Help! It's week 4 and the "thrill" is gone from when I started and now I see myself slipping once in awhile! I really need some motivation and great advise! Please! Help me get back on track!

Hey girl I'm right there with ya!
I never thought I'd "slip" because I want this sooooooo bad. However, I think a boo-boo now and again is just human nature. Not one person in life is perfect and I think that's how you need to look at it. At least, that's how I'm doing it.
When I boo-booed over the weekend, I told my counselor what I ate and didn't eat. She said I did the best I could in the situation. I ate out twice for lunch and was able to get things that definitely lower on the calorie list than everything else on the menu.
I'm getting sick of salads every day, so I'm trying to devise a plan of attack to change that. I know veges are good for you, but geez, every day? I talked with my counselor about that, too. She suggested cutting up all the veges that I'd have on my salad and dip it into the dressing. Good idea and I'm going to try it. I love veges, but so many in a day is feeling a little hum drum, so I'm with you in that respect.
I have to focus on the positive and if I keep seeing that scale going down and with a (-) sign in front of the number each week, I'm accomplishing something that I haven't in many years, if ever. I'm taking control of my life and I WILL be healthier for my family and in turn make my family healthier in the process.
You'll be fine. We are at the beginning of our journey. There are bound to be a few bumps in the road!
Hang in there!

The thing is, if you depend on that "thrill" you'll never make it, because it doesn't last for ANYONE. Even if you could make it last until you get to goal, what then? Will you stay "motivated" til the day you die to maintain your weight?
Depending on "motivation" is the biggest trap anyone trying to lose weight can fall into. You have to recognize that it's an emotion; it's excitement and a feeling of novelty that simply cannot last. Try to shift your focus from doing this because you FEEL like it to doing it because that's simply what you've decided to do. Let your logical brain take over. After all, your emotional brain is the one that got you into this mess, right? Does your emotional brain dictate when you will brush your teeth or walk the dog or take out the trash? No, your logical brain knows these things simply need to be done so they get done. You don't do them because you "feel like" doing them. They're not thrilling or fun and sometimes they are a downright pain, but you get them done. Healthy eating and activity has to fall into the same category.
Sure, it can be hard to do, and even the most determined and stoic among us have meals/days/weeks where we struggle to stay on track. The pull of those old habits and comforts and preferences is strong. But, you have to learn to replace a dependence on motivation with a dependence on determination. Talk to yourself in a positive, encouraging way to reinforce your decision that this is how you're going to live the rest of your life. You CAN keep yourself pumped a little by acknowledging all your victories -- ESPECIALLY the ones that have nothing to do with the scale or your clothing size. Read success stories, subscribe to a magazine like SHAPE and start looking at active women as role models, read books like Thin for Life, etc. Make fitness your new hobby, pat yourself on the back when you can take an extra lap around the block, research a new activity. There will STILL be days where you want to crawl into a bag of chips, but they'll be fewer and further between, and it'll be easier and easier to bounce back. The difference is adopting this as a permanent lifestyle rather than some temporary, punitive chore you've got to slog through.

VERY VERY well said funniegirl. I agree completely.
Have a great day.
Linda

It's like a new boyfriend .. the thrill lasts about four weeks. But, a good one lasts forever! (I've been married 30 years.) The thrill of the JC plan lasted about two days for me .. but I like it and have been using the food since September and intend to continue. I've lost consistently, though small. I never want the expense of buying new jeans again! Too expensive these days.

Funnygrrl - What a great response! I never really thought about it as something I FEEL like doing, just something I HAVE to do. I am going to try and change my way of thinking in the future and see if it helps me. Thanks for the wonderful advice!

Thank You Funniegrrl ... I needed that.

Wow, with advice like that I won't have to pay my psychologist anymore j/k -you could end up putting people out of work I've been trying to keep my spirits up and notice not only the scale at my mtgs but also the way my clothes are fitting. Most of all I keep my eye on the big goal, having energy to play with my family and feeling healthy! Someone on the boards suggested the Leslie Sansone tapes and I've bought 3 now from ebay...I love them!