Hi-I'm a newbie and thought it was about time I joined a support group of some kind, so here I am.

I am a member of a gym and have done swimming lessons and treadmill/x-trainer work. I have been inspired by the forum to take classes so will be embarking on my first spinning class tomorrow, which I am really nervous about.

I've been reading the posts here and think this is the kick up the bum I Need! I started losing weight last April and since then I have lost 32 lbs and have around another 31 to go. I am amazed to have stuck with it as long as I have but am beginning to get a bit impatient and wondered if you had any tips for keeping motivated and the momentum going. All will be greatly appreciated!

Enjoy spinning, I have a friend who absolutely loves it.

And well done for getting half way there, you're over the worst of it now! I found that once I got past that stage it got far easier because I actually knew what I was doing and why I was doing it. I also found it far easier to exercise without the first half of the excess weight!

I find setting non scale goals very useful. For me it's running races, so I know that I have to train for them whether I lose weight in the process or not (I do). Even if you've never run before, something like Race for Life which is a 5k run/walk type event can be a good way to keep yourself motivated.

Well done for getting to the halfway point - I'm just past the same point myself, and I'm really feeling the benefit of it now .

I understand your impatience, but from what I gather from the folks that have got to goal already, maintenance isn't much different from the weight-loss phase. It's just more of the same thing, but without the thrill of seeing the scales drop . So I'd carry on enjoying the journey, and wouldn't be in any rush to get to the finish line if I were you !

I figure the longer it takes me to get to goal, the more thoroughly I'll have learned the lifetime lessons that will keep me there, so I'm trying to curb my impatience and just have fun along the way.

All the best, Janey

I read somewhere that the slower you lose, the less likely it is you're losing muscle mass and the more likely you're losing fat. So that's worth remembering when you feel a bit down! Slow and steady wins the race... It's also true that we're all here for the long haul - not just losing but maintaining for good, so rather than think of it as 'a diet', I try to think of it as simply starting new good habits so I can live the rest of my entire life this way. Somehow that makes it easier!

I also set myself very short-term goals - and reward myself royally with a non food treat when I get there. So I buy myself some clothes or jewellery or make-up or something really selfish that I want. Keep rewarding yourself! When I hit my final goal I'm treating myself to a new loom I've wanted for years - nothing too big or fancy but with 5 kids, as a bit of a textile artist, I rarely get to spend on myself!

Oh and have fun! Ring the changes trying new forms of exercise, adding new things to what you eat so you don't get bored.

PhatP x

WTG Ladies, YP I did'nt realise you were so close to losing 100lbs!!! thats awesome congratulations!

The theme that's running here is that most of us are reasonably slow losers, none of this Celebrity Fat Club nonsense of losing 5lbs every week.

I'm like YP in that my goals now are fitness ones, like training for my first ever running event in June. Another thing was I really wanted to learn fitball, and joined a class. I am very unco-ordinated and I thought I had some severe balance issues (due to a medical condition I have) But have discovered that whilst my coordination is an issue, I have very good balance and core stability. I was more excited by that than losing the weight!

Enjoy the journey, and enjoy every little change in your body. It's ok to look in the mirror for long periods of time to check out what's changed recently. I had ignored my body for so long, it's kinda nice to get to know it again.

Me too!

I'm losing ever so slowly now (about 3lbs since last year! ) but like Kykaree and YP I'm concentrating on my kickboxing and running and weights. Oh and the trousers - the "pantsometer" is far more accurate than the scales!