Redefining Success

chayleah

I saw a wonderful nugget of wisdom buried in another post and I just wanted to pull it out hoping that this will stick for someone the way it has stuck with me.

"IF YOU GAINED THE WEIGHT BACK, IT WASN'T A "SUCCESS"."

How many have said WW worked for me or I successfully lost xx lbs on "name diet of the week" but I gained it back when ....

Of course there are exceptions to this...pregnancy, injury, illness. But for most of us "life" gets in the way. If your new way of eating/exercising isn't sustainable through life's ups and downs then it really isn't a lifestyle change.

In the past I was only focused on the goal #, that was my sole motivation and I was "successful" (when success=losing weight, but I want to lose AND maintain the loss) This time I am focused on the process.

Last year I focused on moving more. I started with 2 days/week of exercise and over the course of a year built up to 4-5 days/week. I lost 13lbs last year. Most people would consider 13 lbs in a year a failure but it was a huge victory for me. 1st because I am now an exerciser...I look forward to it and always find ways to move a little more each day. And 2nd because every year prior to that I would lose 10 lbs at the beginning of the year, maintain through summer and gain it back in winter. This year I am focusing on eating better food and if I dont lose another pound changing my eating habits and maintaining my current los. s will be a Success.