Left Behind

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Left Behind

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Friday, August 17, 2012

If you have been on this journey long I'm sure you have had others join you for a time. Perhaps it was a family member or coworker. Maybe it was a close friend or neighbor. Sometimes this person bolts on ahead of you leaving you in their dust. I had a friend do just that speeding on to a fairly rapid 70 pound weight loss while I was still struggling to get those 1/2 pound losses each week.

It CAN be a little discouraging to be left behind. I want to spend a little time today encouraging you not to feel this way.

FIRST - Every person has their own journey to make. No one can make it for you and your body and circumstances vary from another's.

SECOND - Your journey is not measured by another's but by your own course. Look behind you and see how far you have come. Even if it's not a huge number on the scale it might be measured in more activity, better nutrition choices, improved stamina and health and mental attitude. ALL of these things are a measure of success.

THIRD - Don't be jealous of another's progress. Celebrate their success and write your own chapter in the book of winners! You haven't FAILED at anything. Your journey is just different.

FOURTH - Remember your goals. WHY are you on this journey? YOUR goals may differ from another's. Keep your focus and press on!

While I'm still "obese" I look back 2 years ago and see that I have made HUGE progress. I've lost 76 pounds since joining SP and 91 total. I no longer need a seat belt extension. I can walk two miles. I exercise daily. I can move again and enjoy gardening. I have better health. I'm off many medications. I sleep better. I have more endurance. I am more confident. I smile more. I have made MANY friends. I'm enjoying the journey!

Yes, I've got a ways to go yet on my journey and many are at the destination already enjoying the fruits of their labors. I'm enjoying life RIGHT where I am and still pressing on! That's the key. Life doesn't begin at the finish line - you are living it now!

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. YOUR celebration is coming!

Press On!

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Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOANNHUNT 12/11/2012 10:58AM

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LEALOWE 9/8/2012 2:56PM

Congratulations on your success. Many people who speed by us on the way down (in weight) also speed back by us on the way up as they re-gain the weight they lost. Slow but sure wins the race.

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STINASTEW 9/3/2012 5:38PM

Well said! :)

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TERRIJ7 9/3/2012 3:53PM

Thank you for the great encouragement! You said it very well.

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BETTYBOOPS50 8/28/2012 11:58PM

First-CONGRATULATION. We have to remember that its all those little adjustments we make that pave the road to our final destination. You hit it on the head!

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MISSLISA1973 8/27/2012 7:59AM

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NELLBELLA26 8/25/2012 5:48PM

I really value this information as I've often fallen into the trap of thinking I have failed when someone succeeds at something much more quickly than I have. But as you stated, it's important to remember that your journey is your own and this journey should be all about YOU and not other people.

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

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WHITEANGEL4 8/24/2012 10:44PM

Enjoyed your blog....every 1/2 pound is a milestone and should be cheered.

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IACTA_ALEA_EST 8/24/2012 6:11PM

Yay for every one of your lost pounds and gained habits!

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MRSANDY 8/24/2012 6:33AM

Well said!!

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IFEOMA4 8/23/2012 3:40PM

Every thing you said was just on point

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YESCURLYCAN 8/23/2012 4:26AM

Congrats on your success and

because this was truly a timely blog for me. I just wrote how even though I try not to compare my success to others, I do at times. I will keep your words in mind

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SPSPSP1 8/23/2012 3:11AM

Great points! Congrats on your accomplishments!

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CHERIONE 8/22/2012 8:53PM

Well said!

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TRAINER_T 8/22/2012 5:32PM

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CIERAPOET 8/22/2012 12:18AM

Thank You For Your Encouragement! We've All Seen People Others Speed On Pass Us and Yes That Can Be Bothersome. But Like You Said We Must Look Back At Where We've Come Not Just In Weight Loss But In All Aspects Of This Journey. I'm So Proud of All My Accomplishment and I Thank God For Sending Me Here. We've All Came A Long Way Just By Starting. Great Job In Your Weight Loss and All Your Other Goals! May You Be Richly Blessed In Every Way!
Deb

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TRAGICCNET 8/21/2012 10:23PM

Thank you! Sometimes I need the reminder.

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IN102WIN 8/21/2012 3:47PM

Comment edited on: 8/21/2012 3:47:29 PM

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SANDYGWEE1 8/21/2012 12:44PM

I really needed that reminder. My best friend put me on to Spark People and she has lost a lot of the weight. I am still struggling to stay within my calorie count and excercise consistently. I am a single parent living with my aging parents. My friend is single. We both have busy jobs and plenty of stress. I need to remember not to compare my progress with hers and focus on my own journey. I have made some good progress in self esteem and recognizing my emotional eating. As my Dad often says you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

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CATDUG19 8/21/2012 12:02PM

Awesome blog!! You are so right we need to celebrate all the great things about ourselves. Walking, moving without pain I can never never never take that for granted!! Thanks for posting.

