Jan 2, 2013

For Me


https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/iseefitpeople


I took this from the "I See Fit People" Facebook page. This is one of the few pages I look forward to every day.  If you're on FB, give it a look!

I haven't made New Year's Resolutions in years. Although I think there is a lot of merit in the feeling of "starting fresh" and having renewed optimism at this time of year, I find that once I start to focus too much on any one aspect of my life, the other aspects start to fall apart.

2012 was not a great year for me. It seemed every month there was some problem, tragedy or challenge to face and overcome. Some worse than others, some minor but on top of other issues seemed insurmountable. Some health related, some relationship and family related, some career and some just bad luck related. I like the idea that on January 1, the slate is wiped clean and 2013 brings with it a whole new set of circumstances and opportunities.

But, reality isn't like that. Our bodies don't know a switch was flipped on January 1 and they don't care. Our bodies only react to the actions we take. What they care about is what we do consistently, day in and day out - regardless of what the calendar says.

2012 was the year I let go. I let go of preconcieved ideas I had about weight loss and fitness. I let go of people that I thought were friends for life just because I'd known them a long time. I let go of letting other people dictate my dreams and accepted that my dreams are just as good, even they are not as lofty.

If I am to take anything from 2012, it is that life happens and I can only control my reactions. It is my reactions that make a situation bearable, conquerable or a misery.

As this relates to my weight loss efforts, it means that I am no longer comparing myself to others or to others' ideas of succcess. My focus is to do the best I can with what I have and what I am capable of doing at any given moment. It does me no service to try and live up to standards put out there by "the weight loss community" and bring myself down in the process. I am done believing that if I do "abc", then "xyz" must follow and then feeling like a failure when it doesn't.

It has taken me a long, long, time to lose 50lbs and it will take me a long time to lose the next 50 or so. I am not a bad person because I didn't lose all my weight in 12 months and I won't be a better person when I do get to my goal weight. That does't mean I accept being this weight - I don't - it's not good for my health or my well being.

I can't give any of you weight loss advice, there are far more successful weight loss bloggers than me out there - but I would like to wish you all success and happiness, in whatever forms that takes for YOU.


20 comments:

  1. Go, Enz!

    2013 is going to ROCK! I know it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. So wish I could give you a hug right now. 2013 is going to rock!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Enz
    You said "It has taken me a long, long, time to lose 50lbs and it will take me a long time to lose the next 50 or so."
    Hon, who's counting? You got it spot on - it's your journey and no-one can ever tell you how to make it. It's a good journey and that's the best we can ever ask of ourselves, that we do 'it' (whatever 'it' is) for ourselves. Have a splendid 2013.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy New Year! Thanks for the FB page recommendation! As long as you keep trying I would say that is success!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy New Year!!! I wish you much success and happiness for 2013!

    Kimberley

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Enz, very well said! I understand your journey isn't over, but in my opinion losing 50 lb and keeping it off should meet anyone's standards or ideas of success. If not, then they're the ones with the problem!

    ReplyDelete
  7. And by the way, GREAT to hear from you again! Thanks for the Welcome Back!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year, Enz! I love this post a lot -- your attitude is always so inspiring to me. xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. At the end of the day, if we are judged, it won't be by the size of our jeans, the shape of our abs, or the numbers on the scale.

    Who we are as persons in the family, the community, the workplace, and the circles of friends is what will matter most.

    But if we can be happier with ourselves, we can manage all of persons within us that much better.

    Keep on!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Enz for the cheers over at my blog. You're always supportive!! Wishing you all the best for 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's easy for me to get down on myself for my recent backslide. I have trouble telling myself that because I gained the weight, it doesn't mean I'm a bad person. It means I put priorities in other places and had challenges that seemed bigger than weight loss.

    Thanks for the insight.

    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy and succesfull new year to you.

    Mick

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a realistic and empowering post! Totally true you can only control your reaction to things that happen in life. In my experience slow and steady wins the race with weight loss. It has taken me over 2 years to lose my baby weight, but it has been gradual and consistent AND achievable because it wasn't drastic and fit in with my lifestyle.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for your comment Enz. I've always thought of you as my biggest encourager!! This is our year!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Good to see you are still blogging Enz! I'm back after a 2 year dive and ready to put the last 2 years behind me. Good luck to both of us!
    FogDog Weight Loss

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for all your comments Enz!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm new to your blog via Half Size me. I found your post AND the podcast to be very relatable, which I LOVE!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I loved this post. Really.

    And I wanted to thank you for your support during my really hard time.. I appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy New Year Enz, loved this post, so raw and real.
    Life would be so much easier if there were no obstacles in our way, but the way I look at it is if not for those obstacles I would not be who I am today. Some times it really sucks and we think, how much more can I take...and then one day it all makes sense.
    Much luck to you this year Enz, you are going to be just fine
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete