It's MORE than weight loss!

So, a few months ago I reached my goal (from 166lbs/size 14, but really a 16 but squeezing into a 14, to 133 lbs/size 6 and can sometimes SQUEEZE into a 4). I never ever thought I could do it, but I did! The secret.....HARD WORK and COMMITMENT. Once I started MFP, I stuck to my calorie goal. Once I started exercising, I kept at it and started challenging myself. And the more I challenged myself, the more I lost. The more challenges I met, the more excited I became. It became less about losing weight (though that was super important) and more about meeting the next self-imposed challenge. I learned that my hatred of exercise was what I "told" myself and that actually, once I started feeling successful in my attempts to do things I hated, the less I hated them. I don't really hate running. I don't really hate sweating. Who knew??

Now, here's what I really want to say....to all of the folks on MFP who ask for motivation and for reasons to continue on this admittedly difficult journey.....look in the mirror! Be your own motivation! Do you know how FREEING it is to know that you can do things you never thought you could do???? I've now run several 5Ks, have my 2nd 10K next weekend, and am running a 15K trail run in June. I'll run a half marathon sometime this Fall. Who knew I could do this?????? But here's the real kicker....this past weekend I went rock wall climbing with my daughter. EEK! I have never ever ever done something like that before! I never thought I wanted to. I never thought I could. It would never have occurred to me that I would be able to get my butt up that wall and ring that damn bell. BUT I DID!!!!! And my daughter said to me, "Mom, you never would have done this before you started running! You are a lot more confident now."

This isn't about weight loss. It's about being a better you! It's about proving to yourself that you can do the difficult. You can meet the challenges you set for yourself. You are your own motivation. Losing weight is HAAARD. No doubt about it. But you can do it, if you are willing to work hard and commit. Running is hard. But you can do it if you are willing to work hard and commit. Same with swimming or dance or unicycling. Whatever. You can do ANYTHING if you are willing to work hard and commit.

This is about freedom. Freedom from the burden of thinking "I can't". Freedom from watching from the sidelines. Freedom from the anxiety of shopping.

To those of you who want to give up because it's hard....DON'T! Just want it more. Want it so badly that you are willing to sweat, to say "no" to foods you want to say yes to. To say "yes" to exercise you want to say no to. YOU.CAN.DO.IT!

Me before:

Me at 5K last weekend:

Me scaling rock wall:


MADE IT!