 2 separate occasions people asked my husband where I was when I was pretty much right next to him. It was FUN having my family be SO proud of me. Having my husband and children want to show me off. It was fun having to buy smaller clothing sizes. And then buy smaller clothes. And then buy smaller clothes - and yes - then buy even smaller clothes. It was fun having all this new found energy and stamina. It was fun being able to move with ease. It was fun being able to squeeze easily between tight spaces. For the first time it was fun looking forward to social events and then going to them. It was fun going to the bank, the dentist, doing errands being slim, confident for the first time instead of dreading everyone and everything. It was fun having DH make up new names for me - slim and tiny. It was fun discovering new delicious foods to eat that were also healthy. It was fun going to the doctor and getting stellar reports. It was fun going to bed at night knowing that during the day I had taken really good care of myself, treated me well and did what was required of me. It was then fun waking up in the morning and starting the process again and the day in general - instead of dreading the day. It was fun discovering who I was meant to be.

It was one of the best, most exciting, exhilarating times of my life. I will never ever forget that time.

ETA: I mentioned looking forward to weigh-in day, I just wanted to note that I did weigh myself every single day without fail, but just recorded it (made it official) one day a week, Mondays.

Rockin Robin--once again you have beautifully articulated my sentiments. YES, YES and YES.

I think losing weight is pretty easy and might be fun... it's exciting to see yourself change (for the better). The harder part of it is maintaining the weight loss. And that's not too fun, because you stop losing weight and you no longer get happy fitting into your "skinny pants", but you still have to work just as hard to maintain your weight. Statistically, most people who lose weight (even massive amounts of weight) will gain some or all of it back. You have to make permanent lifestyle changes in order to keep the weight off. A lot of heavy people diet for some time then go back to their old lifestyle, of eating too much and not exercising. For me this is about permanent lifestyle changes, so yeah it's exciting, but at the same it's really not because this is not a fad or phase for me, I'm sticking with it.

I think losing weight is pretty easy and might be fun... it's exciting to see yourself change (for the better). The harder part of it is maintaining the weight loss. And that's not too fun, because you stop losing weight and you no longer get happy fitting into your "skinny pants", but you still have to work just as hard to maintain your weight.

Statistically, most people who lose weight (even massive amounts of weight) will gain some or all of it back. You have to make permanent lifestyle changes in order to keep the weight off.

A lot of heavy people diet for some time then go back to their old lifestyle, of eating too much and not exercising. For me this is about permanent lifestyle changes, so yeah it's exciting, but at the same it's really not because this is not a fad or phase for me, I'm sticking with it.

Oooh, I beg to differ with you. I think it's FUN being thin, slim trim and fit!!! LOADS FUN and any and all *work* done staying there is MORE than worth it. And knowing that this is PERMANENT, not just some silly phase or fad makes it all the more real, meaningful and yes - thrilling for me. Knowing that I get to eat this way and feel this way for the rest of my life is a great comfort to me.

And statistics? Who cares? Weight loss/gain/maintenance/re-gain is a CHOICE. It's a TREATABLE *condition*, we don't have to rely on chance in order for us to succeed at it, so therefore the statistics don't mean all that much. They're statistics that we can easily manipulate - by the choices we make.

Here's a post I copied and pasted from a thread about being harder to maintain weight loss than to lose:

I guess I do find maintenance more difficult because of the length of it. BUT on the other hand, it's also become automatic to me - the planning, shopping, chopping, cooking, eating this, not eating that, the exercise. It's all completely ingrained in me. It's automatic. It's just what I do and who I am. Completely second nature. Not an option not to do it. It's part of me now. Don't get me wrong, it still takes thought and a conscientious effort on my part, but it's part of my make up now. Though it does take effort, I could do it with my eyes closed so to speak. I KNOW, I really, really KNOW the affects and benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle and for me to not follow it, seems ludicrous now. So that does make it easier.

I had a blast during the time that I was losing weight. I found it thrilling to watch and experience all the incredible things that were happening to my shrinking body. I LOVED grasping that long lost control over food that was lacking for multiple decades. I loved finding new recipes and foods to eat that were both healthy AND delicious. I loved finding out about all the strength I had in me. I loved the self growth, self worth, self disciple and self respect that emerged.

But now that I'm in maintenance, I LOVE my huge array of clothing that I've gathered up. Getting dressed is a joy. I love never having to worry about what I will wear if I have to go - well - anywhere. I'm always "set". I love the continual self worth, growth, discipline and respect that's remained and increased. I love my boundless energy. I love doctors visits. I love socializing, I love living my day in day out life in a fit, trim, healthy best me that I can be body. It's an easier life. I love the fact that I get to wake up in a slim, trim healthy body and spend the day being that way and going to bed with satisfaction, then waking up and repeating the process. So though I'm no longer losing, staying the same has plenty of incredible benefits as well. Don't doubt it for a second. Knowing that I don't have to LOSE the weight, just keep it off is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that I've "done it" and don't have to "do IT" is a great feeling.

Maintenance isn't all that difficult. Certainly it has its ups and downs, which is to be expected. It's not always smooth sailing, but so what. What IS always smooth sailing???? Certainly not all the other wonderful things that matter in my life - my job, my marriage, raising my children, my friendships, running my household. I know what to do. I know what works for my body and what doesn't. And it's no where near, not even close by a gijillion miles, as difficult as being super morbidly obese, morbidly obese, obese or overweight. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Talk about difficult. Yikes!!

Maintenance is no burden, no hardship. It's a wonderful, happy place to be. It's a comfort and a joy to be here. It's peaceful, with much less worries and much more happiness.. I look forward to hearing of your progress and of hearing that you've experienced these wonderful things as well.

Oooh, I beg to differ with you. I think it's FUN being thin, slim trim and fit!!! LOADS FUN and any and all *work* done staying there is MORE than worth it. And knowing that this is PERMANENT, not just some silly phase or fad makes it all the more real, meaningful and yes - thrilling for me. Knowing that I get to eat this way and feel this way for the rest of my life is a great comfort to me.

And statistics? Who cares? Weight loss/gain/maintenance/re-gain is a CHOICE. It's a TREATABLE *condition*, we don't have to rely on chance in order for us to succeed at it, so therefore the statistics don't mean all that much. They're statistics that we can easily manipulate - by the choices we make.

Here's a post I copied and pasted from a thread about being harder to maintain weight loss than to lose:

I guess I do find maintenance more difficult because of the length of it. BUT on the other hand, it's also become automatic to me - the planning, shopping, chopping, cooking, eating this, not eating that, the exercise. It's all completely ingrained in me. It's automatic. It's just what I do and who I am. Completely second nature. Not an option not to do it. It's part of me now. Don't get me wrong, it still takes thought and a conscientious effort on my part, but it's part of my make up now. Though it does take effort, I could do it with my eyes closed so to speak. I KNOW, I really, really KNOW the affects and benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle and for me to not follow it, seems ludicrous now. So that does make it easier.

I had a blast during the time that I was losing weight. I found it thrilling to watch and experience all the incredible things that were happening to my shrinking body. I LOVED grasping that long lost control over food that was lacking for multiple decades. I loved finding new recipes and foods to eat that were both healthy AND delicious. I loved finding out about all the strength I had in me. I loved the self growth, self worth, self disciple and self respect that emerged.

But now that I'm in maintenance, I LOVE my huge array of clothing that I've gathered up. Getting dressed is a joy. I love never having to worry about what I will wear if I have to go - well - anywhere. I'm always "set". I love the continual self worth, growth, discipline and respect that's remained and increased. I love my boundless energy. I love doctors visits. I love socializing, I love living my day in day out life in a fit, trim, healthy best me that I can be body. It's an easier life. I love the fact that I get to wake up in a slim, trim healthy body and spend the day being that way and going to bed with satisfaction, then waking up and repeating the process. So though I'm no longer losing, staying the same has plenty of incredible benefits as well. Don't doubt it for a second. Knowing that I don't have to LOSE the weight, just keep it off is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that I've "done it" and don't have to "do IT" is a great feeling.

Maintenance isn't all that difficult. Certainly it has its ups and downs, which is to be expected. It's not always smooth sailing, but so what. What IS always smooth sailing???? Certainly not all the other wonderful things that matter in my life - my job, my marriage, raising my children, my friendships, running my household. I know what to do. I know what works for my body and what doesn't. And it's no where near, not even close by a gijillion miles, as difficult as being super morbidly obese, morbidly obese, obese or overweight. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Talk about difficult. Yikes!!

Maintenance is no burden, no hardship. It's a wonderful, happy place to be. It's a comfort and a joy to be here. It's peaceful, with much less worries and much more happiness.. I look forward to hearing of your progress and of hearing that you've experienced these wonderful things as well.

