midnightoil's Journal, 18 June 2015

After 8 months of consecutive weight loss I find staying motivated becomes more of a challenge. Personally, I do not know many people who have lost as much weight as I have, but I am sure there are some on this site that can relate. It is a whole knew life. I could not even list all the benefits of how much better I feel. When I was walking this evening...I was trying to imagine carrying 2 50 pound suitcases on my back. That is how much effort it took when I was 330 pounds. I used to wake up coughing/choking at night all the time from all the acid reflux. I would wheeze with each breath. I was always tired from the sleep apnea and lack of REM sleep. I had such a hard time trying to tie my shoes. But these are the things that I do not want to forget. As long as I remember how miserable I was... I will not get complacent in my current lifestyle and revert back.

I see so many people on this website who's weight has been like a roller coaster. I think it is just as important to remember what series of events happened that cause the weight regain vs. the series of events that motivated you to lose the weight. We are all different and have our own reasons.

Something that I have done to help keep me motivated is.... Keep a picture of my highest weight on my refrigerator, bathroom mirror, and desk. I even keep that picture as my wall paper on my smart phone so I have to look at it to view my shopping list when I am at the grocery store. A picture paints a thousand words and that image of myself at my highest weight reminds me of total MISERY.

232.0 lb Lost so far: 97.0 lb.    Still to go: 52.0 lb.    Diet followed reasonably well.