Ah Ha Moment

I just had an ah ha moment. I just realized that I am a success story. Let me explain.

As those who know me well are probably aware, my weight is probably the thing that I'm most sensitive about. It's the thing I obsess over the most (though the obsession list is not limited to that), and one of the factors that can most influence my mood. I have the "Fat Kid Syndrome," and as much weight as I've lost (and gained and lost), I've still considered myself a failure because I'm not at my goal weight.

I've told myself that I've done better than the 80% of people who have lost weight. I've told myself that I should be proud to have maintained at least a 65-70 pound weight loss through all my ups and downs. I've told myself that even the Biggest Loser competitors have gained weight back, and they had all kinds of professional resources. But all the things I've told myself have, in my mind, been like consolation for a loser. It was just a way to try to comfort myself over my failure, like saying, "At least I didn't come in last place."

Then today I was writing an e-mail about how I used to be inspired by the Richard Simmons infomercials and how those people had the guts to finally say enough is enough and do something. I suddenly realized that I WAS one of those people. It should have been clear before, but it just wasn't. I may not be at my goal weight. I may have gone up and down, but I have never stopped fighting. I have made real and lasting changes. I will never again be the girl who eats fast food almost every day. I will never again be the girl who doesn't make an effort to move on a regular basis. I will never again have a hard time fitting into an airplane seat. I may not win every battle, but I will win the war. When I fall, I will get back up again. I AM a success story. Thank God. One less thing to worry about.

I really liked some of the weight loss success stories I read today. I've included the link for one of them. One of parts I liked the most was the response to question 9.

http://caloriecount.about.com/power-within-oneself-b324938