Just when I was getting so tired of this lifestyle change...
 

And was undecided on whether I could continue, I decided to try on a shirt from before I lost weight. I bought it and then never wore it because even though it is a knit, stretchy shirt, it fit my chest so vulgur and tight. And my stomach rolls bulged out of it. I would have felt super self conscious wearing it.

I just tried it on after a 26-pound weight loss, and it fits loose and comfortable now. It fits my chest normally, and my stomach doesn't bulge out at all. No sucking in needed. :lol: :p

I am motivated again. I want to see even more positive changes before my cruise in May. I'm not setting a weight goal, but I hope to be in at least a regular 16 before the cruise.

I'm pressing the "reset" button on my lifestyle change. I need to stick with it and remember that I can't exercise too much. Lots and lots of exercise doesn't work for me. It feels good in the moment, but it eventually wears me out and makes me binge. I need to stick with my 45 minutes of exercise daily, and no more. The 45 minutes aids my weight loss and keeps me in shape and balanced. It wasn't actually me getting tired of the lifestyle change, it's just that the exercise was wearing me out. I'm glad I've identified that. Plus, I need to remember that it's perfectly okay to take a day off, maybe 2, from exercise each week.

Also, I am going to take a scale break until the day before Christmas. I had a binge this weekend and don't need to see any increase on the scale right now.

I guess I just needed to write this out and see it in black and white.

A lifestyle change is one you can maintain for a lifetime. Working out for more than an hour a day, every single day? That would be hard to maintain for anyone and it isn't necessary to be healthy or fit to exercise that much. I'm glad you are beginning to see that.

Good for you Fit! I have a couple of articles of clothing that I can't wait to see get loose on me. Glad to hear the motivation is back!

Yay! I am glad you found a wonderful NSV (non-scale victory) to remotivate you! I find that clothes does that for me too. In fact, during my journey, I'd always buy a pair of pants one size down from what I had recently gotten into. So the moment I hit size 12 I went out and bought a size 10 - usually the same pants/manufacturer. I put them on while they were tight and uncomfortable, took a picture, and eventually I fit into them nicely. :D

With the holiday's coming up this is the BEST time in the world to get motivated again. CONGRATS on a fabulous weight loss so far! You should be so proud!

So that is what NSV stands for! I have seen it many times and had no idea :dizzy:

It is nice to read that you are taking it easier on yourself. Most of us either give ourselves too much to do all at once or beat ourselves up when we don't see quick results or the scale stalls for a couple of weeks.

My mom is like this. She's 72 years old, 5'2" and around 130 pounds. But she wants to be 120 pounds and kills herself at the gym, working out 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. She gets depressed and tells me, "I workout so hard and then stuff my face when I get home. Good thing I workout so much, or I'd probably be 200 pounds with how much I eat." I tell her over and over again that she probably eats a lot because she works out so much. But she doesn't believe me. I don't know why she can't accept the fact that her body will not respond the same as it did 20-30 years ago and that she should be easy on herself, especially at her age.

Sorry for the little rant about my mom. But I really am glad that you've found what works best for you.

26 pounds is great!!!! and super YAY :yay: for your NSV shirt!!!!! :woohoo:

I love those moments and 26lbs is awesome! Congratulations! :D:D:D:D

Congratulations on your NSV! I've been having fun, too, trying on old clothes.

One thing I've tried to do, though, is not base my behavior on external factors like clothes, compliments, etc. The reason for this is that I know those things will eventually cease. What do I do then? I'm trying to internalize the healthy behaviors so that when all the fanfare of the weight loss is gone, I'll be so used to those behaviors that maintaining that weight loss will be easier.

BTW, I agree with you about identifying what impedes your progress. If I had to do more than an hour of "formal" exercise every day, it would probably burn me out, too. Fortunately, I get at least an hour, often two, of walking a day because of my tread-desk (Google it). So, my activity level is often higher and more consistent than it used to be because of that.

Thanks everyone!

I took Saturday and Sunday off of exercise and feel like that recharged my batteries. I did 45 minutes of exercise today, and I feel great! I am not constantly thinking about food like I was last week.