Mentality
 

Is there something you say to yourself regarding this diet every day? Lately I've just been thinking "get it done already". (: You? Just curious...

Good question! Thought provoking. Plan, stay with it, it's working!

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. That's not just something I tell myself on P1, but something I want to carry with me into P4.

I love these answers! I'm collecting them for a positive mentality. (:

socal girl, thats the truth:) I went to a family party this weekend. Allot of the people didnt expect the skinny version of me they saw, they were shocked. Some people were really nice and congratulatory, others just ignored me which really hurt my feelings:( People cant just be happy for me.
some people told me I need to finally eat....I just dnt get it. I struggled allot to get where I am, I feel great about myself and I know I look awesome, thats what keeps me going. Let haters be motivators

When my brain wanders to "I can't wait until I weigh xx lbs............", I really try hard to refocus.

I really am trying to ENJOY the journey this time around. I know this might sound cliche', but I've lost significant weight two times before and like most of us here on 3FC, I gained it back. I know what it feels like to be thinner and of course love that feeling, but I want to enjoy the process and appreciate each step along the weight loss this time. Don't rush it: allow myself to feel the better flexibility in my body, the better range of motion in my muscles, thinning stomach muffin-top, zipping up smaller jeans, fitting in my husbands sweatpants, clasping the tightest clasp on my bra, being able to paint my own toenails, liking the thinner face and not minding my side profile in the mirror, etc, etc, etc.

In the past, my "diets" have always been about getting thin. This time I think/hope I've come to a place in my life where I'm realizing IT is so much more than that. I'm grieving a little along the way knowing that there are old eating habits that I just WON'T be able to go back to. If I immediately allow these old habits to start after I've been successful (i.e. lost the weight and hit goal) then I am finally realizing/accepting the fact that the weight will come back (and statistically probably more than I started from).

I tell myself, NOW is the easy part. The END of the journey will NOT be when I've hit goal weight. This is a lie we all tell ourselves, but it is the farthest from the truth. The HARD part is going to be keeping this weight off! When I open up my food choices in P4 maintenance and have to learn to stop at a taste or a bite rather than having a ridiculous serving size. I know I will have to continue to eat low carb and very cautiously allow sugar in or I will easily ignite that carb addiction that puts me in a frame of mind that only cares about the next sugar high!

I don't want this period of my life (losing the unhealthy weight) to be for naught. I tell myself to focus on the next chapter, the next part of the journey - how to keep it off! :) Jen

This is such a funny question for me because I really had to think about it. To tell you the truth I dont think of my "diet" everyday. I am very committed to this new way of life (not "diet") and I think that is going to be my key in not only losing the weight but keeping it off forever.
What I do think of is the way I feel and that is much better since starting IP. I have more energy and can do more things with my family already, I can't even begin to think of the possibilities of what I can do once I reach goal. :)

Keep Calm and Get Healthy!
It's a process, it's a process, change takes time!

I completely agree with Jen, I am excited about looking and feeling great this summer, but I am really enjoying the journey to that point. I am planning on doing a half marathon as soon as I am able to after goal. I used to love to run...this time around I won't allow weight to come in between and will keep it up to maintain a healthy me that I love!

I always just think positive and my support I have is amazing.

I am the instant gratification sort - I want results and I want them now. Might partially explain why I am so overweight ;)

I too realize it will take time and it is a lifestyle change but emotionally I want it to happen FAST. :dizzy:

I talk to myself frequently....hang in there, you can do it!!! is my favorite, or girl, you know that cookie is not worth it, lol

LexiChanel that's funny I went to a family party and had the same thing happen this weekend. Some people were shocked and some made remarks about how "starving" myself was just going to bring the weight back faster than it came off (who said I was starving???). People always want to know your secret and the second you mention anything about carbs they cut in and say how that's not sustainable blah blah blah...funny because I finally realize that when people want to know your secret they actually want to only know if it involves them having to do absolutely nothing different! It's the reason so many millions of people fall for infomericals (myself included) that start with... want to eat anything you want, not exercise and make no sacrifices....of course I WANT THAT but does that work? Looking at the obesity rate I'm going to have to say NO! Truth of the matter is being healthy is a decision you have to make at every moment of your life, not while you're dieting or even at just a meal. It's a life decision. It is unfortunate that during this weight loss journey I've not only lost weight but I've also lost "friends" People I use to socialize with via eating/drinking etc. think that all of a sudden I'm not good enough to hang out with because I pack my own food or I'm "difficult" when I order my food, but as I mentioned in another post fitting into an airplane seat, taking the stairs without being out of breath and zipping up my pants without any problems on any given day makes all the sacrifices worth it. That's why I originally said nothing tastes as good as skinny feels because it's not just being a certain weight or size, but the whole body/physical experience of being skinny. As for the haters that can't just be happy for you, you have to forgive because I know how horrible it feels to be uncomfortable in your own skin and you build some relationships on sharing that feeling and now they feel alone. Just be there for them when they really want "your secret."

Jen - you couldn't be more right. Since reaching maintenance, I have constantly said that I got to the "end of the beginning". Now the real work starts! I too tried to use the time on P1 wisely - get into the right head space for maintenance, getting control of my food choices, figuring out how I wanted to LIVE. Time will tell whether it pays off, but I can tell you that this is the FIRST diet I've seen through to the end, and I don't want to throw that away.

As for motivation, I kept a copy of THE photo handy - the one that made me finally VISUALIZE how bad I had let myself go. It was on my phone, and in my house in the kitchen. If temptation was barking in my ear, I looked at that photo. It was a sobering reminder to press forward, so that I would never go back to that.

A lot of times, especially on the bad days I say:

It's not worth it

as in the food I crave or think I want.

Food is Fuel not my Friend. Eating is for the company I keep while I do it. I say that to myself ALL the time. Trying to use P1 to be ready for the later times.

At first when I read this, my brain said "Fish are friends, not food".

Huh. I dont say anything specific, but I am always giving myself pep talks about staying on plan and remembering that while I have had success on this diet, I still have a long way to go so I can't slip up etc.

I have started collecting recipes for maintenance and thinking about how I will handle it. One thing I know that keeps me on point is planning ahead and not leaving things up in the air. Knowing I have a plan for meals has taken the stress out of mealtimes for me.

I also want to prove to myself that I can keep this promise I made to get healthier this year.

I haven't been doing this long enough to have any great advice. But I do think of a TV advertisement for another weight loss program. I forget what it is, but the old/heavy woman is talking to her new/thin self. The new/thin self is thanking the old/heavy woman for finally losing the weight. So sometimes I get through a rough spot by thinking of what I want my future self to be.

I also focus on getting through one day at a time. My toughest time of any day eating-wise is night. To avoid eating anything I shouldn't, I think of how I'm going to feel the next morning when I wake up and get on the scale.

Hope that helps.

"If you don't lose weight, you will die."

It's pretty effective, and true in my case.
Keeps me on the straight and narrow!

Maui Maui Maui!! Bikini Bikini Bikini! Photos Photos Photos! :)

Social girl,
You are so right. People tell me I am starving myself as well, but i am not going to lie to you I do not tell anyone my secret. Why should I? They abuse me with terrible comments and I need to tell them? no way!!!! I tell them I eat right and I exercise, and they have negative stuff to say about that too.
f you lost friends because you were trying to get healthy then they werent your friends to begin with, thats pretty sad. I am losing them cuz I am thinner than them, they are just showing their true colors, and I have my own family, 3 kids, I dont tneed them")

LOL---Scorbett. I love Nemo!

Tailwinds--THats for Medifast and it makes me cry every time I see it. I'm not much of a crier usually...But I think its the whole 'why did you wait so long to do this' part. OMG

It's about getting healthy for the rest of my life and eating for nutrition, not to cope with emotions or stress.

I love JenRem's tag line under her name: IP is a Journey, not a Race.

I know this is the easy part-the cravings are pretty much gone, all I have to do is follow the sheet. I worry about maintenance, but I am arming myself with information and preparing for it (even though it is months away).

I watched Wuv's latest video on YouTube this morning and felt re-energized. She has such an amazing spirit-what a gift to give to others!