Why is it different this time?

My good friend who is staying here asked me why my weight loss has been different this time and how I am staying constant. It's a good question since I've known this friend for 20 years and have never been able to lose this much weight before.

I told her what I think:
1) I stopped drinking Diet Coke and have very few cravings for sugar
2) I am consistent with exercise
3) I am setting more, smaller goals (something I never did before)
4) I feel freer since my mother died and a lot less sad

I feel like there should be more to this...like there is more to it, but I don't know what it is. I don't know how one morning in March I woke up and decided it was time. There wasn't a "moment". It just started to happen...little by little, pound by pound. I'm feeling more confident though each day. And there isn't a person that doesn't notice I've lost weight. (which was a trip up the last time when noone said anything after I'd lost almost 40 lbs). It's a great feeling.

You should know I haven't always been perfect. A few days ago I had 2 little debbie oatmeal pies and a Twinkie. I was feeling stressed. I eat pie occasionally. I had chocolate and marshmallows when we were camping. But I'm balanced..it's infrequent. I feel badly when so many people on their blogs berate themselves for having a few treats. It happens. But dwelling in it and looking down on yourself for doing it just keeps you in a spiraling circle of food depression. I guess I hate myself less now when I have some slip ups. Maybe that's part of the key. Learning that weight loss is an endurance sport, not a fast race. Sometimes we limp along, but we just need to keep going!!