OK, for me, overweight and obese are numbers, simple bare-edge fact of formulas -- height vs. weight for a body mass index. 30.0 is the cutoff between overweight and obese, 25.0 is the cutoff between "normal" and overweight. At 5'6" and 185, I cross the line to overweight from obese. At 154, I cross the line between overweight and normal. I know these are averages and don't reflect people's different muscle tones, but they give me a target, a bullseye to aim for. Not negative self-talk. When I've come this far from 271, there is very little negative self-talk.
I think about sizes. I think about parts of my body that aren't buried under fat anymore.
I have angular shoulders.
I have hip bones.
I have ribs, for cryin' out loud.
I have on a pair of pants today that I haven't worn in 15 years!
I think about the good things I can have. I try not to dwell on Dairy Queen or chocolate eclairs or cream puffs. I don't need to when I can dwell on hot buffalo wings, spaghetti (with Carb Options sauce and Dreamfield's pasta), fajitas, a good cup of coffee with Splenda or an occasional strawberry with whipped cream. Last night, before I went to bed, I thanked God for my successes. And thanked Him again when I woke up. I like the curves of my body. And my DH appreciates them too.
Is eating well more expensive? Yes and no. Potatoes, bread and sugary snacks are pretty cheap. Eggs, meat and cheese are more expensive. But it wasn't like I wasn't buying some of those anyway. But now my fridge is full of good stuff. Treating myself with a variety of meats and cheeses, and good coffee and veggies, is a little more expensive. But I also don't buy popcorn and snacks at movies, and almost no fast food. So it's probably balanced out.