I want to get the weight off and I'm very actively pursuing that, but... I have no thrill of reaching milestones. I read things here about people getting excited about certain jeans fitting, certain pounds lost, certain achievements - like lowest weight since high school, etc. And I think, "Oh, I remember that thrill."

That thrill isn't there and I probably won't reach the same low as I did before as I was aiming for perfection and ended up injured, frustrated, and then fell into a depression, came out for a bit, got down some pounds, and then bam a total, complete free fall into depression (with seasonal stuff thrown in).

I don't know if I will feel that thrill ever on this journey as there are no new milestones to be met!

I do take note of things. Like the shorts that I bought right before I started this journey where I had a HUGE muffin top are now loose-ish. I can gather in an inch at the waist with no muffin top (which you would expect with almost 30 pounds gone!). But these are my SUPER fat shorts. Shorts I had to buy at Goodwill because I literally had no clothes that would fit me any more!!!

There is no thrill in a second, third, fourth time when it's fairly close in succession to the previous BIG weight loss.

The good in that is that I keep trying until I figure it out. The bad is that I have to keep TRYING! (darn seasonal depression!!!)

And, I'm feeling "blah" ish... maybe it's about that time of the month which would stink as it will mean my monthly weight loss would be about to end for a two or more week longer stall out until the next WHOOSH (if I'm good.).

I can relate. The numbers just aren't doing it for me anymore. I still get a little thrill when I see the scale move down a bit but it's very short lived.

For me the thrill is in the mirror, kinda. Like how you mentioned the muffin top decreasing, I can see certain areas deflating and that pleases me. But again, very short lived.

I've been taking a picture of myself every time I reach a tens (200,190,180, etc.). So far I have one picture because I only thought about it when I reach 200. But I think compiling all the pictures side by side will help me with perspective. And it gives me small goals to look forward to.

Sorry, I'm the one who just posted the high-school weight thing . I don't want to be triggering to negative feelings, I really am sorry that these situations can sometimes bring you down. I think that's completely understandable and happens to more of us than we admit. Sometimes peoples goals are inspiring, sometimes they almost seem to laugh in our faces.

I can be honest though, in the beginning, as excited as I was on the inside, I wasn't seeing it on the outside until really recently. Some days I had to choose to be excited by the weight loss, cause even after twenty pounds, I still had days where I felt more fat then I did in the beginning. I think these things can happen in seasons. I say don't add the pressure to yourself of having to be "excited" or thrilled. You don't feel it right now, but you very well might later.

Maybe refocus on goals if these milestones seem old. You have a kick-butt blog I like reading Seriously, you are just so funny and down to earth and realistic and not preachy. I hope that gives you a thrill to write, maybe congratulate yourself more on being diligent to it! Instead of looking at what clothes you fit, maybe pat yourself on the back for the moments that you beat that seasonal depression, or the days you conquer that more. Keep up the awesome work! You definitely know more and are doing better than any time before Maybe not on the scale all the time, but you're doing it through bigger obstacles and still succeeding.

That would suck, to not be excited about reaching the same milestones more than once.......
I think it has more to do with depression though. I was in a really bad one a few months ago. Now I'm the opposite, creative ideas are flowing, and every flower is beautiful... music I've heard a million times before sounds fresh and exciting. I should consider cyclothymia as an illness because it's getting a bit strange.

But yeah, it's a state of mind. Hope you feel better soon!

Oh please don't let me take away from your HUGE achievement and proud feeling. I felt that same way and posted similar things and it IS important.

I posted about being able to fit in my husband's jeans. About being the lowest ever since HS. I'm happy for ALLLLL of you. Just that it's a different feeling when you do that when it's been a long time since that happened (10 years ago, versus 2 years ago - which was then followed by a rapid weight gain!)

It's not triggering me at all! I'm happy for you (and everyone else reaching these marvelous milestones). I just don't have any milestone (besides getting under 200) that will thrill me. And getting under two hundred will be a sigh of relief - not a thrill, I don't think.

I can kind of relate....look at my siggy...

I was just thinking early when I posted here, that I feel like such an outsider because sometimes I feel like so many are on their first weight loss journey, I'm over here doing it again (4th time)...

It doesn't feel exciting, just like a chore I have to get done to be "me" again. I've only ever been at those high weights after a pregnancy, and I don't feel like I'm reaching milestones of a new me (excited) but like I'm escaping from a fat figure that was never me...It feels more like a sigh of relief with those weight loss things (fitting into smaller pant etc) than it does like a celebration...

I don't know if this is any help but...

I have personally found some extra motivation from changing units. I always used to think about my weight in kilograms (as that's what we use in my neck of woods), but after joining this forum, I sorta slipped into using lbs. Luckily my scale has a button for that. So now all the numbers are new, and I rarely think about the kilograms as they would only be depressing.

I know it sounds silly, but for me that actually works!

I actually did a similar thing with translating it to stones. I was watching a lot of Supersize vs Super Skinny at the time (it really helped me deal with my all-or-nothing thinking and extremes) and they use stones. It changed my mindset and every 14 pounds or so you drop another stone.

That is true, but you know, I'm kind of enjoying myself more this time around. I may not get excited about milestones now, but I also don't feel pressured by them. I'm more relaxed, not in a rush, and I really am more focused on healthy eating and exercise than on numbers. And the bonus is I think I'm more mentally prepared for maintenance now than ever before, when there will be no more "exciting" milestones, no more surprised looks at the change in my appearance, and no more grand compliments on how much weight I've lost. I rather like this new focus on healthy eating and healthy living. I think it's interesting and kind of comfortable. Wow, I'm getting old, lolol!

WOW! Excellent post and exactly the way I feel this time around.