LighterLife Community

I had similar feelings when I got into Development. Part of it was going from a strong and supportive Foundation group to no real group at all, as everyone else had dropped out (not gone to RTM, just stopped coming).

One of the activites that really helped me was to draw a picture of a river dividing two bits of land. The land on one side of the river is where you were, the land on the other side is where you'll be, and the river is the things stopping you getting there. You can draw or cut stuff out of magazines to build up both sides (eg. someone in a dress you'd love to wear on the where you want to be side, or someone galloping on a horse or climbing a mountain, or wearing a swimsuit. Whatever). Fill the river with dangerous things (rocks, waterfalls, sharks, crocs, etc) that represent the things that might stop you - boredom, parties, etc. Then add a bridge over the river constructed from all the tools you can use to overcome them (eg. a stone bridge with bricks for things like though diaries, adult state, being organised, going to weekly meetings, etc).

Sounds silly but it helped to refocus me.

I also found it useful to work out an end date, because then it seemed finite and it was real that any lapse would simply extend that time.

Doing some things that I was only just able to do helped - horse riding, hiking, being comfy at the theatre etc.

And booking some things for after my target date - a climbing course, etc. And deciding what I would do when I got there to reward myself.

Also ask your LLC to take new photos and measurements regularly in development, as you lose that final bit of weight changes come quickly and photos help you to realise that and keep motivated.