[natenkayliesmom]

Help!! I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm slowly losing weight. Which, I know, is a good thing. At least I'm losing which makes me healthier than I was at this point a month ago. I've also lost an additional 25 lbs since this time last year. And I'm losing slowly which means I'll keep it off longer. BUT, regardless of knowing these facts & even checking out the success stories & having a sister that lost 85 lbs, I cannot seem to stay motivated to lose it for myself. I dunno what to do. I've tried to read the South Beach diet book to get motivated. But it didn't work. Going to WW meetings didn't work. I can't help being discouraged. Is this normal?

[Burgie]

Maybe you are not really into losing weight...have you considered that? My view is that weight loss is not a competition with others. Kudos to your sister losing weight...but that is her, not you. So stop comparing yourself to her or anyone else that has lost weight.

Sounds like you have a good mind set in that you are not as heavy as you were last year. Build upon that thinking. So what if you lose slowly...at least you are losing. One pound a week is 50+ a year...not too shabby.

I would suggest making a honest list of why you want to lose weight. How important is it really to you? What excuses are you willing to let go of and what corners are you going to stop cutting? It is hard work...and work only you can do.

[alphabetsoup]

It's tough isn't it? ((((HUGS)))) I know for me - this time it has really helped me to get out of the mindset of trying to lose weight FAST. That was always my downfall before - I would sit around and think how much thinner I'd be in a month/2 months...how I'd lose 30 pounds in 3 months, etc. Then, if I only lost 1 or 2 pounds a week, I'd be discouraged and give up and say to myself, "I'll never be able to do it..." Now, I'm really trying to look at it as even a pound a week - heck, even if I maintain a couple of weeks - it's still on the right path and just like the other poster said, 1 pound a week is 50 pounds less next year! That's HUGE!

I KNOW it's really hard - I'm so there with you, trying to change years of bad habits. I'm working to not deny myself anything - but just to plan better for it when I want it. If I know we are having fast food for dinner, I eat light the whole day and then I really do choose what I WANT at dinner BUT watch my portion sizes - a small fry is more than enough as is a small coke. Enough to satisfy me.

I tend to eat when I'm upset or when I've had a bad day and I know that about myself now so I really try to anticipate it...if you can figure out WHY you eat, that might help you. Instead of eating - maybe find something else to "reward" yourself with. Also, for me, I'm a late night snacker - one thing that has helped me is eating sunflower seeds at night - so I still feel like I'm eating, they take a long time and it keeps my hands busy. Sometimes I'll suck on hard sugar free candy too (like Lifesavers).

Anyhow, there isn't any magic answer, it's only something you can do for yourself...but hang in there - you CAN do this and we are here to support you.

[Jenaya]

I also understand where you are at. It is a tough journey and it can be very discouraging at times. Your strengths are that you are thinking about it, you have had some success and you know you can do it!! There is no such thing as failure, just slow successes. Each slide building upon the next success. So, keep going. We are all in this together.

[Sea]

Fill a backpack with 25 lbs of books and carry it on your back all day for one day. See if you can't tell the difference it makes.