Insight

I don't know what you call my personality type, its not an optimist, not a pessimist...  But I don't enjoy the journey, I like the destination.  Doesn't matter what it is.  I like the holidays, not preparing for them.  I like the resort, not the travel to get to the resort.  I didn't like a cruise because- well it was all about the journey and the time at the destinations was too short.  I didn't "like" school, I wanted to graduate.  It goes on and on.  The travel time to always takes so much longer than the travel time back.

I guess I'm all about instant gratification.  And that my friends is what led to my weight gain in the first place.  

How, how, how do I change this?  This perspective doesn't bode well for maintenance, which I've failed at numerous times in the past.  I'm gonna need a shrink for sure to help me through this. 

 

Interesting! And, I can relate. I need to think about this one.

--gina

 Well  Cheryl and Gina   i think its Enviable    to have the capacity to Enjoy  things . 

Me  .. I enjoy  the work  probably because the final result  is just a mass  of pressure for me .  When my garden really gets going ... Im beating  myself up every day for  not drawing and painting it  ... 

Im so used  to work  work and more work  ... im SHOCKED  when people  don't appreciate me  and pay me what  im worth  ...  but the truth is  I never paid proper attention to THAT part at all .... I jsut wantedto make the PROJECT happen , to make the  BEAUTY happen ... to build the final product .  

And now that its here .. I don't own the rights to it  .   

   oh I make myself SICK   right about now 

Ah ha.  You're like the opposite type.  You really get into the process, the journey and the destination is just so... fraught with other issues there's no enjoyment.

One of my DH's expressions (he's full of them) is "Lower expectations results in greater happiness"

Don't know if that helps you, but sometimes helps me.

Focusing on the here and now may help, dont look at what will happen it is what is happening now! Focusing on the "must" does not help with what we want in the "end"
I may not enjoy the workout but damn what I will look like when I get there, if I eat this cookie will it make my diet better or worse?
It is a matter of changing your way of thinking and enjoying the ride...... ( although the destination feels so much better, it didnt take over night to put the weight on)

Not sure if I helped but it sure did make my brain think today, Thank you

Actually, if you want the destination, not the journey, Maintainance should be easy, yeah right.  You just need to learn to stay at the destination.

Cheryl, you certainly have hit upon a key part of your pesonality.   Great insight.  Maybe the trick is to use how you are, instead of changing yourself, to fit the situation. Price kinda said the same thing.

Me, I'm the planner. I enjoy the logistics, the lead up, the journey. 

When I get to the destination, on occassion I've built it up so much I think "Is this all there IS?" 

Other times I'm standing on the summit of the mountain I just climbed and forget to enjoy the view because I've already spotted the next mountain I want to climb, and I've started planning again.  Drives my husband batty.

Maybe a new destination every day? Today's destination is longer at the gym, or heavier on the weights, or more on the fluids. Give yourself something (other than weight) to celebrate every day.

What an interesting insight.  A destination has never really occured to me because I think everything is a journey and when I reach my destination I'll be 6 feet under.  I guess what you call destinations, I think of as stops along the way.  You might want to consider your destination the maintaining of health, which is sure beyond the weight loss and is a life long process.  I hope that you can enjoy each of the victories along the way, they are all really remarkable.