How do you stay encouraged and motivated when having so much to lose?

I have A LOT of weight to lose. I'm still too embarrassed to even write the number. Let's just say I have to lose a decent-sized professional football player. I'm 7 weeks into my WLS journey. But I'm already feeling discouraged that the weight isn't coming off fast enough. I do notice some of my clothes feeling baggy now and I'm feeling much better than I was before surgery.

But I was just wondering, from those of you who have gone through this experience, how did you keep yourself encouraged and motivated when the results and progress seem slow?

Thanks,

Kim

I have a lot to lose as well (I want to lose 220-240 if I were to put a number on it) What makes me work harder is when I go to my post-op appts. Like today, went to dietician & NP. My blood sugars are in normal range, so is my cholesterol, my bp today was 118/70 (i hav high bp so this was AWESOME!) And everyday my husbandd tells me how proud he is of me. It truly is all the little things that when added together remind me that even though I've got a long ways to go I've also come a long ways in the short time since RNY!

Congratulations on your progress so far. You've already gotten some awesome results. It's nice to know we're not alone in this adventure! Keep up the great work!

Thank you! Keep your eye on the prize. A healthier life is worth it!

Set small mini-goals... every 10 pounds or so, find a reason. Percentage, certain # on the scale, fitting into something, losing X pounds, etc etc... I always try (even now) to look for the small victories... they add up!

Thanks for the concrete examples of what I can focus on. You've given me some good ideas. I appreciate your feedback.

AMEN!!

Look at every single VICTORY that will cross your path as you continue to lose weight. You will need this as you will hit stalls. As you do, keep focussed on your desires and goals. Reflect in your past higher weights and remember where you do not want to be. Know that Rome was not built in a day! Your weight did not go on over night.... So it will also not come off over night!!
Just think about each strive you make that is positive in your life and especially with regards to a smaller you is inches closer in your life long process. This journey will be life long. You will find as you go further out that you will have to find ways to stay focussed and keep with your journey. I have not hit my goal to be having to only maintain... But I am aware that I will always have ups and downs on the scale... I will always have those days I am bloated because I am a woman at what ever size I am. I just have to stay focussed on what I am doing... I can enjoy life and live life. This gives me strength and motivation.
KEEPING SUPPORTS AROUND YOU IS GREAT! Keep coming here. Get in touch with a local WLS support group if at all possible. Maybe through OH you can find someone that is local around you that you can meet and have that face to face contact with someone going through a lot of what you are going through.

You have to find what works for you. It will take time to get to goal.
I hope you can feel comfortable sharing your weight. This forum is great forum to share as we all have mostly started at huge BMI's. There are days that will feel great and then there are days and weeks that can look a bit discouraging. Just know that those times will pass and as long as you are honest with yourself then you will see results. Stay on plan. If you have no plan....get one! If you boo boo and eat something wrong... Move on and do better the next minute... Hour... Or day!!

You can and I am sure will do this for yourself. Find your inner power somewhere. Something that really excites your. Make a bucket list of things you want to do and have that you lost the ability to do or have do to your weight. Or make it a list of the things that you never want to not be able to do or go without because you were to big. There are so many ways to foccuss.

BIGGEST IS.

PATIENCE. PATIENCE. PATIENCE. PATIENCE.

I AM WORKING ON THE NOW OVER TWO YEARS. I KNOW ABOUT THE WORD PATIENCE.

Hugs,
Sherrie

Sherrie, thank you so much for your suggestions and sharing what has worked for you. It's so true - Rome wasn't built in a day! I really need to work on having positive thoughts and patience with myself. I feel lucky to be a part of this forum. And I'm so encouraged by your support. THANKS! hugs to you, Kim

observe those that have lost as much if not more and know that they are not magical people. They are normal people who had the opportunity that you have. Don't put them on a pedestal. Use them to inspire you- not degrade you.

I look at people and say, "well, I know that it is possible."

You have to make the decision everyday.    Don't obsess over the total.  The surgery does its part, so you do yours.

I was also in therapy for the first 6 months. You have to learn positive self-talk. You have to learn stress relieving skills- for me it was less tv and more reading  for pleasure and writing of my feelings.  You have to stop the negative self-talk. I would say out loud, "that's not true". 

Follow the rules as closely as possible. Don't experiment with breaking them to see what would happen.  Now is the best time to lose the most weight.  But you have to do your best.  You didn't have your body cut-up to focus on someone else.

My number one mantra or focus: I paid for this damn surgery. I charged it on a credit card and used my savings.  It is a car.  I'm not going to buy a car and drive it into a wall. I'm also not going to risk a complication by playing around with stuff that I shouldn't do. I can't afford that.  I did something drastic. Someone cut off a huge chunk of my body.  This is real.

For the first few months when I woke up, I thought, "I can't believe that I did this. This is really happening."  Now I wake up saying, "thank you".  I'm not done, but I'm grateful for where I have come so far. 

Thanks, Mimi! You are so right about the positive self-talk and stress relief! I am so mean to myself. I would never talk to my friends the way I talk to myself. I think I will work on adopting your attitude of gratefulness each day!