43 pounds in 6 months is absolutely great - as CF said, that's over 80 lbs per year!

I also have trouble with negative thinking sometimes. I lost 56 lbs during my first year, for an average of approximately one pound per week. However, I was only "on plan" for a total of approximately six months out of that year. When I start berating myself for my lack of focus/thinking where I could be now if only I'd been more disciplined, I just try to remember that this is a lifelong journey with no "finish line" to cross . . . even if I were at goal now, the journey still wouldn't be over.

I've had the same problem in the past. I tried to set deadlines for achieving specific weights, and then if I got to the date, and had lost but not the goal amount, I was a Bad Person. Cue sorrow eating.

This time, I'm just going to celebrate every little drop in weight. And even if I don't drop, I'll be looking in the mirror to see if I look a little thinner or fitter. Muscle is heavy, after all, and I'm going from a sedentary, "glued into the chair" life, to an "exercise everyday" one.

It is amazing how there is always a thread to match what is going on with me. I feel exactly as you do! At the worst it feels like you are all alone in this war but getting online and finding so many wonderfu people going through the same struggle makes me want to fight harder. Thanks so much everyone for sharing and encouraging and not being afraid to put yourself out there. I personally feel stronger already. I hope you do too!:lifter:

That's what I tell myself every time I consider doing something a little drastic to increase my weight loss. Don't do anything to lose weight that you aren't willing to do for the rest of your life is the single most significant piece of weight loss advice that I have ever heard. Although I have a goal weight on my ticker, my actual goal weight will be determined by whatever I find are sustainable calorie and activity levels.

Sometimes I get a touch of that jealousy too. I used to lose weight a lot faster when I was younger, but the younger me didn't figure out the maintenance part of it, unfortunately. My loss for February was 2 lbs. Not much, but eventually it all adds up.

We're all different. Remember: you are you, and you are doing really well!

Buttercup and Farseashore,

This was exactly what I need to read! I am not the odd ball, there are other people who think like I do!

Thank you!

Time2lose,

43 pounds in six months! I'm envious of you. I'm about the same age and just a little taller, and I have lost only 52 pounds in a year.

While I'm envious, I'm also thrilled with myself. I have never stuck to anything this long, and I believe that I can do this for the rest of my life.

Someone here wrote "Your present weight is someone's goal" I try to remember that. My goal is to never fit into a larger size than I do now...to never weigh significantly more than I do today (like Kaplods I understand small variations are not significant) and to stick to maintaining a manageable, healthy, and enjoyable way of eating.