Everytime I get on the scale and it says that I am in the next bracket of weight (like from the 170s to the 160s) I freakout and end up gaining weight back. I've lost weight before because I was given a bet from my parents that I could never lose weight and would remain fat forever. When I proved the I could lose the weight, it wasn't even acknowledged in a good way. I gained the all the weight back over a few years and didn't really start losing for life until after I moved out on my own. I'm anxious about being "thin" again. I don't know how to get excited for the goal of being small.

This is a lifestyle change. Do this for yourself when your ready. And when I mean ready, I mean really ready. Losing weight is hard, there will be a lot of obstacles, and you must have your own personal motivation. No amount of cash, betting, or other people's approval will allow you to seriously lose weight and keep it off forever. Be the change you wish to seek.

Judging from your weight loss, you're still losing overall, right? Five steps forward, one step back? That still equals four steps forward, a victory overall. Try not to worry too much about worrying, if that makes sense. It's OK to wibble a bit and have difficult bits, you're still making your way to goal so you can be proud of yourself. Could you maybe give yourself a week off for reflection (calories at maintenance level or something rather than bingeing, of course) every time you get to the boundary between sets of numbers, or something else that would help you pause and get your courage up for the next stage?

I didn't think of it that way! I'm learning to be more confident in myself. I have to start separating my anxieties from people from my weight loss goals. I'm really learning that I'm more concerned about people who aren't concerned about me. I just like you said have to do this for me and reward myself for doing what it is that I really want to do. I had some anxieties today and I tried to not let it destroy my eating for today. I haven't figured out rewards but I will.

1st, you have a great body .

This process takes time. Learn good habits and keep them going, even if you are in a maintaining phase. Also, you do need to set clear attainable goals for yourself. I am 6 weeks in to my program and I realized that I had no idea why I wanted to loose weight. When I started I was happy with my health and looks. I just thought it would be nice to weigh a little less. Well as we know weight loss is hard and that is not going to get me to the end. Now my focus is to be a healthy example for my 9 yr. old girls. Their body type is like mine and they are larger (not fat) than most of the girls their age. My pressure to be smaller was from my family and I had no examples of healthy eating or exercise. I wish you well, you have the power to change and maintain a healthy life.

Cheers

I wonder if you have had bad relationships/assault/molestation in the past? Or maybe at some point you felt someone only liked you for superficial reasons and you were hurt? Or even being afraid of suddenly being a target for men to hit on?
It can be scary, I have been all sizes in my adult life, and have some anxiety too from the issues listed above.
It is true the most important thing to remember is that you are making amazing progress. Maybe you need someone to talk to about the complex things you are experiencing.

lillies...I totally understand how you feel. I have anxiety too. This whole new image is emerging, people are saying that it has been an "amazing transformation". I am still me...just a smaller, leaner me. The fat was protection from unwanted attention from men for many years. That kind of attention scared the crap out of me. It can be intense and intimidating to get the "body scan" from men and women. It happens all the time now, and I have had to learn how to deal with it. With men, I just look away, try not to be to friendly and think of it as flattering. With women, I smile real sweet and try to be nice to them. It sort of deflects the jealousy factor. It is a learning process. Don't be afraid of the new you. Stand a little taller and be proud of your accomplishment. You deserve it!

I didn't start dating until after I lost weight the first time. I've been assaulted before and have had a lot of bad relationships where I gained weight as the relationships went on. Each relationship I was larger than the previous. It's stressful to have had boyfriends criticize my weight or be embarrassed to be seen with me. Or not be invited to things because of my weight. I just really don't like the extra phoney-ness that comes with the weight loss.

Thanks. I will set some new goals.

I agree with the anxiety as well, it can be a big trigger for me with falling off a diet plan. I get uncomfortable in my skin when I feel like people are judging me cause of my looks and I just want to be invisible and in this world I sometimes feel the bigger I am the more invisible I am.

But I know I am not being healthy and I want better in life than to deal with people and there criticism stressing me out.