Is there a dark side to NSVs?

We all love NSVs (non-scale victories) in whatever form they show up, whether comments from the people around us, getting into that old pair of pants or running in a 5K.  They validate the hard work we're doing, boost our egos, and provide some additional support and motivation when the scale may not be as kind.  My recent experiences, however, have me thinking there may be a dark side to NSVs too.

About two weeks ago, I posted a blog on MFP about how the many NSVs I received recently helped me break through a fitness plateau (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/shivaslives/view/of-plateaus-and-nsvs-163870).  But as my weight loss has continued to slow down, I have been evaluating my behavior and realized that I have not been as resolute in my dietary habits as I was in previous months.  While I still keep a balanced diet and stay below or close to my calorie goal, I find that I am not eating as "clean" as I had been and I'm eating at times that I had been avoiding.  I'm also now consuming almost all my exercise calories where before it was closer to 50% to 75%.  And these new practices are definitely slowing down my progress. 

So, why now, after being so diligent for 5 months?  One of my theories is that all the positive feedback in its various forms may be eroding my resolve.  I could be getting complacent about making further progress because everyone is commenting on my current level of achievement.  And, beyond that, some comments like "You don't need to lose any more weight", "you're going to waste away ", or "don't go crazy on us" are actively discouraging advancement.  While I try not to let comments like these have impact, somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking "you're at a good place" or asking "will that new suit fit if I lose any more weight?" as I reach for a croissant that I wouldn't have touched a month ago.   

For me, awareness of this situation is a good first step to getting past it.  Just writing it down in this blog is helping me sort through it in my mind.  The second step will be to reevaluate my dietary goals. While I am in line with "consuming a balanced diet 1000 kcal below my daily burn", I definitely need to do more; perhaps strict compliance with "fit for life" eating, keeping my food consumption "clean" or only eating back 75% of my exercise calories.  I'll have to contemplate this a little more because it's too critical to take lightly.  The final step is the mental realization that I have not reached my health and fitness goals yet, despite what others' comments may be, and recommitting to them.  While NSVs are nice, the only person I have to satisfy is myself, and I won't let others dictate how success is defined for me on this journey or whether I'm going to have that croissant or not.