I may be a failure.....but in that there is success

dlyeates

I don't know if this is the right place to post this but it could help someone the way these realizations have helped me...

As I sit here watching Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Addition they keep talking about how she is going to have her first taste of failure and gains 7 lbs in Ireland on her honeymoon.

I have come to realize that when it comes to weight loss.....I have failed. I'm not saying that for anyone to tell me otherwise or to get sympathy or anything. I'm being honest. For the amount of exercise and the way I've been watching my calories I should have, realistically, lost a minimum of 1 lb per week. That would have been 20 lbs from the beginning of the year which would have put me at my goal. But I haven't....even with doing C25K, even with strength training, even with meeting with a trainer for 5 weeks.....in the first over 5 months of the year I've lost 6.6 lbs (and that's at my lowest which I'm still not back down to thanks to TOM).

And in the past that would have meant that I would have quit, said "screw it" and been done with it.....not doing it as intensely, slacked off. But I haven't. No matter how I've complained, no matter how depressed I've gotten, not matter how many tears I've cried over my "failure" I have continued, moved forward, researched and have kept trying.

I have learned that my definition of failure is different.....failure would be giving up and giving in. I may have failed in losing weight but I'm still on my journey, I'm still learning and I'm NOT GIVING UP!!!! So while in just over 5 months I've only lost 6.6 lbs I'm not done, I will not be defeated and I am a success because I'm still on my journey and I'm not giving up.

Maybe one of you needs to hear this too.....it really isn't just seeing the number on the scale go down......it's about being faithful to the process, being faithful to making yourself a priority and being faithful to trusting that this is all worth it!!!

Gr8ChangesAhead

It is a journey not a raca to the finish line, some of us will trip some of us will fall, As long as we get back up and continue to try we will be successful

DJackson230

So failure is never final... loved your story...

weisegirl1119

bump

mrmv

Amen

finally79

Thanks! I needed that.

Justacoffeenut

very well put.

monie64

it is hard but the little amount we drop each week is better than none. and then we fall off the next week but after that we pick our selves up and go on the next week . thanks for your honesty ....

godblessourhome

i love the quote by winston churchill:

Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts.

keep on trying!

biggirl1000

Agree with your comments. It is hard to put forth a significant effort only and not see it recognized on the scale. It somehow feels unfair. Wasn't her weight loss incredible for a year?

kristinkt

I love the quote by winston churchill!!!

Some days and weeks I have to remind myself I am doing better for myself, making better choices, staying more consistent, planning ahead, and seeing myself at goal eventually. This is fairly new for me since before I would burn out and collapse falling to the wayside of past diet plans. Even if the scale doesn't always play fair these good choices have got to show up as positives in my life, and they are.

ShifuYaku

We're in the same boat... exact same. I have been on this journey for 2 years now, and have only lost 20 pounds. Still keeping at it, but rarely seeing any progress. Here's to the summer, the summer of change. We all can get through this together! :flowerforyou:

losingthehealthyway

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.”
― J.K. Rowling

lilylight

Great attitude!

AngieJoy81

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm in the same boat. I lose maybe .5 or 1 lb a week even though I'm doing P90X and running (just finished a half marathon yesterday!). But I feel like I'm learning a lot about commitment, priorities, and like you said, FAITH.

megleo818

THANK YOU!

builtforlife

Keep experimenting. Im finding that I have to keep my heart rate up high for an hour 6 days a week to see good results, but thats just me. Good luck.

SilkyHotspur

This is one of my most favorite quotes of all time, by Bill Nicholson, former Manager of Tottenham Hotspurs

"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."

123kellyms123

A friend recommended this site to me tonight and I just joined and yours, is the first post I read.....thank you...I really needed to read something like that...I feel the same way....I am a failure but I want to try and get my life back.....thanks for your post. Kelly

gracefulotus

I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel recently and there was a wonderful quote by the Indian character Sonny:

"Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, then it is not yet the end."

Your journey hasn't finished yet, and your body/lifestyle isn't like a machine. It has its ups and downs, and that's reflected in your weight loss journey.

Good post for those thinking about giving up.

secretgirl4611

And in the past that would have meant that I would have quit, said "screw it" and been done with it.....not doing it as intensely, slacked off. But I haven't. No matter how I've complained, no matter how depressed I've gotten, not matter how many tears I've cried over my "failure" I have continued, moved forward, researched and have kept trying.

Maybe one of you needs to hear this too.....it really isn't just seeing the number on the scale go down......it's about being faithful to the process, being faithful to making yourself a priority and being faithful to trusting that this is all worth it!!!

