@Jimb376mfp , you've done fantastic! You haven't just changed your weight; you've changed your life--and for the better from what I read of your WLJ!

Of course our experiences are different but I tend toward @88olds 's perspective that the journey isn't on a schedule and probably won't behave like it is. We know the process is simple, but complicated.

I was observant in my meetings from the start. I noticed people living and dying by the number on the scale and that gave me immediate feedback that I didn't want to do what I saw them doing. Long-story short (but you probably know it), I decided to weigh in only at meetings once a week. My other knowledge boost came from GOAD: the suggestion to focus on the behavior and let the weight do what it does. Between that and realizing this was going to be an endless journey, I realized that for me, there was no value in setting a schedule. The real value was in figuring out my relationship and behavior around food.

Almost two years into maintenance, I still take it one day; one choice at a time. They're not always the best choices but they're made recognizing that I want to maintain for another day. That's it. Not a week, not a month, not a year, not 10 years. One day. And into that day, I will consider myself lucky if I can be as bold as you experimenting with different activities that I never thought of trying before!

In summary for me, I strive to make it a lifestyle change and therefore at this point, time is of little importance. I know what to do. I do it; some days better than others but I would say it fits George's phrase: maintaining a "liveable downward trend".

I think your progress is phenomenal and I love your new life experiences! Enjoy the journey. I think the rest will take care of itself...

@Jimb376mfp My goal is to lose a pound a week. Sounds so easy but it ain't.

Congrats! Jim on losing the 23.8 #'s that's the main thing.

I read more into Jim's post about a goal than a schedule. However that being said he has put a number and a date in his statement. Ever since I have been in WW and posting & following on the GoaD board 2010 I have always heard that you may be setting yourself up for failure by putting a # and a date for weight loss. Now I'm not saying this has come from everybody and I do agree with the statement from @88olds but I do think that for me I need a goal. A goal is a road map. Without a map you don't know where you'll wind up. That also being said watching each day one day at a time and one meal at a time like @88olds states for himself is something that I personally have to do as well.

Interestingly enough on 2/24/17 of this year I began seeing a registered dietitian every 30 days and after the initial WI we went into consultation and a plan of action and basically a caloric amount of 1800 per day that would put me on the pathway of losing 1 lb a week. I took off like the rabbit and the tortoise and the first 60 days I lost somewhere around 17 lbs which was over 2 lbs a week. I got extremely busy in my work lost focus and bam started eating a little here and a little there first one buffet then another. One business trip I got in the car racing from one meeting to another ate a double Wendy's went large and on my way home some 13 hour drive I found myself still in a hurry not making good choices and stopped and got another double Wendy's and Oh yes went go large again. ( Haven't had a Wendy's Hamburger in probably 7 years.) So fast forward working 18 hour days for weeks on end I found myself giving up in less than 30 days all the 17lbs and putting on a couple more.

So I have continued seeing my dietitian once monthly and we discussed staying focussed and following the plan. The plan however or goal and she didn't call it a goal but rather focus only on three things for the month. She is one of the head dietitians for Bariatric surgery at my local hospital. She is very experienced and I believe she knows what she's talking about.

So I did not go back and concentrate or focus if you will on the three items I was suppose to focus on which set me up for failure not with her program but with me. This is a mind game for me in every sense of the word. She is really my accountability partner once a month if you will. So this past week I settled down in my thinking did my planning tried not to eat out planned ahead had food on hand took snacks not to get hungry and mainly here goes the main thing kept up with my calories and balanced my food items as best I could and as of this morning lost over 10 lbs of the 18 plus I gained. So it's definitely a struggle not daily but each meal for me. I like it though and it's kinda interesting to watch and work with my weight and my head. So Jim you're right it ain't easy.

I've lingered on too much with this post and it seems it's more about me than @Jimb376mfp 's post. I think my main point here is I need the structure no I have to have the structure and discipline to accomplish where I want to be and how I'm going to get there even though I've lost 100 lb's or else I'll wind up where I am still 120 lbs overweight and running out of time.

I also at the same time back in February started seeing what I thought was a social worker that specialised in weight loss but it turned out she was just a social worker that I discuss every other week as to why I do what I do and why do I do it. It's interesting and not exactly sure how it's going but it is another layer of accountability and a person that is outside my scope of family, friends or whomever. I'll check in later with a report.