[Abigail Louise]

No matter how serious i am about losing weight i find after maybe 3/4 weeks into it i get complacent. I'm currently on weightwatchers and lost around 1 stone and to be honest i cant see a change at all. I feel like im slipping back into bad habbits (i.e i had a pizza hut, with desert and a mc ds this week.. ) any tips to stay focuses Much needed

[3CatsMeow]

Maybe try and work treats into your diet so you don't feel like you're depriving yourself. I am like you, I lose motivation quickly and give up, but I was so disappointed with myself the last time I gave up and put weight back on, whenever I feel like it now I think back to then and that helps. Try to stay away from the 'all or nothing' mentality, remember everyone eats unhealthy stuff sometimes, but don't let one meal turn into full blown weekly binge. And when you go to pizza hut or anywhere, maybe try and make a conscious decision to make it one of the healthier options. Being aware of what you are eating is very useful.

[LozzCowell]

I agree with working those treats into your plan. I looove pasta and chocolate, so because pasta is good in moderation, I treat myself to a freddo once a week if I've been good.

In terms of motivation... thats a toughie. See, I've never been a healthy weight. So my motivation is to get healthy and give myself the chance to see the 'real' me. The one thing that's keeping me going at the moment is the fact my waist has already shrunk... I'm only 5lbs down. I just to keep noticing these little changes. Make a list, of why you're doing this and put on the fridge, mirror... Where ever you're going to see if everyday. That way its a constant reminder.

Anyway, good luck hun. Kelp us posted and get involved in other posts & forums. This place is great for meeting new people and sharing the good and the bad.

[Brid]

I have trouble seeing changes too, and that makes it hard to stay motivated - why bother if it doesn't seem to be making any difference? One thing that's helped with that is getting the boyfriend to take photos occasionally. He took a picture of the front, back, and side views when I was about 245lbs, and again at around 225lbs. When I look at my own body it looks the same as it did at 255, the same as it did years ago at 180, the same as always. But when I looked at the photos, by 'eck my gut's shrunk! Could you perhaps try something like this to help you stay motivated?

[Pentangle]

I'm the same, I hate the first few weeks. I am very good week one - week 2 I tell myself I dont have to be so good as I did well week one, by week 3 I might have given up altogether,a nd so the cycle starts of yo yoing which is really bad for the body.

If you stick with it and get into months 2 and 3 it's a different kettle of fish, cos your stomach has shrunk, the hunger pangs go, you're seeing results and getting compliments - it's worth it when you think the alternitive is to just get bigger.

[mountain walker]

What wise words Pentangle! Instead of thinking "good" and "bad" foods think "healthy" or "not so healthy" it's kind of the all or nothing thing that gets us into the yo yo yo yo yo yo yo diet/binge cycle in the first place!I am at the end of week 5 now and have got over the hump you so well describe abigail! But there are days when the desire to eat is painful. Not hunger that's different, but compulsion and habit and anger at myself for becoming so big. That's why forums like this help....we are all experiencing the same thing. Hang in there my lovely.