Hmmmm.....Jiff....you made me think....how much of our self-hate keeps us in our vicious cycles of lose/gain/lose/gain? I do agree that self-hate can be a motivator, but when turn from motivating ("I'm such a gross pig and I deserve better") to destructive ("I'm such a gross pig and I DON'T deserve better")?

I would be willing to be that many of our very personal reasons for weight loss - reasons that we probably don't even share here - are due to a hurt or a slight that made us hate our bodies. I know that my very first successful (well, successful because I actually reached my goal weight, though I didn't keep it off) WL journey began when a remark from my husband (who has since apologized) made me feel like the ugliest, most disgusting woman who ever walked the face of the Earth.

Now that you've mentioned it, Jiffy, I would like to throw out the reasons like "ugly" and "disgusting" and "pig" and "fat cow"....My new all-encompassing reason is this: I am such a beautiful girl, and I deserve to be healthy.

Thanks for making me think.

For me, when i mention "hate" it is hating what i look like, not hating myself. You are more than your physical body, you have thoughts, feelings, and a personality that is not measured by your physicality. I still like the person that I am while absolutely hating what i look like.

That is what keeps me motivated.

Wow, this thread is really deep!

I definitely struggle with self-hate (the full blown kind, not just my body), but it is getting better as I am just now beginning to lose weight. (I've lost 14 pounds!!! I still can't believe it) :cloud9:

Loving oneself is not really a feeling, I think it's action. And we're all taking action to love ourselves by getting healthier and starting to live the lives we always dream of.

We are all created with a unique and special gift that no one else on earth can duplicate. . .and I just thank you all for all the positive remarks on this board, we never know how much they are helping people we don't even know!

:goodvibes: