The huge losses on this diet are definately very motivating and keep you going. When I started this diet, I was in the right frame of mind...I was not doing it because I had too, I was doing it because I wanted too. I realised that the more I went off plan, the longer it would take me and I just wanted to do what I had to do and get it done as fast as possible. I knew that I had to do this diet 100% as the minute I had something I was not supposed too than it would be too easy to do it again thinking 'oh it is only this once' or 'well, it is a special occassion' and these 'events' would become too frequent and I would find it easier to justify it.
I live in a different country to my family and friends and the last time I went home was last year for my best friends wedding to be her maid of honour, I had big plans to be skinny and look good for her photos and that did not end up happening. I felt so let down and almost like I ruined her pictures and hated that for years to come she will have those pictures with me looking the way I did! Well I am going home for Xmas this year for the first time in 5 years and THAT has been my motivation!
I have not told anyone what I have been doing and I want to get off that plane and wow everyone haha I want to take millions of pictures with my family and friends and be proud of how I look and want them to be proud of me too.
Living in Dubai - everyone is in their bikini at the pool and beach all the time and I, like you Candlewix did not feel comfortable at all even though I am a water baby and love the sea. I felt like I was wasting this experience and did not want to leave here not having truely made the most of my time here.
Just remember that eating that piece of bread or chips or cake etc will take about 2 minutes but the feeling of regret will last a lot longer....Is it really worth it for 2 minutes? Also, how long has it taken you too put on the weight? It has taken me 3 years to put on all my weight and I think giving up a a few months of that to get it off is a fair compromise?
Another tip is...I have had a 'motivation dress' throughout. I have had a beautiful dress (even something that you own that has gotten too small) that is too small for me hanging in my cupboard to keep me motivated to get into it! When I do fit into it...I pick another one. It may sound silly but the feeling of zipping up a dress that would not go up before is fantastic!!!
Another tip...although I had one or two meltdowns thinking of how long it will take me and how much I had to lose - I generally always took it one day at a time. If I had a bad day, I knew that all I had to do was get through only '2 more meals' or '5 more hours' and than it would be over haha. I can guarentee you that you WILL wake up feeling a million times better than when you went to bed.
Last tip I can give is set lots of mini goal, even if they sound stupid. My first goal was not to be the heaviest person in my office, one was to weigh less than my partner. If you set these little goals, you will feel such satisfaction when you reach them and it will keep you going. Do not have your end target as you only target! It will seem too daunting and it will overwhelm you at times. Achieveing these baby targets will make you happy, make you feel proud and in turn...keep you motivated!
I am nooooo Cambridge guru but can only give advice based on my personal experience. Keep up the good work everyone and remember why you are doing this! Yes it can be tough, but the reward of a happier, healthier and slimmer you is the greatest gift we could ever give ourselves.
xxx