Hi everyone,
I am a little depressed at the moment because unfortunately, after 3 months on program with great success(40pounds down), I lost motivation and went off plan. For the past 3 weeks I have been allowing myself to eat whatever I want without any thought of my initial goals of looking better, feeling better. Although I have maintained my weight I feel I have lost my motivation and can't seem to get back on track eventhough the thought of gaining the weight back that I have lost scares me. Any ideas for sparking that lost motivation?
Thanks,
Rachel in Aust.

Whaddya mean, "Completely Failed"? I'd say you're a complete success (come on, 40 lbs??! How can that not be success???), who has just happened to hit the same wall we all do at one time or another! So give yourself a cuff upside the head, and get back on track with your next meal. Not "tomorrow", or "next Monday", but YOUR NEXT MEAL.
And remember the motivating words of Chumbawumba (as recently mentioned on this msg board by Misspurdue): "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down"...
Now, GET TO IT.

Thanks Catgirl, that really helped me put things in perspective. I am proud of my loss, just as all of us should be that are on the program. I love your idea of getting back on track NOW instead of leaving it to tomorrow. I am afraid to say I am one of those people that like to start again monday mornings - fresh start and all!
I am on program again from this minute on and have faith that I can do this, particularly when I see others like yourself succeeding,
thanks again,
Rachel
[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: Vibrant1 ]

I agree 100%. Too many times, we don't take full responsibility for our losses. We often start over each week, hoping that this week our body will just tally up all our efforts and tell us how well we did on the scale. It just doesn't work that way.
You've come to a great point - a huge loss that really shocked your body (have you lifted 40lbs. recently? It's a lot!) and emotionally, you might not have been ready for that huge change. It happens to us all, whether it's one snack or 3 weeks or longer.
You've realized what's happened and are even more ready than before - that's a great time to take advantage and learn from what happened and know how much stronger you are for continuing. Congratulations! You should be so proud of yourself!
We are the harshest critics around - it's amazing when I listened to myself just what I was saying to myself. It's amazing that I even got out of bed! So keep up the great work and do it for yourself. Perfection just isn't possible - and isn't satisfying. Your best effort is all you can ask and will give you a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Congrats and good luck!
MD

Oh wow! You have got to be proud of yourself (40 lbs) - phew, 18 kilos???! Glad to see that you're back on track - with a little help from your friends. We do tend to berate ourselves far too much for the niggly little things - but look at the big picture - and celebrate your achievements to date. You can do it - we all can!
This morning on my walk with my friend we decided that since we've been strutting our stuff - no weight has gone off (we weigh in once per week) - and so, this a.m. we've motivated ourselves and are now power walking up the hills and pushing ourselves just a little bit more. We got a little too happy with our comfort levels - I feel more exhilarated than ever now that we have upped the tempo. Hopefully, we'll both see results in a week or so if we keep this up - and we will keep it up coz I for one am hooked.
So, to me you have not COMPLETELY FAILED you are someone I can look up to and commend on your effort so far. Truly - well done and keep going.
I began at 220lbs - and am now at 191lbs - I am happy with this result so far and at times have hit the lows thinking I can't do this - but, I can - keeping mentally positive can get you there. I just look at where I was initially (220 lbs - phew)! My jeans are fitting soooo much better - in fact, I'm about to go try on some smaller ones. I still have a way to go My weight should be around 165 lbs so I have about 26 lbs to go. HEY - NOT A PROB! Day by day - be happy with the little achievements.
Cheers

Hi there, I am in a similar position, lost 40lbs, 23 to go but am finding it really hard to get motivated again. Lost the 40lbs for my wedding in April, then went on honeymoon for 2 weeks and can't seem to get back in to it to finish off the job I started in mid January.
Hope you can pick yourself up and carry on.
Cheers
Ray

Ray -- Sounds like you just need to take time for yourself - go over what you feel about yourself and what you'd really love to do. I've taken up reading a lot more health magazines and books, which really helps to keep me on focus.
So take 15 minutes or so, curl up in a favorite chair or go walking in a favorite local park and start thinking about yourself. What's happening and what you're feeling. It can really help you to focus on what you want and how to get there.
And DEFINITELY take the time to lift 40lbs. of weight or potting soil or anything that weighs 40lbs. Lift it - feel how heavy it is and how well you did. You can lose weight - and you have made huge progress. Congrats and good luck! Stay close here and there's lots of support and advice; you're not alone! Good luck!
MD

Hi Ray,
This week a close friend actually asked me to be her Bridesmaid next April. I have to admit that it has been a big incentive to get back on track. I really want to feel good about my self, my appearance, for once in my life and am going to use the wedding as an incentive. However, I think that if I am going to keep this weight off FOREVER I know I need to look beyond this day. I hope you are feeling motivated again - I bet you looked fantastic at your wedding and hope that you will carry the success on FOREVER. Congrats on your weightloss, it isn't an easy thing to lose weight, but it sure is worth it!
Rachel in Aust

Hi Rachel
Lost 1.5kgs this week so that is good.
April will come around pretty quick. I started in Jan this year as I got married on 13th April so had been on it for about 12 weeks and boy did that time fly.
Thanks all for the support. 9kgs to goal weight now. I'm only 2 kgs from my original goal (90kgs) but I have decided to go down to 83kgs (13 stone) and I'll be thrilled at that.
Bye for now
Ray

Hi Ray,
You must be feeling great now that you are so close to your goal weight! Good luck with it. I got back on track and lost 2kg this week which brings me to a total of 17.3kg, and am feeling alot more focused on achieving my goal weight. As much as I think that April is so far away I agree with you that the time will fly, but am content in the knowledge that I will do it. Your weightloss is inspiring, keep up the great work,
Rachel

Hi Vibrant1 - just saw your post. What are you NUTS? You have not failed even slightly yet alone completely!
I've been looking for, and cannot find, an AWESOME post where many people have offered their long lists of reasons why they are working so hard to lose weight. I think of it often, and mentally add little items to my own (like being able to buy a bra that has only one or two hooks!).
Maybe someone else will remember where that post is, but make yourself a list -- looking good in the bridesmaid dress will be great, but I'm sure that there sooo many other reasons you have that just reminding yourself should prove to be the occasional "fire under your pants" that we all need.