Trust in the process, the results will follow

Runagain_4 wrote: »

I'm only a third of the way to my ultimate goal, and I may never reach it. But I'm still proof that little changes can make a big difference over time. I'm a third of the way closer than I was just over 2 months ago. I'm healthier, more energetic, and way more positive than I was then too. And every day I find myself trusting more and more in the process.
Give yourself more than just a number on the scale. Give yourself more time than ''immediately, right now!'' to get slimmer and healthier and more positive. Give yourself a chance. You won't get there in a day, but you'll get better and better on the way there

Just thought I'd check in since it's been quite a while since I wrote the original post. It's always nice to catch up on a ''success story''.
My perception of success is probably a lot different than a lot of people's at this point in time. My success doesn't involve having reached goal weight. Yet.
My success involves still being here, still determined to reach goal. I'm a bit closer than when I originally posted, about 2/5 of the way, not quite halfway to goal. I've averaged a 0.1 lb/week weight loss over the last two and a half years. Infinitesimally small loss by most accounts. But I'm still here. I'm still determined. Here's what happened:
After the initial post, I lost progressively for a few more months. I stayed on track, I stayed focused. No sooner would I gain than it would come off. I was well on my way to goal, about 2/3 of the way there.
I went on six vacations in a 12-month period. I did extremely well exercise-wise on all six. I failed diet-wise on the sixth. I forgot to log after over almost a full year of consistently logging. I didn't lose the few lbs I'd gained once I got back from vacation. I didn't go back to logging consistently or weighing in regularly.
Things didn't slide too badly though.
Then I went on vacation in October 2016 and woke up one morning with 3 herniated cervical discs (out of nowhere). I was in agony. I couldn't lie down, couldn't sit. I could stand, but every step jarred. After an agonizing 12-hour trip home, it took me 3 weeks to recover to the point where I could go back to work. Sleeping continued to be sporadic. Walking was a chore. My doctor advised not to do any exercise or physically strenuous activity for at least 3 months. I got depressed. I gave in to emotional eating. I went back to Pilates eventually, but I kept on eating.
Within 11 months, I realized my weight had crept right back up to where it had been when I started. But I was determined not to beat my highest weight.
I pulled up my big girl pants and started logging again. I got serious about walking and Pilates again. I started watching what I put into my body. And the weight started going down again. Not fast, but in the right direction.
Then, about a month ago, I found out I am pre-diabetic. This was shocking, because while I'm still above the weight I'd like to be, my BMI is 23, on the upper end of the normal range. This brought about a few more dietary changes, and the elimination of most of my beloved carbs; surprisingly, I'm not craving them, and I'm actually feeling a lot better these days. Because of these restrictions, I now log on a carb manager app more than on MFP (because I'm too lazy to log on both sites), but I log every single day.
I am still focused on the goal. I am still working on it every day. My success may quite possibly never be measured in a number. But I am still here. 0.1 lb/week lighter on average than when I last wrote. Almost halfway to goal.
I am still here. And so are you.
And that's what really counts.