WOW! Lots of posts to catch up on! 
Well, my weekend didn't go too bad really. I didn't eat any naughty foods, but I didn't do any running or rowing either, but I did go for a long walk with my wife, and we worked hard with our horse and paddock, and so that felt like a workout, upshot is that I have lost another pound this morning, and so that's a 4lbs loss since Wednesdays Slimming World weigh in and a total of 17lbs since 20th May.
SW: 18st 4lbs
CW: 17st 1lbs
TW: 12st 7lbs
@Picklemewalnuts – Happy Birthday! 
@DancingCoyote - Well done losing 4st 6lbs since January, that is amazing, I bet you feel so much better already. Good advice regarding motivation,scales etc. It is so easy to roll along losing pound after pound and as soon as it appears to stall we think that's it, no more weight loss. Like you say, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
@keyboardWorriers – I know what you mean about the mirrors, photos are the same, it depresses me somewhat. However, as soon as the pounds start coming off, not only do we look thinner, we also stand up straighter and look better for it. Have you started dieting yet? How are you getting on?
@WheresMyTweezers – 5lbs loss is fine, in fact it is a great amount to lose! It's interesting to see that you had a few indulgences, but they haven't devastated your weight loss plan at all. As soon as I get down to my target weight, I will allow myself a proper treat such as a Chinese takeaway or something similar, and if I put on a pound or two, work it off before the next indulgence, therefore never actually gaining weight again, sustaining my target weight. That's the plan anyway. My birthday isn't until February, and so that's okay, Xmas is the next big challenge though. Also, I have a small birthday party/BBQ to attend next month but I intend to take my own food, no way am I going to jeopardise all the work I have done so far, I am too weak when it comes to party food. Well done you! Oh, and I am exactly the same as you, I can easily lose the weight, but keeping it off is my biggest challenge.
@SpacePug – Hi there and welcome our thread! The way I motivate myself is to not really compare
wight loss week to week, or year to year, although it is difficult. As DancingCoyote says, it is a marathon, not a race. The main thing is that I lose weight, albeit 1lbs a week, or 7lbs a week. If I maintain, well at least I haven't gained. Also, I don't think of it so much as having to lose 6st, I break it down into small chunks/targets as follows:
17st 4lbs – 1st stone lost
16st 13lbs – Under 17st
16st 9lbs – Lightest weight since April 2020
16st 4lbs - 2nd stone lost
15st 13lbs – Under 16st
As you can see, I am only really looking at the next target, and I work my way through them and cross them off as I go. My main aim is not just to lose the weight, it is also to keep it off. Already after losing 17lbs in 32 days many of my clothes fit better, I can get up and down the stairs easier, my knees no longer hurt etc. It doesn't matter how much to lose in a week, month, year, what matters is that you are losing weight, getting healthier and are happy, that's my motivation.
TO EVERYONE – In my opinion, dieting is one of the hardest things to do. I personally consider 'my' bad eating habits to be an addiction. When I eat a takeaway, huge bag of crisps or peanuts, cake or any high calorie food, I get a kick, and when I run out of junk food I get depressed, I need to get out and stock up again, it is an addiction and thus I have to sort out the mental side before I can progress with the physical task of actually losing weight. In my mind it is no different to any other addiction which has cravings, followed by reward.
HOWEVER – unlike other addictions like alcoholism, drugs, gambling etc, those of us who are battling obesity cannot quit food and never go near it again. We have to eat to live, we have to go to the shops and look at food! Also, society isn't very sympathetic to obese people, in fact it can be quite cruel and unsupportive. It's often assumed that we got ourselves into this mess, it's our own fault and by just not eating so much we will not be overweight, so simple...if only.
These are just my opinions based on the fact that I have never taken drugs, nor do I gamble and I rarely drink any alcohol. I have the utmost respect for those who have fought, or are continuing to fight any addiction. It's not really a case of finding the cure, it's about re-educating and holding the brakes on each and every day for the rest of our lives.
Good luck to everyone, no matter what your journey. Stay strong, believe in yourself and remember, you are the most important person in your life. If you don't look after yourself, you aren't much use to anyone else. 