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^OMG! SAME BOAT 100%
I started this year January 15th 2012 and by now I would have thought I would have lost this measly 20 pounds, which is ALL I have to lose to get to goal weight. And NOPE that is not the case at all.. I work my butt off! For 5months I have managed to workout 6days a wk and Its never easy. I just started Month 2 of Insanity and before I was doin Insanity, I was weight training and jogging. BUT ALWAYS CHALLENGING MY BODY..
The fact is, before this year it NEVER clicked! I would "attempt" at weight loss diet and exercise and literally never made it past 2wks! And I had always QUIT!
Now, I'm 5months into working out and I love to workout now. And YES, even tho I haven't seen the weight melt off as I had hoped for, I still just keep on goin and thats a HUGE achievement in itself...
The reason I haven't lost the weight is cuz I am a bad over Indulger in my love for junk foods and sweets.. haha Its ok tho, the OLD me would have given up at the slice of a cake! And now, even if I have a huge major mess ups. I dust myself off and try again the next day and the next day.
SO GLAD YOU POSTED THIS! GLAD, I'M NOT ALONE! AND WE CAN DO THIS!
WITH OR WITHOUT RESULTS NEVER STOP! NOT EVER! EVENTUALLY YOU WILL GET THERE AND WHEN YOU DO.. DONT STOP THERE EITHER, KEEP ON GOIN FOREVER.. ITS ABOUT A LIFE CHANGE NOT A FIX...

Qskim

This is one of my most favorite quotes of all time, by Bill Nicholson, former Manager of Tottenham Hotspurs

"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."

love that... Going on the fridge.

Skinny_mommy77

I needed to hear that today being that I fell off big time. But I know I have to succeed and beat fat and not give in to it. Your story has helped me. Sometimes words of encouragement is all it takes to make a person realize as long as they still have heart to fight and keep trying they are not a failure. Sometimes I tend to give words of encouragement instead of giving it to myself. I have to learn to encourage myself and be my own best teacher. I'm still learning and trying and with that I'm not a failure. Again, thanks for your story.

nrf12

this motivated me into not giving up and even if i fall i have other people that will get up with me and continue on reaching our goal.

Seraphinablu

Thank you , i really, really needed this.

SlinkyNewMe

Excellent, excellent post! Thank you and good luck on your journey!

lu136mickey

Well said

Curvimami

Well said!!! I wish you continued success on your journey :-)

WRXymama

This is EXACTLY what I needed this morning! Thank you!!!

jcmartin0313

This is one of my most favorite quotes of all time, by Bill Nicholson, former Manager of Tottenham Hotspurs

"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."

Love it!

shabold100

I to have been on a journey since 9-2011. I had even decided to have lap band surgery. I met a fitness trainer in 1-2012 and she told me she knew I could do it without surgery. You are never a failure if you keep trying, no matter how long it takes. I would like to share the following because it has helped me. I hope it can help you too.

Understanding why and how the Happy Diet works.

A majority of diets today can be very stressful for anyone in their quest to lose weight. The pressure to follow a specific diet dictated by someone else, whether it be from a book, video, program, etc., does not give you control of your path . You are following instructions from “someone” who does not know you personally. Do they know what tickles your fancy? Do they know what will make wince to eat?

Is there really a diet that will make me happy? Yes, simply put, eat food you enjoy. The Happy Diet can work for you if you carefully plan your meals with all the things that you like to eat. You choose what you are going to dine on. When it comes to food, to start (excuse the pun) throw out the frying pan. Less grease on the plate is less weight to lose. Grilling, with out a doubt, is a far healthier and tastier option. Cut down...YES, cut out...NO, you can still nibble on those little goodies as long as you adjust the portion.

Time to get cracking on a diet that makes sense and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Imagine your diet with all the juicy fruits, vegetables and succulent meats that suit your palette. With a little research on proper daily intake of carbohydrates, protein and fat you can begin devising your own diet. There are many places you can find information: browse magazines, the internet, licensed dietician or approach a diet and exercise program to help you find out what is best for you. In additions, before you begin any diet/exercise plan or program, always consult your doctor first. Everyone has different histories that should always be taken into consideration.

Begin by putting together a list of all the foods you enjoy. Start by listing what you like to eat, sort through recipes, food you enjoy at restaurants, or create recipes from food you like. Remember though, these items have to help you shed those excess pounds. Now, narrow it down to the ones that you want to have on your menu to choose from. Just imagine having your own menu at your house to always look at when it it time to eat. This part of the Happy Diet can prove to be very educational and fun to say the least. People will accept a diet if they enjoy all the ingredients. This will result in you examining yourself directly and making your own choices for your personal plan. Diets only work if you adhere to the rules, break them and your desired results will not come. Who wouldn’t want to tailor the game so it is easier to win.

After you have consulted your doctor and made your menu(make sure to factor in your daily intake of calories, carbs, proteins, fats, etc. and of course what you like to eat), now you are ready for the physical side of things.

Here are some ideas that may help speed up the process of getting you to going. Try putting on some music and dance around the kitchen table with the kids, your significant other or by yourself. They may think you are mad, but who cares you are on a mission to find the new you. If you do a full cleaning of the house in one day, try doing it to twice a week. This will help make each cleaning a little quicker and with a bonus of a cleaner house all week long. Walking is a great form of exercise and can be done anytime and anywhere. Have you ever wanted to learn how to salsa dance, cha-cha, waltz, etc.? Try a class, see what happens. Do not expect results over night or any promise of quick results.

Remember this is your plan, so do things when and how it suits you. The results will only come if you stick to the plan that you started. When the rules are broken no one wins. Why would you want to break the rules on the Happy Diet when the disappointment can only be felt by you.