Hello, I'm not new to 3FC. I have been on a while and usually do not post much, but love the wonderful support I get from other peoples stories struggling along like myself. There is a great bunch of strong individuals on here and it is great. Since I have 20 pounds left and have been having some "issues" it was suggested featherweights would be a good group to join in on, I hope you don't mind?
My question is, what do you do when you are feeling kind of down, or thinking of backtracking a bit? What kind of things do you do to make yourself feel a bit better, boost your self confidence and pull up your granny panties and get on with it?
This is what I am trying desperately to overcome, seems like the closer to goal I get the more I want to give up and eat. I thought maybe a treat for myself would help, like a new outfit or something "skinny" feeling. LOL
What are some good ideas?

Hi there...

For me, it seems the closer I get to goal the harder it is. I think it's maybe because I feel SO much better about my size than I used to. Sometimes I think this is "good enough". But really, I want to achieve my goal, so I keep trying to get there. It's just slower now, less obvious results, and I work for each and every pound. I'm trying to tell myself to just keep on doing what I'm doing and I'll eventually get there.

I do treat myself with clothes probably more than I should. LOL. But hey, I've gotten smaller and I need new stuff! It's crazy how good it feels to go in any store, and be able to fit nicely into some pants. That was not always the case for me!!!!

Good luck to you, and welcome to Featherweights!

Definitely don't "backtrack a little!" For me, that always means give up completely and eat everything. It starts slowly, but there's no denying the cravings once I've started giving in here and there. I've also used food as a reward in the past. "I've been so good for 4 days, I can have some Cheetos." Fast forward to me sad and miserable and back to where I started (or heavier).

I think it is so brave of people when they realize something they don't like about themselves and work to change that. First, you did that by deciding to lose weight and get healthy! Now you're doing it again, by admitting your self-confidence may not be where you want it at the moment, and you're asking for help. Awesome

You could give up a little, and treat yourself, or revert back to some old lifestyle habits, but I think you already know that that's not what you want to do

I love the idea of rewarding yourself. Mani-pedi, some great new jeans, a pair of sexy boots (never grow out of those!!)... something that signifies to yourself that you've committed to this lifestyle change, and though it may be rough at times!

And you know the chicks have got your back.

I love non-food rewards ... Sometimes when I can't afford clothes, I just go to a store an try on the clothes, a size smaller of course, just for the feel good factor... I usually buy something though

sometimes i feel the same, just because i have had a few good days in a row i can pig out for a day or two. so far i haven't done that once this year, fingers crossed that i don't ever do it again!

Rewards help, i have a goal of 119 by valentines day, i plan to buy some new underwear if i make this goal. at 115 i am going to buy some new jeans. But if you don't have extra money, i find that it rewarding to pull out that dress-you-never-wear-because-it's-too-small from the back of your closet and see that it fits! I also have tons of things i can only wear when i am thinner to prance around in (like this great pencil skirt and silk blouse)

I'm the same as Ilene - clothes will usually do it for me. However, I have exactly the same overall problem and I have let myself slide back every single time. I yo-yo between 145-155 regularly. The current 160+ is unusual for me. Below 145 is also unusual for me although I have been there a fair few times. The reason it's unusual is it seems the second I get to 140-141 (late 130s if I've blinked and not realised I've lost that much) I break out the biscuits. I have absolutely no idea why I do this but I haven't been below 135 ( I don't think) in over a decade because of this habit. Good luck to you!

I love shopping for motivation--also experimenting with makeup and hair. Sometimes weight related shows motivate me--either ones about super morbidly obese or ones extremely health focused.

I am fortunate to live in a country where the massages are amazing. I go get a 60-90 minute massage every two weeks. Work is so stressful it helps to take a non-food break and just relax. It is my substitute for comfort food.

I love to try on clothes on smaller sizes too! Shopping is the best. But more often I find myself buying new songs for my ipod for workouts or just taking a hot bubble bath or giving myself a pedicure.

I would also love to shop for some new clothes; clothes that don't have to camouflage! But having so many kids (5), the money is not always available for that. I really have a closet full of clothes that I like but just can't fit into. It will be rewarding to be able to fit in them again and therefore have a larger selection to choose from!

The last few pounds are definitely the hardest! I LOVE trying clothes that used to show tummy fat but now don't (as much) -- they're so motivating. Old dresses and teeny-tiny skirts from high school. Ugh, these darned last few pounds... I'm so ready to be rid of them...

I lost 10 lbs so I put some money into some Palmer's skin therapy oil. I don't know if it works really well, but I thought it might help my stretch marks and it is a little on the expensive side. (10 bucks @ target). I figure clothes are TOO expensive when they might not fit pretty soon (I hope). & other things I will just figure out a good excuse to buy them anyway.