deal with the "inbetween" until you reach your goal

Nothing is truly accomplished without a plan and a goal. Figure out exactly what you want (at this point it's not set in stone forever and ever) and write it down! It will make what you are trying to do "real". The plan for getting there will get you through the tough spots and back up if you blow it a few times

One day at a time! Let's say a year from now is when you *could* meet your goal. That date will come whether you're on track or not. When it gets here...do you really wanna still be stuck at square one due to a lack of motivation? Hell no. Baby steps. Say you want to lose 10lbs a month....totally doable. Think "okay, in 3 months, I could weigh ____ (current weight minus 30lbs). Keeping those smaller short-term goals in mind helps make the long term goal seem more feasible. And when you reach those short-term goals, it gives you the added drive that you need!

^ I'm going to steal this! Good one!

I feel like this all the time, so I can't offer advice on how not to. I read that most people do "get over" this feeling.

I feel low when i look at the parts of my body that i am disappointed with.. So lately i have been focusing on the good parts and trying to be positive and feel confident and it is really helping me keep going. I like to pretend i already have my dream body and it gives me a sense of excitment

Maybe that could work for you too?

I found my attitude changed when I accepted that weight loss was going to take a long time, and that there was no quick fix. When I finally truly accepted that I wasn't going to have the body I wanted in 6 weeks, or even in 6 months, I stopped concentrating on the fact that I currently wasn't where I wanted to be and instead focused on the small changes. I found it to be incredibly uplifting and motivating to say "wow, I can tell I'm more toned than I was last week" rather than "I've been working out for a month and I'm still not down a full size." Focusing on the process of changing my lifestyle has been infinitely more rewarding than feeling totally consumed by the end result, and I have found it much more effective for my mental and physical health.

I definitely have moments of wallowing (quite foolishly) in this state. It's kinda hard not to get bummed when you aren't always losing each week or you are just in that unfulfilling state of in between. I do little things to make myself feel good about my appearance which aren't necessarily weight related. I really think it's the small things paired with the weight loss that gives one a sense of confidence and satisfaction. (At least, it has been for me). It will subside, that much I can tell you.

Set small goals and just stick with it over time u will dtart to believe u can do it

How I can relate to your feelings! I have for most of my life struggled with self-confidence and road the roller coaster of weight issues. There was much abuse both physical and emotional as a child, but somehow through good friends, having two wonderful sons and finding the love of my life I slowly began to see a life that was worth living for me. I learned life is lived in the "in-between". I try to live in this day and make it my number goal to see the world as a place I live and how can I make it better. You are the sum total of who you think you are and if you are up on your feet breathing than there is a purpose for today. I just set my goal for today and when the waves of gray fog try to roll in (and they will because face it we all have an off day) I look to changing my activity immediately. For me just going outside for a walk about, digging in the dirt, call a friend, send the old fashion note to someone you love, read or listen to music. You are were wonderfully made and are very unique with talents and gifts that are unique to you!!! You matter in this big huge messed up world we all live in.

Please excuse me if I have jumped up on the bandstand, but I feel I have earned the degree. I lost my sweetheart of 32 years, had to move, left dearest of friends and so I seek everyday ways to put joy and purpose into living. The pain and "that horrible gray fog" have been replaced with self evaluation, re-purposing and the goal to be in the moment. I have restarted my health plan. I had to put everything on hold during the illness of my love to care for his every need and my body and mind paid a price. I learned I can do things I once thought impossible and I am stronger than I once thought. I just want to be healthy. feel better and give back. Life is measured in the moments of the journey and it is how you spend those moments that make who you are. embrace yourself. You can do this!!! :flowerforyou:

yep! thats exactly and 150% me and the way i think

Since I started on my weight loss journey last July I have lost a total of 104#. 85 of those I've lost while on MFP and 19 I lost before I started on here. I did it with a plan I got from my nutritional doctor. He wanted to see what I was eating, so I got a small tablet and kept track of what I ate, along with my journaling on MFP. I decided rather than looking at the "big picture" I would instead concentrate on losing 10% of my then current weight at a time. I would have to do that 7 times. At this point I have 2 times left to accomplish. I noticed that MFP tells you each day that you will be "X" amount in 5 weeks. So I started writing down each day, 5 weeks in advance, what MFP tells me what I would be if I continued eating/exercising as I was. And you know, THAT was a huge motivator for me. A lot of the time, I met or exceeded where MFP told me I would be. And if I ever got into the rut of thinking, Oh my God, how am I ever gonna do this ,.. I just looked those 5 weeks ahead and saw that, wow, I need to stay on track and YES I will do this. And yes, I have. So, it's just a thought. Maybe it could help you too. Good luck.

focus on your overall health, nutrition, and fitness rather than some number. Realize that these things are life long endeavors...you are never done. Reaching a healthy weight is just the beginning...it is not the finish line...it is actually just the starting line of a much longer race.

Just try to be a little better today than you were yesterday and sleep well in the knowledge that you're going to rock it tomorrow...and so on and so forth into perpetuity.

focus on your overall health, nutrition, and fitness rather than some number. Realize that these things are life long endeavors...you are never done. Reaching a healthy weight is just the beginning...it is not the finish line...it is actually just the starting line of a much longer race.

Just try to be a little better today than you were yesterday and sleep well in the knowledge that you're going to rock it tomorrow...and so on and so forth into perpetuity.

awesome advice

enjoy your small victories - the end goal isn't necessarily the ultimate goal, your attitude and thoughts on the matter will change as you progress - every bit you lose along the way is part of your journey, you will enjoy the way your clothes fit better and eventually don't fit anymore, the way you feel when you eat healthier and start to exercise more, etc etc

Also congrats on your loss so far!

I am pretty big on paying more attention to and reminding myself of the successes. Numbers alone are deceptive, especially as a woman. There's weeks where I don't lose anything, there's weeks where I gain, and those are always a bummer no matter how much I feel like I'm rockin' it.

So I remind myself that I'm still rockin' it. I'm not just sitting around moping, I'm actively working on improving myself. I take the time to notice "Hey! There's muscle under there now!" I remind myself of the little happy dance I did when I slipped into a tshirt that I hadn't worn in years rather than yanking on one of my husband's old shirts. I think about how running used to be a light jog to the kitchen when I forgot about something on the stove, and now I can actually run at a decent speed for an hour straight. I revel in how much "lighter" garbage and groceries are now that I've been strength training.

The numbers on the scale can't take those moments or that progress away from me, I've already had them. They're mine forever. I just have to remember that and remind myself not to throw that away over something temporary, like current weight. As long as I choose to let those moments drive me, it's easy to keep working.

There's a reason there's a billion quotes out there about life/success/etc being about the journey, not the destination. Every bit of progress is success, not just the end goal. It ALL counts.