New with 100+ to Lose

How do stay focused when the road seems soooooo long? I tried Atkins WOE last year at this time and had great success. I lost 20lbs in only a month. I was planning for my wedding at the time so I soon lost focus. Well, i'm back again and even more determined this time. I know your supposed to set small goals for yourself . . . but I can't stop thinking of what I want to lose OVERALL.

Does anyone have any helpful hints???

Thanks a bunch-
Angelz

[gilley79]

be sure to measure beacuse i didnt at first and i know when that scale stoped moveing that measurements would have kept droping...

DRINK TONS OF WATER
(someone always posts that)
post on here alot..hrmm
it doesnt always hurt to think of future but dont let it discourage you either!

[Rob]

If you're thinkingh of low carb as a way of life then you won't have to focus on the future. This is the way you eat now and this is the way you will always eat. I started with 130 pounds to lose and now have 49 to go a little over a year later. I just took it a week and a month at a time and here I am 80+ pounds thinner. You can do it!!

[Knowles' Darlin]

This was my major question when I realized I deserved a healthier me...and seeing the true # of what my body really needed to be without.

Overwhelmed wasn't the word...but I made the choice for it not to be a # I will ever see again. How do I keep motivated?

...celebrate every pound lost, nothing huge, but I will claim every stick of butter gone
...set small goals which are reasonable and attainable
...reward those goals (I am building an Italian charm bracelet with charms significant of the dates I have selected for my goals)
...don't compare yourself to others who may lose faster or have less to lose
...pay attention to the emotional obstacles/changes
...make it a way of life, not a way of eating...you'll soon find you don't want the things you used to want
...get reacquianted with yourself in every way

[gavkins]

Hi!!!
Welcome
Drink your water, eat your veggies, work out at least 3 times a week and you are going to feel great and to LOOK great

Good luck

Gavkins

[reneed70]

I have a long road ahead of me too. We can all do it together.
Welcome!
Renee

[kamren]

When I started I wanted to lose 200 pounds....that number was just too scary....so I started with a "mini goal" of 20 pounds...then another 20. Then to get to 350...My most recent is to get into the teens...(319) Since I am only 1 pound from that, I know my next will be to get to single digits...and then...in the 200's

Mini goals are so much easier to meet....you get the reward of feeling proud of yourself often. If I was waiting till I lost all 200 pounds I would be waiting at least 1 1/2 years for that feeling.

So I say celebrate every pound. Every one of them gone is a great thing you do for yourself. Stay focused on your mini goal...it is right in front of you so it is easy to see Little by little you will make it to the GOAL

Thank you all for your positive responses and encouragement!!! I started this WOE with my hubby who wants to lose about 200 so I am not alone . . . BUT he is kinda following my lead so I am the main source of information and encouragement. Thanks Again and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!! I think I will make some hot wings and a shrimp stir-fry this weekend. Yummmmmmmm

320/320/200

[qtpye]

Angelz
I also pay attention to my jeans size. I started with the goal of losing 150 lbs. To keep from feeling overwhelmed by the time it will take me to reach that goal, I look forward to the next size down. I'm in 22s now down from 24s. My goal now is to be in 20s by the summer. Then when I get to 18s, I'm planning to tuck in my shirts!! See, it's the little changes that keep me going. Plus, I only weigh once a month. I refuse to drive myself crazy weighing every day and watching the normal fluctuations. This is a way of life, and so I figure I'm gonna enjoy the ride!

BTW, my mom and sister live in Oxon Hill!! How's the weather??

HEY CHERUB!!

The weather has been pretty nice lately. It's a bit cold but at least we have some sunshine. Of course, it isn't as nice as balmy Miami

I am in a 26/28 now and am looking forward to getting into a 22/24. I have some 24 jeans around somewhere and I will let them be the judge

[slatelee]

The jean size is a true indicator. I bought a new pair of jeans today (first pair in years)and it was a 22!!! I weigh in tomorrow and hope the pounds have gone down, but the fact that I got into a 22 gives me a feeling that is wonderful!
I was in a 28 or 30 when I started this woe January 19, 2004.

Focus on one day at a time. The rewards do come bit by bit.

[raverevue]

Hey Angelz!

I used to live in Fort Washington. Small world!

There are a couple of things I have done to keep me focused on daily or smaller steps instead of the big one. You might try joining one of the challenge threads here. You can pick a smaller goal and work toward that. I always try to make mine very reasonable. But the daily encouragement is great if you achieve the goal on time or not.

Another idea is to buy a pair of jeans one size smaller than you are now. Try them on every week (not every day!). That way the journey is also broken up into smaller steps.

Good Luck!

[Law1]

Angelz:

Welcome! I hope you find lots of support here, as I have, that will help you on this journey.

I came up with one thing that really helped keep my expectations in line and to remind how well I was doing. I made a chart. On the left I listed dates (I used every Monday), then I listed the target weight loss I wanted. I decided 2.5 pounds per week was a good goal. I started with my current weight and then subtracted 2.5 pounds for each week. For you that would be

March 15 320
March 22 317.5
March 29 315
etc.

Then, in the 3rd column, I listed my actual weight on that date.

Here is the reason this chart is good. When you start off, you will lose more weight than you will later on. The usual point where that changes is at about 3 weeks. What I found is that some weeks I might lose 4 pounds. The next week I might lose only 1 pound. Instead of dispairing about the 1 pound weight loss that week, I would look at my chart and realize I was right on track with my goal. It really helps to keep things in perspective. It is also really nice to look back at how far you have come. I have had a few major stalls through my weight loss process (mainly due to drugs and health). If I had a major stall, as soon as I came out of it, I would make another chart for myself. I only projected about 2 months ahead, anything else was too far out to seem realistic.

I don't know if it will help you, but I know that a lot of people starting out are thrilled with their initial loss and then get really discouraged when they hit a short stall or slow down. I picked 2.5 pounds per week as my goal because it seemed realistic and equaled 10 pounds per month, which seemed quite good, yet attainable.

I lost faster when I was close to 300 pounds. Now that I am closer to 200, I have a goal of 2 pounds per week. As a percentage of my weight, I am still losing a good amount, even if the total pounds is less each week.

Come here for help and for any questions!

[Seesko]

You have recieved some great advice! I just want to say welcome!

[KerryRobertson]

I too had over a 100 + to lose when I started. All of the above is great advice. The only thing I would add is educate yourself as much as possible on why this woe works. Read and reread the plan you are on and use a highlighter to get the main points. Understand why your body is a fat burning engine instead of a carb burning engine an how to keep it there.

If emotional eating is an issue, read up on things that will help you with this. I recommend the first 3 chapters in Dr Phil's weight loss book. He deals with negative self-talk, how to overcome it, and Healing Feelings. This was a huge, huge step in my journey.

Welcome!