Robin, again you were able to speak your mind so eloquently! I too am thrilled that I do not have to lose the weight again, but losing weight was certainly thrilling and empowering! Over the course of my journey I was able to implement healthy changes in my lifestyle that are now habit. Changes that are easy to do and are a pleasure to keep up. No way do I want to go back to where I was. Living in a morbidly obese body was so much harder than doing the very best for myself emotionally, physically and spiritually. Sure there are days that I'm not feeling it (maintaining)--I feel the same way about my work, my marriage and family at times too. I'm human. Life throws you curveballs. Just this week, DH was laid off from his job of 12 years. Yes, it's a bummer. Am I going to resort to emotional eating? No way. That is not the answer and it will not solve the problem. Taking care of myself/maintaining is a habit now.

there is nothing fun about weight. i think weight loss for me is one the hardest things i have to do in my life.

Robin, again you were able to speak your mind so eloquently! I too am thrilled that I do not have to lose the weight again, but losing weight was certainly thrilling and empowering! Over the course of my journey I was able to implement healthy changes in my lifestyle that are now habit. Changes that are easy to do and are a pleasure to keep up. No way do I want to go back to where I was. Living in a morbidly obese body was so much harder than doing the very best for myself emotionally, physically and spiritually. Sure there are days that I'm not feeling it (maintaining)--I feel the same way about my work, my marriage and family at times too. I'm human. Life throws you curveballs. Just this week, DH was laid off from his job of 12 years. Yes, it's a bummer. Am I going to resort to emotional eating? No way. That is not the answer and it will not solve the problem. Taking care of myself/maintaining is a habit now.

okay, now everything you said I have thought and actually said many times. I see we're on the same page!

I'm so sorry to hear of your husband losing his job. To say that that is rough is an understatement. I hope he's been compensated well and finds something 10X better and real soon. :hug:

there is nothing fun about weight. i think weight loss for me is one the hardest things i have to do in my life.

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry that you feel this way. Are you still in the early stages? Because it does get better/easier/more rewarding as you go on. I did find the initial change over period very difficult. Changing a life time of poor habits is not easy. But once you get into it and those rewards start surfacing - look out because it's a thrill a minute.

I'm also wondering, because for me this was ESSENTIAL - are you eating delicious foods that you thoroughly enjoy - though again this takes time till you find the *right* foods for yourself.

Another thing that made it very hard for me in previous attempts was trying to do the everything in moderation route. That to me was VERY difficult. Once I started eating the junk-y/carb-y/sugar-y/fatt-y type foods it was very hard for me to stop. And my cravings for those things never ceased. But once I eliminated them , completely banned them, made them definite NO'S - this became SO much easier. SO MUCH. It was miraculous to me. And it's funny, because I thought I could NEVER give up those foods, that I could never live without them. Turns out the opposite was true!

Oooh, one more thing? Are you hungry? That I was not willing to deal with either. That's another reason eating the *right* foods is essential. Keeps you satiated, keeps your sugar levels good.

Perhaps your plan needs a little tweaking.

I urge you though to FIND the joy in this. Make this a game, a challenge. Look at it as a time of discovery and self growth. :hug:

I :love: Robin!!

I :love: Robin!!

awww, you made me day.
oh and right back atcha.

I know its weird, huh? Last night I decided to go running, and I was like O.K. with it, I was kinda excited and happy to go running. While I was getting dresses I couldn't help but think, what has gotten into me? I'm excited about going running! Wow! So surprising. I ended up running 2 miles on the track! Something that I don't think that I have ever done in my life. I decided that I really like to run, when I'm finished I feel sort of a euphoric feeling. I love it!

But anyways, yes I agree, it's fun! I look forward to weighing myself every Sunday, I always try to push myself and drink one more glass of water than yesterday, or eat more veggies, or run that extra lap. It is very rewarding!

I just can't wait until I can see some results! I'm hoping at 145 I will be able to tell! :carrot:

For myself, I wouldn't call it fun as much as it is a rush and a sense of accomplishment that keeps me going. Stepping on the scale and seeing a new lower number makes it all worth it :) I also love trying on the clothes I wore twenty pounds ago and pulling on the waist. I wish I would have kept my pants from way back when I was about 250 lbs! I look forward to better days when I can actually call it more fun than frustrating. I have hit so many plateaus and obstacles because of quitting smoking and messed up hormones but in the end, I will be a healthier an happier person.
Reading threads like these and seeing everyone make positive changes is very motivating :)

Amanda

I like the process too! Researching foods and exercises, tracking in fitday, grocery planning, grocery shopping, hanging out at 3FC.