By: Nancy Howard, SparkPeople Blogger
1/24/2009 3:57 PM   :  190 comments

See More: motivation, weight loss,

While reading many of the responses to my recent blog regarding giving up the scale, this reinforced the idea that this journey is not about what is right for others but about what is right for YOU! I heard from many members that the scale can become an obsession, which it was for me; however for others it was and is a valuable tool that allows them to measure their progress. Keep in mind it took me well into my 18th month and many long plateaus before I released myself from scale ownership.

This doesn’t mean I am right and others are wrong or vice versa; but, instead it reinforces the idea that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to losing weight and getting fit. For many having concrete tools for success far exceed how one’s clothes fit, how they feel, or even how well they perform.

I think the longer we travel this path the more we need to understand that there isn’t a generic plan that is right for everyone. But in my four year journey, three of them on SparkPeople, I have discovered that because we are all genetically different, what works for me may and may not work for you. Therefore, we must write our own ‘owner’s manual’ to achieving our own success. This is why SparkPeople is such an amazing site. It allows you to put in YOUR goals, the time to reach YOUR goals, and ways to go about reaching them, especially which exercise mode to follow.

This doesn’t mean the fundamental philosophies of eating a sound diet, following a good cardio, strength training, and flexible workout plan aren’t essential. When you discover how your body responds to the changes, good or not so good, then you can re-evaluate where you are in this journey in order to continue on this path or to determine ways to change directions.

For this very reason when someone asks me what I did to lose the weight, I tell them I joined SparkPeople, I started running, I started strength training, and most importantly I allowed time for the changes to happened. But they shouldn’t expect the same results that I have achieved.

Invariably the next question is, well, how long did it take you? I am always reluctant to tell people because I am afraid they will panic when they hear the time it took me to reach this particular point in my life. For many this is much longer than they could ever imagine and for others, especially those who have been on this journey just as long as I have, a true expectation. But in all reality this journey for me is a life-long journey with no clear destination except good health and good living. And yes, I have changed directions many times.

It’s about reading all that you can so you can better understand this process. Ask questions. The only dumb question is the one never asked. And do not be afraid to fall flat on your face. I believe it is through my mistakes that I have learned the most in my life.

So what I have discovered is there is not one approach that is better than another. Why run if you hate running, why eat cottage cheese if you hate cottage cheese. In other words, know that we are all truly an experiment of one and what works for me may or may not work for you.

How have you gone about writing your own owner’s manual? Do you believe that we are all an experiment of one?