I was having a hard time loosing 100lbs. I would do so awesome for like 4 days. I mean I was on point baby. Then that gigantic number would freak me out and I would do not good for like 4 days. So I was taking two steps forward and one back. I managed to lose a few pounds but not the progress I want o keep up.

So, I decided to lose 10lbs instead of 100lbs. And then do that 10 times. Not only does it sound waaaay better it is easier for me. I have passed my 4 day hump already and I am doing so well. I realy think I can keep this up. It's so much less pressure and it's a goal I can see to the end in less time. And I think having one huge goal far away was too much for me.

I know this is all mental because in the end i am loosing 100lbs over a long period of time. But it is the mental part that got me here and it is the mental part that will get me there. So I look forward to being 10lbs lighter again and again and again.

Tracy,
I totally understand! I tackled 5 pounds at a time. I just could not look at the big picture. It was too overwhelming. When I lost 25 pounds, 100 pounds suddenly seemed possible but I am still looking at losing 5 pounds. I have lost 5 pounds 8, almost 9, times.

Agreed completely. Instead of saying I want to lose 80, 90, 100 pounds it's much easier to look at it in 10% increments. I want to lose 10% of my body weight. I want to lose 10% of my body weight 4, 5 times. (I'll see as I get closer) It's so much easier to look at it currently as 24 pounds instead of 80-100.

Tracy, this is a really good attitude! It helped me a lot as well to break it down into smaller amounts. It's much more manageable.

Good job on getting past that four day mark; you are on your way!

I think many of us have done that and it does really help.
When I was 255 it was way too overwhelming to think of getting down to 155.
10 or 5 lbs. at a time is doable.

That's a great attitude!

Every pound adds up the same!

I'm the opposite, actually. I've failed diets time and again because I thought of them as "quick fixes", as short term goals attached to upcoming deadlines. And they all failed. But this time, I feel much better about it, and feel confidant in my abilities to follow through, because I'm viewing it as a years-long journey. This way, I'm not freaking out as much about the daily mistakes, instead focusing on overall improvement. It's weird, the way my mind works. 30 lbs lost? A hard to reach number. But 130? Just crazy enough to succeed.

But as I've heard said on here, whatever works for you, do that! Congrats on finding a better way to think about it.

TraceyElaine--I kind of did something similar..I first wanted to leave the obese category and then the overweight category. But really one pound less was what (is what) I am always after. Slow and steady wins the race! Great way to look at things!

I think the same thing you do. When I first started I had 226 lbs to lose!!!!!!! I refused to think in those terms. My first goal was to be closer to 300 than 400. Then to be closer to 300 than 350. Then to be under 300... my next goal is to be closer to 250 than 300... I play tricks on my mind all the time

You CAN lose those 10 lbs 10 times and YOU WILL!

10 x 10.....yes, that is very do-able! Great thinking.

I've divided my goal into 5 minigoals, each approximately 10% of my body weight at that point.

Right now I am sweating out the next one which is 199.

Minigoals are the way to go!

I take mine 5 pounds at a time....it just seemed so overwhelming when I first started and I was like *wow* I about 140 pounds to lose, ugh.

This is a good approach. I'm actually trying something similar with the gym I go to. Mini goals might work better than the great big monster goal.