How do you stay patient?

I know I didn't get this big overnight... and I'm surely not going to lose 19 years of weight gain overnight either, but why is it sooooo hard to be patient?!!

Does anyone have any tips? Any mantra's you use to just keep going? I just keep telling myself "keep your eye on the prize girl!" (the prize is being at 140 and the happiness and confidence that will come with getting there) and so far it's worked but it's only been 3 weeks and I'm afraid that's going to get old before the year I gave myself to meet the goal is up.

I need weapons against the stressful days!! lol.

I find motivational quotes or pictues of my ideal body/ abs and have one set as my wall paper at work and a different one on my home computer. I stay active on here and Facebook in fitness motivation groups. Definitely talking about it to someone else that has gone through some of the same things helps. Drop me a message if you want to talk some more.. or friend me.

I just remind myself that next year is going to come regardless of what I do, so where do I want to be when 2014 gets here? Do I want to weigh less than I do now, or weigh the same? Or how about another 10 or 15 lbs bigger like most years? It's my choice, a decision that I have to make every day.

As for the frustration over the pace of loss - I'm not on a schedule to lose "x lbs by x date" - I guess some people respond well to deadlines but I don't. I'll just keep doing the right things and it'll happen when it happens.

For what it's worth... Set very attainable goals, but for weight loss and exercize. Once you've attained those, set some more. I love having these small victories and it keeps me motivated.

Small goals are great. I try not to focus on the scale number, since muscle weighs more then fat....and if I am seeing a difference in the tape measure and the way I feel and my clothing fits that is my small victories.... The goals I set for myself are things that are definitely measurable. Somtimes it is in relation to a calorie burn.....trying new food.....exercising a certain number of days.....

I know exactly how you feel! Learning the art of patience has been one of the most difficult things about this journey. I personally cope by breaking my goal into concentric (if that's the word) smaller goals and phases. Like, this part of my journey - the main weight loss phase - is phase one. Phase two will comprise of seeing how I feel and going from there, probably more weight lifting and strength and eating maintenance calories. I'm in a friendly weight loss challenge with some friends till August, so that's my current main goal. In that I have monthly, weekly and daily goals too. I also track weight, body fat (on my scales anyway) inches and fitness. So, there's usually a weekly change on at least one of those fronts.

I also started zig zag calories on a fortnightly basis. I personally like complicating things with maths, spread sheets and daily calorie goals that change every few days. Makes me feel the passage of time is moving a little faster! Seems to work most of the time for me and stops me losing my mind!

I just remind myself that next year is going to come regardless of what I do, so where do I want to be when 2014 gets here? Do I want to weigh less than I do now, or weigh the same? Or how about another 10 or 15 lbs bigger like most years? It's my choice, a decision that I have to make every day.

As for the frustration over the pace of loss - I'm not on a schedule to lose "x lbs by x date" - I guess some people respond well to deadlines but I don't. I'll just keep doing the right things and it'll happen when it happens.

I am so glad to hear this because I use this reasoning too. We all set goals and it's so disheartening when the "deadline" comes and we haven't reached those goals. I just tell myself everyday that I am doing something that's GOOD for me...whether the clothes or scale reflect it or not. I would much rather keep going. Because if I stop, the time will pass anyways. And when next year comes, I don't want to look back and think "what did I do with all that time I had?! I could've been at __ by now!". It's not always an easy journey, but the best thing to do is to just keep going. You're not always gonna feel patient or motivated...it's the habit that gets you there. Good luck!