I'm really excited about losing 70 pounds.

But I'm also looking at how much more I have to lose and it's starting to get me discouraged. Isn't that crazy? I mean, I lost over my eight year old son's worth in weight. 70 pounds is a lot! So, why do I keep looking at how far I have to go?

Anyone else go/going through this?

This is wonderful news - 70 lbs is a lot. I think it's only human nature to think about how far you have to go yet, so I try not to as much as I can. I try to look at it in 10 lb amounts and that helps.

You can do this - you have accomplished much and can forge on!!!

DNR

Congratulations! That is an amazing accomplishment!

That's awesome!!!! I am so proud of you!!!! I know what you mean though...about thinking about "the rest"....I"m going thru that same thing right now too...I've lost over 70 pounds but all I can think about is the 35 I have left to go...and how even if I get to my goal weight....I'll have to keep toning and exercising a ton to get everything into shape. I don't know why I do that either......we have both done an amazing thing and should be very proud! Congrats....that is a huge achievement!!!! I wish you continued success...
Hugs
Olivia

I'm so happy for you! Congrats!!

I forgot to add....I also look at it in smaller increments.....since my weight loss has been so slow lately...I'm actually looking at it in 5 pound increments...mentally...it helps a lot.

Hugs,
Liv

Congratulations and well done! I know its difficult not to look ahead, especially as you get closer and closer to goal, but please try not to be impatient. You should stop and appreciate all you've accomplished already ~ you deserve some "pride time".

Wow, what a amazing job you have done!!! 70 lbs!!! Im jealous lol. I know its hard to not think ahead, we all do it! WTG!!!!

Wow, that is awesome! But get those nasty thoughts out of your head! Think about how far you've come. I've lost 8 and it's been a battle. 70 is more like a war, and you're winning! You are more than halfway to your goal! You can either give up and go back to where you started or keep going and cross the finish line!

I'm impressed! You should be celebrating! I lost 50 back in 2000 and that seemed like a lot to me. But then for some reason I kept having a hard time staying on track and losing more. I did lose an additional 10 over the next two years, and then I somehow gave up and gained a bunch back.

That "looking ahead" to how much you still have to lose can be very discouraging. ESPECIALLY so when you are at the point where I am and having to relose the weight just to get back where you were.

I have been setting baby step goals. Not looking further down the road that 4 or 3 pounds at a time. Right now I have one more pound and a half to lose to be at one of my goals and then I can start back working on my "new" goal of 238. After I reach that one I will start aiming for 235 and then 232. At that point I will be back at my 50 pounds off mark that I was at in 2000.

Right now I'm a pound and a half above my 40 pounds off mark. So I know how you feel, it can be overwhelming if you look at the big picture. So I don't. I just look at the next 3 or 4 pounds, and every goal I set is only 3 or 4 pounds from the last one I set and reached. This way I can keep on going, keep on knowing that I'm within 3 or 4 pound of "goal". Many goals, many successes make you feel more and more convinced that you CAN do it. Every success paves the way for a new success and makes you more convinced that step by step you will get there if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

The problem about allowing yourself to get discouraged about how far you still have to go is that it can make you want to give up and then what happens? You start gaining (like I did) and then you are even FARTHER from the ultimate goal.

This isn't a race. There is no reason why any of us has to get to goal this week or next. We just have to keep on keeping on and hopefully during the journey we will learn how to KEEP it off when we do get where we are going. Baby steps. 3 or 4 pounds at a time, and when we GET to goal we need to make sure that we don't allow ourselves to gain more than 3 or 4 pounds before we start making the effort to take it back off again. I'm convinced that is what maintenance will take. We might as well get used to it now.

You guys are so awesome! This was exactly what I needed. I needed to remember where I was, and how I don't want to be there or even where I am now, anymore. That finish line is getting a little clearer. Can I give you all some big ???

I think, looking at smaller increments may also help, as I'm sure this weightloss will slow down, soon. Maybe I'll change my signature, to something more tangible.

Oh, and Tiffany, very, very true about not wanting to have to lose it again. I've actually been there. Three years ago, I weighed 170, after having lost 100 pounds. No, I don't want lose this weight again. Thanks for sharing, I know you'll get that weight off again! And you'll keep it off.

LivingWater -- I started one pound less than you and have now lost 75 pounds myself and I know exactly how you feel. I keep wondering how I could have lost so much weight and still be obese and unable to shope in most stores!

But then I just refocus on the positive -- on all the things I can DO that I couldn't do before. I am also trying to take my focus OFF the scale and start to think like a maintainer, so I have decided that it wouldn't matter if I didn't lose another pound -- this is a lifestyle I want to stick with for life. Somehow, that seems to help!

wyllenn, you are so right. This is a LIFESTYLE change. I will never go back to eating the way I was. It's amazing, even at 300 lbs, how much BETTER I feel just by eating right and exercising. Which, by the way, is what we're SUPPOSED to be doing. Weight loss is just a pleasant side effect.

INSPIRATIONAL.. way to go

Yes, I too understand and have to "force" myself away from that kind of thinking. I think it is a normal part of the process and we just have to "tough it out" and not let it get us down. And remember... we are losing weight not based on what we are thinking but what we are doing -- so even if our thoughts turn to discouraging directions, just keep on doing what we need to do! Our feelings are always going to be fickle!