... and actually become lazy and stop caring???

When I was 18, I had weight to lose but not as much as now. So when I ate less and worked out more and lost about 10 lbs, people noticed immediately. They would come up to me and ask, "Have you been working out? You look great!" and then immediately, I would stop working out, I would start eating junk food again.

I do that now, too. As long as my weight isn't budging or I'm still gaining weight, I work hard. The moment I see a loss, I become careless. I don't get it. I fall into this false security feeling, that the weight will come off by itself. It's so weird. You'd think the loss would motivate me to work harder, right? But it's just the opposite.

Does anyone else get this way? Or do you have any opinions on why I get this way?

I totally understand what you're saying and I'm the same way. I've been dieting my entire life and have lost substantial (well...about 30 pounds) amounts of weight at least three times. However, when I see I'm doing well I sort of slack off because, hey, I'm doing good. I can take a break, right? The problem is, once I gain I get so discouraged that I just say, "Screw it," and quit altogether for awhile. So I get it and I'm with you 100%.

For me, beating it is all about accountability. My mother has been good for that in the past, but I've been hearing her bark at me for so long (while she is overweight too) that I can kind of ignore it. I have no doubt I will reach my goal now because I am scared of the LAWL ladies. There is no WAY I'm cheating or giving up. Maybe find a friend who will be tough with you if you fall off the wagon? That's what works for me anyway, but everyone is different.

I've never experienced this, but I know there are others on this site that have talked about the same thing. Hopefully, they can chime in and let you know how they overcame this thinking. Hang in there.

I was thinking about this last week. I am finally starting to fit into to clothes I haven't been able to get into in years and my knees stopped hurting. I was thinking would it be so bad if I just eased up on the working out and just stayed where I am, but I realized I am not the best me I can be. I still have some goals I want to attain.

Getting on a rollercoater without having to worry if I fit.
More stores to shop in...
Being able to drop it like its hot.

Also My goal is over 100 lbs and no desire to stop and start if I have the momentum going now.

You know... I go through the EXACT same thing, and its always when I hit the 10 pound marker. I lose ten pounds, people are like "Wow... did you lose weight.. you're looking good" and then... I'm confronted with a chocolate bar or something tasty, and i say to myself "well I deserve this" and then... it all starts again. Total catch 22. I guess the best thing we can do it to not let ourselves become complacent and everytime we see that laziness come back say to ourselves "how about another two pounds?"

I'm with Rhonda on this one. It's just the opposite for me. When I see a weightloss - it actually propels me further and makes me know that yes I can really do it. It strengthens my resolve and makes me want MORE of a weightloss. But I too have heard of this happening to others. I really wish I had something more useful to tell you.

*sigh*

I'm going through this exact thing right now. I've been struggling with it for a few weeks now. I've lost 19 pounds -- not quite half of the weight I want to lose -- but I've been feeling so happy with my progress that I've become lenient with my plan. I still haven't figured out how to get myself going again, so I guess I'm not much help there.

The exercise aspect is fine, I'm working out hard and loving it, but I just allow myself too much leeway with my food. I'm hoping going back to Phase I for a week (I'm following South Beach) will kick start my motivation again...

Can't wait to hear more responses about how to beat this!

I would suggest looking over your goals again.

I've found that whenever I start to feel like this isn't worth it, I look over my goals. By late July I want to do a hike where we change 3000 feet in altitude in less than 5 hours, starting 11,000 feet. I'm still not in shape enough to do that hike, that keeps me going.

I want to run the mile in under 10 min.

I want to go for a small or medium shirt in a store other than Lane Bryant and the like.

When I read these I remember that to me these goals are worth it, and if I don't try my hardest the only person I am failing is myself. That usually gets me over my funk.

I'm with Rhonda & Robin on this one. Unfortunately my weight loss is so slow that I lose my motivation 'cause I'm working & seeing little or no results.

Sigh -- guess we all have our challenges!

Monday - Need to work off that weekend weight gain. Back on plan.
Tuesday - Wow, yesterday was great, I can keep it up.
Wednesday - I wonder if I kept losing weight, what I would look like by summer?
Thursday - Ugh. This is tedious - just one cookie.
Friday - One more glass of wine - oooo! When did we get Ben & Jerry's?
Saturday - I'm not eating bad just not.... great.
Sunday - I'll just finish off this bottle of wine, pint of ice cream, holy crap we still have girl scout cookies?
(Go to Monday)

I don't know whether for me it is being lazy or not caring, but I'm one of the "lose inches not weight" gals, and that can be frustrating at times! Sure, I've lost 80+ pounds overall, but I continually go down in INCHES yet can often stay the same in WEIGHT even if I AM losing inches. That messes with my head A LOT and often gives me mixed messages.

There is a tendency for me to realize that I can eat whatever I want and my weight will stay the same over a long period of time. I am a true PLATEAU GIRL! I'm thinking that maybe it has to do with my body IMAGE taking time to catch up with my body SIZE.

Also, I never have had weight-related medical problems, nor have I ever NOT gone somewhere or done something because I weighed a lot. I've always been active -swimming, biking, going on waterslides, coasters, playing volleyball etc. My extra weight made me have to lug around a lot more poundage, but it never prevented me from having a good time. I'm VERY strong and can lug heavy stuff easily. Now I'm still strong but can lug even MORE around because I am not having to lug MY EXTRA body weight, too.

I know that you hear about consistency, consistency, consistency when it comes to weight loss. I just am NOT a real focused, regimented, consistent person. I get distracted very easily and jump from one thing to another to keep the variety going. I get bored VERY, VERY quickly and need to move on to new and different things. I NEVER have two identical days...EVER! I like it like that, though!

What I have to do then is remind myself that I AM getting smaller REGARDLESS OF what the scale fails to register in new pounds lost. I find that I focus on the fitness aspect most and the inches lost that allow me to wear smaller sizes.

I guess we all have to continually make choices minute by minute. My choice right now is to fit into a dress for my son's wedding. I'm losing INCHES, so, I guess FOR ME I am on track. Maybe you could think of the ONE THING that you really want out of your weight loss plan and focus on that.

You will do this thing! If I can do this and be a flibberty-jibbet, YOU can do this!

Cheryl

I used slack off once I had lost some weight also. Those were the days I was on a diet. I will never go on a diet again. This has totally been a lifestyle change for me. I will never eat the way I used to. Now I choose not to. I don't want to. My thinking about weight loss changed and my body is following.

I am in Robin and Sharon's camp. Seeing that number go DOWN every week is very addictive. I am right now at the lowest I've been my adult life, and I am sooo anxious to get BELOW that number.

That happens to me too. I fool myself into thinking that a "deserve" a reward for losing weight, when all it does is stop my progress. I haven't overcome that mentality. I like Archy's suggestion of focusing on goals. Perhaps focusing less on the scale, and more on NSVs would help motivate us to more success.