I'm a very visual person. Weight charts definitely help me when I'm feeling discouraged at the slow pace of weight loss (I've been stuck at 278/277 for almost a month now *grumbles*). I want to lose it all, and I want to lose it all NOW. *petulant whine*

But that's not realistic, and the more sensible part of me realizes that.

The main visual that helps me, though, is a string of paper clips that I have hanging on the cloth-covered cubicle wall above my computer at work. One paper clip for every pound I've lost, with a colored clip at the five pound marks. It loops up every 20 clips. I have hooks waiting for the next loop already.

At a glance, any time I'm at work and feeling discouraged, I can look up and see it. You know what it tells me?

• My plan IS working. I have lost weight.
• My plan IS working. I am healthier than I was before.
• My plan IS working. I am more energetic and flexible than I was before.
• My plan IS working. Just keep going, and soon I'll have another clip to add to the chain.
• My plan IS working. One pound a week is more than 50 in a year.
• My plan IS working. I'm learning healthy habits and how to make good choices about portions.
• MY PLAN **IS** WORKING!!!

Some days, when nothing else seems to help me feel encouraged, and I can tell I'm slipping into the negative-thinking-zone that will lead to "I can't succeed so I might as well eat everything in sight," looking at my precious paper clip chain is the only thing that keeps me on-plan. Or gets me back on-plan after falling off the wagon.

Find a visual that works for you. 12 pounds is NOTHING to sneeze at. That's an amazing success. Don't let all-or-nothing thinking negate your triumph.

Hey everyone. Thank you so much for helping me to feel better. I think it was a BAD day yesterday because I have some other things going on as well and I chose to feel bad about my weight on top of everything else. (The other things are a huge fight with the guy I have been seeing for almost three years and I think we're NOT going to talk anymore... Hopefully we will, I love him a lot. And, I am waiting to hear if I get a job from temp to perm *that's a whole big story* ... AND, still stressed about my poor Gram... And, generally wanting to grow up faster than time allows... BLAH LIFE! J/K I love life but grrrr sometimes!) Anyway, I just need to be more patient with EVERYTHING.

As far as the weekly weight chart... Is it a general consensus that it IS indeed a good idea? I've been trying not to weigh in more than twice a month because I am afraid to see it weekly...lol I think the paper clip idea is superb. I need to do something like that for pounds. I do that with my calendar for each day I exercise (a foil star per day) and am trying to put aside $2 a day up to $10 a week in a weight loss jar so that when I buy my 10 pounds gone rewards (also doing it for every 25 and 50 pounds) I have money saved up...

Finally, I am proud to say that even though I was VERY depressed yesterday and bought a pint of Godiva... I didn't eat any! I think my emotional eating problem is gone because I don't shove my face when I am sad or mad or whatever anymore! YAY me!!

Okay, thanks again everyone!!!

such great tips already, I have some of the same experiences as jawsmom, slow loss then all at one 4 lbs.

my bf tells me all the time, just keep going, you're doing the right thing! (and he tells me that because many times I've suffered over feeling like I'm not losing fast enough; not doing enough, etc.) I think that with my needing to lose 150 lbs the way I did when I started (got it down to about 90 now!), I have needed to learn how to keep those blinders on, keep focused, and just keep going.

For me it's not just a weight loss effort, but learning new habits and new ways of thinking; discovering and developing exercise and movement. It's a process that has taken and will take time.

I keep a journal with weight loss charts, inches lost, exercise habits, and any other little bits of info and inspiration that I need. It really does give me a good picture of what's going on with my body over time, how much I've done. it really inspires me to keep going.

Sarah, I am sure there are as many opinions about how often to weigh as their are people. I think big deciding factor as to how often we should weigh ourselves is how well we can handle fluctuations in our weight. If you find them too discouraging I'd stick to weighing less frequently.

Initially, I weighed once a week and that was fine for a while. As the scale slowed down, though, I started to get frustrated and found myself getting on the darn scale 4 or 5 times a day. I could tell that I was becoming a slave to it. And, since my goal is good health, a size (not weight), and shape that I like that was a really bad thing. It was about then that I came across a post somewhere else on the board about weighing once daily for a while and tracking the changes so that you could identify any pattern your body follows. For me, this was extremely helpful. I still weigh weekly for the sake of keeping my chart going but, honestly, I really I don't have any reaction to the scale anymore. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE watching those numbers go down. But, my charts have proven to me that the scale truly is one of the least accurate measures of my success - especially my short term success. At this point weighing once a week or once every two weeks is plenty to know if my plan is still working or if it is time to start tweaking it again. I'll probably start weighing daily again once I reach my goal but I've got a while before that is an issue!

I tracked my weight loss on charts too. Both a weekly and a monthly, and I've got to say, it was a fabulous motivator! By the end they were huge! Nothing puts it in perspective like seeing this long, downward trend of unwanted pounds disappearing forever. In fact, I've still got my charts and even pull them out now and then as a reminder. I also kept a few of the clothes I wore at my largest; again just as a reminder of where I came from.

Good for you on the Godiva! Now, if it can find its way from the freezer to the trashcan, (still full, mind you!) then even better! Okay, one or two bites won't hurt, but then I say chunk it!! No sense in keeping that kind of temptation around when you're in a vulnerable frame of mind, right?

I'm glad you're feeling better sweetie, you're doing great!

Beverly

I'm glad that today is a better day! You got tons of good advice - sounds like you just had an off day. (((HUGS)))