Create an environment for success. I'm not sure where I got that from ...

Dr Phil talks about ridding your home of snack foods. Many diet gurus talk about getting rid of big clothing. We encourage folks here to read success stories and maintainer's threads.

This is what I thought of when Julie mentioned that motivation needs to be cultivated.

Very topical questions to my life right now. The other day my husband walks into the kitchen as I am preparing my lunch. At that particular moment I was weighing 2 leaves of Romaine lettuce to go on my sandwich. Well, he started rolling his eyes a bit and saying he couldn't believe that after 8 months and successfully losing weight I was still weighing lettuce and measuring out mustard etc.. He says to me, "Lettuce is not going to make you fat!" And I say to him, "But this is what worked for me, why should I change it now?"

He definitely thinks I'm obsessed. I think I'm dedicated to not regaining (which I have done SEVERAL TIMES in the past). If a little bit of obsession keeps me 70 pounds lighter, then I'll embrace it wholeheartedly.

You know, personally I don't think that weighing your lettuce, in itself, contributes anything to your weight maintenance, either . But ... if doing everything the same way (weighing everything, not just the denser foods) is what keeps you on track, then it's what you need.

I would say my weight loss journey is both dedication and obsession. Often the obsession is so great that I wish I was still fat that way I didn't obsess over every piece of food I ingest or be tied to a scale. I constantly think about how many calories I eat and most night I have trouble falling asleep because I keep adding up my daily calorie intake.

I helps my frame of mind I guess. I feel more accountable. It becomes total habit. And it takes all of a second to do, so totally worth it for me!

This thread is perfect for sharing one of my all time favorite fitness quotes.

Alas, I am not yet a maintainer...

I agree that "obsession" is a word that's thrown around a lot... and in many different contexts, not just related to weightloss. I always hear people saying, "I'm obsessed with XYZ" and the like. I also agree that people misuse the word "obsession" when they mean "dedication" or "passion" for a particular thing, especially weight loss.

Although I think that most people who are actively committed to weight loss, no matter how dedicated, do not become obsessed with dieting or exercise, I think some people definitely do. I think that when your chosen activity begins to interfere with having a reasonably normal life, like if you refuse to attend somone's wedding because you fear you will go over your calories if you attend, or if you skip your child's play or something so you can workout for 5 hours, you may be obsessed. I think I've come across a few people in my day that I would consider possibly genuinely "obsessed" with dieting, but I think a lack of true dedication and commitment is a lot more common...

Such a thin line between dedication and obsession yes?

Doing what works (working out, counting calories, logging them, weighing all the food etc.) are all part of creating the behaviours to succeed at weight loss and maintenance. Same goes for creating the environment to suceed - not having junk food in the house or talking yourself out of the ice cream run.

Not engaging in normal everyday activities because you're afraid they'll interfere with your weight loss/maintenance to me seems like crossing that line. Not having anything in your fridge except lettuce seems to me to be crossing that line

Balance is key. All the elements have to be balanced for dedication. When one element becomes the sole focus of your life then obsession has taken over.

Dagmar

As I said earlier, I don't necessarily HATE the word obsessed to describe what I am/do, as I know I have not "crossed that line" into it overtaking my life. I DO believe I have found the balance. Dedicated is without a doubt much, much better word to describe how I am towards my weight, and the word that I use now. But, like I've said in many early posts of mine, before I came across the word dedicated, thanks to you folks here at 3FC, I actually found that being "obsessed" about it all, especially during my losing part of my journey, was an added bonus!

Because really, when I wasn't giving it my all, when it wasn't always on my mind, when I was lackadasical, it just didn't work.

Maybe I should just call it a "hobby" of mine.

I do like the hobby reference.

We could compare it to knitting. I knit almost every day. I talk to other knitters. I read knitting publications and websites. I shop for knitting supplies.

Susan, I really DO like the term "hobby" and think it's quite appropriate, as an aside to the deep dedication that I have.

Certain aspects of what "I do", is most definitely hobby-like. I love reading up on health and fitness. I thoroughly enjoy speaking to others about health/fitness/weight maintenance strategies/recipes - the whole kit and caboodle. I love finding and trying out new recipes and tweaking them to make them healthier and tastier. I love scouting out new stores and making new "finds". Which is of course on top of the daily exercise, planning and tracking of calories.

Brilliant way to look at it rockin robin,
Yes I have similar hobbies myself. I love that!

Ya know ... when I was feeding my family with three small children, I had to be ever mindful of what was going to be eaten next. Well planned shopping, cooking, prep ...

First I have to say that I agree with this - I think it's a good definition of where the line is for most people.

I think the issue for outsiders (those who haven't gone through this journey or who are watching us go through the journey) is that part of making a commitment to losing weight and maintaining that loss *is* changing your "normal every day activities".

What was normal and everyday a year ago is no longer normal and everyday for me today. Going out to lunch every single day is not normal any more. Especially going out to lunch at McDonalds or Burger King or Chick-fil-a. Going out to eat on Friday night with friends and ordering a huge fried appetizer, an enormous meal, having 3 or 4 drinks, and then splitting an enormous decadent dessert is no longer a regular thing. Sitting around the house on a Sunday afternoon eating chips and dip while we watch the ball game is not a regular thing any more. And going to the gym after work *is* a regular thing, so when someone suggests "let's go get a drink after work," I more than likely am going to say "no thanks" whereas before I'd have been the first one there.

So from the perspective of an outsider, my journey is causing me to "not engage in normal, everyday activities" and therefore means I'm obsessed.

"You never go out to lunch any more with us. You just eat salad at your desk. Don't you think you're becoming a little obsessed?"
"You never go out to happy hour with us any more. You just go to the gym every single day. Don't you think you're becoming a little obsessed?"
"Don't you think that ordering a salad every time we go out is a little obsessive? Why don't you live a little?"

From *my* perspective, I'm making changes to what *is* normal and everyday so that what I do on a normal day involves healthy choices and the splurges - dinners out, high fat lunches, and happy hour drinks/snacks - are the *exception* rather than the norm.

And that's where it's hard. Because unless your friends and family are on the same journey, you can appear obsessed because you're changing EVERYTHING that your relationships were based on.

.

Photochick, you've brought up a good point.

What we've done is create for ourselves a "new normal". This is all perfectly "normal" to us - now. Isn't that why we say we're not on a "diet"? That this is our new "lifestyle" - our "way of life".

And I can definitely see from an "outsiders" point of view where it would/could seem "obsessive". It's totally foreign to them - and scary. They simply can't fathom living this way. They don't realize what deep "dedication" and commitment this lifestyle requires.

I also believe they don't realize what absolute pleasure and joy it brings about - to be a healthy weight.

Perhaps the next time I get one of "those remarks" about my lifestyle, I'll lighten it up a bit and throw in somewhere that this is my "hobby".