Staying Motivated for the Long Haul

I want to ask the long-timers out there what they did to stay motivated throughout this long journey. My struggle is staying with it over time. If you have a few years post op, can you share with us how you keep going? I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

I suggest food tracking. I did this religiously for four plus years. Then I stopped. I have since had a little regain - not terrible - but I don't like it. I need to start tracking again. If you are tracking, keep it up. If not, start the habit. It works. DS

Thanks Diane! I use Fitbit's food tracker. It works great.

I remind myself, as often as necessary, about all the awesome things that are in my life now that weren't when I was SMO. There are so many things that my body prevented me from doing and so many things that my brain prevented me from doing due to how I felt about my body. I don't want to lose those things and that's extremely motivating for me. For example, I want to be able to keep running, and doing yoga, pilates, and tai chi. I also want to be able to do those things comfortably. I like that I only hurt when I've done something to earn that hurt - when I was SMO, I hurt just because I existed.

I love that I feel comfortable in the world. I don't worry about fitting into spaces. I don't worry about chairs not being able to contain my mass. Because of this comfort, I do more things - I spend more time with friends, I went back to college, I don't cringe at the thought of flying internationally.

The knowledge of how much better life is now that I'm not SMO is extremely motivating to me.

I'm almost 4 years post-op.

I can't wait until I fit in an airplane seat without spilling into the next seat/person. Maybe I should make a list of things I'll have without the weight to hold me back. Good plan!

Me too!!

My answer is similar to Gwen. I like being able to do things that were difficult before. I like to run and go to the gym. I feel it now if I gain a few lbs and it's a good reminder how much harder things were before. Also, I try to keep in my mind that I NEVER want to go back to my prior weight. So, even though I may be tempted by food, either in larger quantities or by food that doesn't provide me nutrients (sugar and high carby choices), I know that eating them will make it harder, if not impossible to stay where I am now. It's that constant reminder that I LIKE where I am now, that keeps me motivated to stay on plan.

I log my eating on MyFitnessPal, every day. And I come here and read and post on OH, every day.

You have to stay focused daily. For me that is weighing myself daily and coming here, OH, daily...

I had an inaccurate belief that just having my sleeve/tool would be enough to curb my over eating. It worked for a while. I'm back here after spending the last year figuring out how to cheat my sleeve. I'm so thankful how easy it's been to get back on track this month. I needed about three days of eating 4oz portions, including a protein shake, and not drinking before/after my meal. Not perfect, but I still dropped 15 lbs this month. The NSV - one belt notch feel fantastic. Mostly being back on this site, remembering how I felt pre opp and seeing the joy of others has been motivating me.