Shaming myself to success

It sounds like you are weighing yourself too often. Try going to once per week.

The objective is to make long term changes that will improve your health. These "rewards" you give yourself might be short term over the long term reward of hitting your target weight and body shape.


I'm not sure what you have but let's say it's chocolate. This was my big thing. I cut it out and went cold turkey since 2nd January.

Make your treat something healthy or even non-food related.

I don't think shaming yourself is a good way to go, especially long term. Most posters on here would be supportive, but there are always going to be d-bags on here that will not hesitate to be cruel, and there might be times they get the better of you & it's tough enough to lose weight with positive support, so the unnecessary negativity from strangers is something I would urge you to avoid.

I have to disagree about going cold turkey, because that rarely works well. Just ask any smokers who've tried to quit that way. IMHO, you need to have plans on what to eat at the restaurants you frequent most. I try to have 3-4 healthier choices that are still something you enjoy to eat. For example, when we go to the Japanese place in the mall, I'll get one order of Teriyaki chicken with extra meat, but I'll share it with my daughter, so it's only half of what I would usually eat.

If you try & go cold turkey on everything you enjoy eating, it'll be tough to have sustainable success.

Have you thought of treating yourself to non-food rewards when you do well on the scale? i buy a new piece of fitness clothing or more music for my iPod or maybe even a heart rate monitor? Even better, when you start to lose weight, you can treat yourself to the new clothes you'll need because the old ones won't fit anymore. Hang in there!

Shame is not a good motivator. We don't continue doing things that make us feel bad. If you associate losing weight with shame (particularly public shame) and disappointment, you're going to quit eventually. That's not anything bad or wrong about you, but it's just how our brains work; even animals respond better to positive reinforcement than negative. Celebrate your successes; acknowledge but don't dwell on your struggles.

well it seems to be working for you

Delete. I needed to have read the whole thread first.

Just remember : NOTHING TASTE BETTER THEN SKINNY trust me 10 years ago I weighed 100 lbs heavier then right now and to stay that way i have learned to only treat myself on special occasions that way i never feel guilty and everyday i can look in the mirror and be proud that i have kept the weight off. That being said I never seem happy with my weight i meet my goal then i set a new goal but i am healthy i work out daily and i'm happy . but there is something magical in fitting into a size 0 or 2 pair of jeans trust me no chocolate gives me the same kind of rush LOL Good luck