Hello,

You wrote:

"1)While I'm dieting, I get frequent positive reinforcement either by pounds or inches lost every week and by people noticing the "new" me. However when I hit the maintenance, I lose that reinforcement--people are now used to your new look and you're no longer losing weight.

If you too miss that positive reinforcement, then it's time to get it again. Perhaps you could meet up with an acqaintance who hasn't seen you since you weight loss and let them tell you how great you look! Or maybe you could set a goal of maintaining your weight for a certain time period and give yourself a treat if you make it."

WOW! As stupid as I am sure this sounds...I think that's a big part of this. When I first started to lose weight, everyone mentioned it, told me how great I looked, etc....that helped me to realize that what I was doing was working...not just on the inside but on the outside as well.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not the type of person that needs constant fawning over, or compliments...I am actually the opposite. Independant, self sufficient, etc...but the praise, and the recognition did feel good, AND it kept me motivated.

Now that I have reached, and maintained my weight for so long, no one notices anymore. Perhaps that lack of recongnition put it on the back burner in my mind as well.

My genes will always make me unable to enjoy a life of eating abandon either. I am hoping to clear this slight stumbling block and get back on track. I can't tell you how much what you wrote made me think.

Thanks for the support!