Nothing. Not in the way, we usually mean it. All my dieting life (which has been since kindergarten, so 40 years), I looked forward to all the great and wonderful things I thought I'd be able to do at my goal weight, but by doing so I set myself up for failure, because I somehow thought all these magically wonderful things would be handed to me at my goal weight, and I saw all these wonderful things as only due me if and when I lost all the weight. I didn't really see (or didn't count) the benefits that happened along the way, I only saw the end as being worth anything (there were no prizes for halfway there or even 99.9% there in my book), and when weight loss slowed and I felt that I might not be able to reach my goal, it felt like all my hard work had been for nothing. And since I didn't value the benefits I'd made along the way, I never felt any reason to fight to keep them. If I saw my goal weight as unacheiveable, there was no reason to fight to maintain what I had accomplished, instead since none of it counted, I felt there was no point. If I was going to be fat anyway (and fat meant anything short of my goal, even a few lbs short) I might as well get to eat whatever I wanted, so I was always either losing or gaining, never maintaining.
So, this time I havent set any "when I get to goal" prizes for myself. I am looking forward to many things, but they're not goal weight related. I'm going to do them as soon as I am able to (whether that's 5 lbs from now or 150).
When I started, I was looking forward to getting off the cpap machine for sleep apnea (which I was able to do after losing only about 35 lbs).
I looked forward to taking a normal shower (I had to use a shower chair and couldn't even wash my hair with shampoo and conditioner. I had to use a combination because I didn't have the strength for an extra rinse, repeat).
I looked forward to not needing a motorized cart for shopping in large stores.
I got both of those back about two years ago.
I'm looking forward to getting off as many medications as possible (I'm already off 5 medications that I was on, and I'm on less pain medication).
I'm looking forward to walking dogs at the humane society (I'm planning on starting soon). I'll start with once a week, and will look forward to walking longer and more often.
I'm looking forward to many things, but I have them scheduled for "as soon as possible" not "when I get to goal."
Looking foward to acheivements "along the way" really has helped me stay motivated. I never have those "I'll never make it to goal, so what's the use" moments. When I start to think that way, I remind myself of all the accomplishments I've made and don't want to give up. Sometimes I feel like I can't lose another pound, but I always feel confident that I can keep off what I've already lost. In the past that wasn't true, I always felt that only the finish line counted for anything.
Wow, I love that ... Celebrating your accomplishments along the way.
As for me, I'm almost at goal so I'm starting to enjoy the things I looked forward to... Being able to go clothes shopping and feel that I actually look GOOD in an outfit, instead of frumpy. I also hated looking at pictures of myself and despising most of them because of a double chin, fat arm, belly roll... etc. I'm also soooo excited to meet my husband at the pier in 3 weeks after a 6 month deployment and surprising him with my weight loss. He's always been so supportive of me and never pressured me or even suggested that I lose weight (even though he's rail thin) so I can't wait to show up as thin as I was when we began dating 8 years ago (when I was 19).
Being able to buy regluar clothes. Fat clothes = too much money! Oh and tall boots...omg. I want tall boots...lmao.
I have a list of TV/Movie/Geek shirts a mile long I plan to buy too.
Also I would love (geek alert) to so some cosplay without looking hella bad.
I want to take up running. I've done it in the past, but drive-by mockrey made me rage/get too embarassed to keep doing it outdoors.
I look forward to buying new clothes; I already have them picked out in my mind.
I have a LOT to lose, so I'll need new clothes along the way. I've found some very cute outfits at even cuter pricing. If they're still in stock at the end of July, I'm buying several outfits. It doesn't matter if they're not a perfect fit when I shrink into that size--I have a sewing machine, know how to use it, and I have no problems altering it to be flattering.
Well, I have lost a decent amount of weight so far but there are still things I look forward to doing once I reach goal...
....I look forward to not having to approve all pictures taken of me. Before they go out into the world, I have to inspect them first to make sure they are somewhat acceptable.
....I look forward to not thinking, "What are they thinking?"
....I look forward to believing I can be more selective with the men I choose to date. That I'll be allowed to not settle.
I look forward to not feeling like I'm "hiding myself" from the world because I hate the way I look. I want to feel the like the me on the outside looks like the me on the inside again.
I want to weigh less than my husband, even if it is just by 1 pound.
I want to weigh less then each of the ex-boyfriend's who dumped me on account of my weight and then send them a photo of me with "Eat Your Heart Out" written on the back of it. I also want to send a copy of that to my ex-husband who complained about *my* looks sometimes.....mostly when he was drinking.
I'm also looking forward to hearing those skinny girls in my office I'd kill to look like talk about how "fat" they feel or how awful they feel when they don't go to the gym and not think they are secretly judging me. I'm looking forward to not being embarrassed when people discuss weight and health in spaces that aren't safe and supportive like 3FC.
Looking forward to being able to go shopping with friends and be able to actually buy something in the same stores other that shoes or perfume LOL.
Mostly though, I look forward to hiking with my daughter and not having to stop fifty million times for air like now. I want my kid to be proud of her mom and I want to be a good role model.
I can't wait to be able to go to the beach and feel like I deserve to be there, and be there in a bathing suit instead of capris and a tank top! I live near the beach and the most I do is go walking on the boardwalk.
I'm excited about never having to wear granny panties again!
i want to not cry when i try pants on. i want to be able to play with my almost 3 yr old and not get tired after 5 mins. i want to be phoenix from xmen. i want to wear cute skirts and not worry if someone is laughing at my butt and legs. i want to wear cute heels again. i want to look down and see my crotch HAHA. i want to feel sexy while lying naked next to my 150 lbs hubby. i want to feel confident and curvy in a size 9 next to my size zero friends who are sisters.