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BANDMOM2012 8/21/2012 11:24AM

Wonderful blog!

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FOREVERTWILIGHT 8/21/2012 11:15AM

Absolutely WONDERFUL blog post. Thank you for sharing.

I know the feeling. My younger sister who was already thin was just trying to lose about ten pounds. (Which is supposed to be the hardest to get rid of.) She dropped the weight like it was nothing. We work out together four or five days a week, so it was difficult to hear her say, "I lost another pound!" every three or four days when I had so much more to lose and was plateaued. My husband also loses weight like it's no one's business. I'll fight tooth and nail for that one pound and he will just cut one thing out of his diet and lose two pounds a week.

You are right though. We should be happy with other people's success. Not jealous. We should focus on our own journey, and be happy for the people we care about when they're successful.

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MARYJEANSL 8/21/2012 9:56AM

You are SO right - even though it isn't always easys to keep remembering!

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BONNYSPARKGIRL 8/21/2012 4:08AM

Wow I needed to read this blog post. Thanks Pinkhope. Taking your advice to heart. I am doing this for me and no one else.

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KRZYKAT3 8/20/2012 11:12PM

WOO HOO! Good for you! and thanks for the journey reminder, I am happy to beback on my onw journey!

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LAVENDERLILY 8/20/2012 10:24PM

for sharing!

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FERFEY02 8/20/2012 10:10PM

Thanks for the encouraging article.

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MBGUYER 8/20/2012 9:35PM

nice writeup! thanks

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SHEILA-45 8/20/2012 8:58PM

Thx for sharing!

by helping one another reach our goals in our own time frame. Slower is better for me as I am determined to maintain healthier lifestyle changes that I know can last a lifetime!

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NAOLEE 8/20/2012 8:25PM

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GETFIT1126 8/20/2012 8:01PM

Thanks! I needed that.

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AGK3112 8/20/2012 6:07PM

Very Nice and Motivated Blog / Information

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FINALLYBEINGME 8/20/2012 3:51PM

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SJKENT1 8/20/2012 3:18PM

Now I'll be singing that song in my head, "Put one foot in front of the other and soon you'll be walking out the do-o-or"

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MSCONE2000 8/20/2012 2:53PM

After a week with no movement in the scale despite increased exercise and minding my nutrician...I really need someone to remind me that its not all about the results on the scale. Great Reminder to all!!

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NHEMBERGER 8/20/2012 1:45PM

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TRICIAE2 8/20/2012 12:17PM

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IRONBLOSSOM 8/20/2012 12:03PM

Great reminder! I get so depressed at how slow the weight is coming off, especially when I hear about people like SlimKatie who lost 125 pounds in 16 months!! I'll be lucky to lost half that in that amount of time!!

But you're right, we're all on our own journey and we all have different ways of getting there. Very timely!

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MARGARITTM 8/20/2012 11:23AM

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ASHOAF1 8/20/2012 10:59AM

This is a great reminder. Thanks for sharing.

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AMARILYNH 8/20/2012 10:39AM

Suzanne, you are such an inspiration! This is SO true: "Life doesn't begin at the finish line - you are living it now!" It is why the Spark way is different - we are making lifestyle changes rather than going on a diet. It may be slower weight loss, but I believe with the support we give each other it will be PERMANENT weight loss!!

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CHANGINGSEASONS 8/20/2012 10:28AM

Great blog. I find myself getting left behind quite often and it's very discouraging. More times than not I just throw in the towel and give up all together..and gain weight back...and feel WORSE than I did before I started. It's def. a positive thing to just concentrate on your own goals and progress.

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DANNYSGIRL6 8/20/2012 10:26AM

You are incredible. The perspective that you provided in this post regarding health and fitness is extremely motivating. RIGHT ON!

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ESME25 8/20/2012 10:19AM

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JLEMUS1 8/20/2012 9:32AM

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CAROLZ1967 8/20/2012 9:16AM

Love the blog! And you are so right...life does not begin at the finish line! Even though there are a few perks when you hit your weight loss goal, most everything else (day to day life, focus and commitment to MAINTAIN wt loss) stay much the same. Life does not all of a sudden get "easy", as you know. So people need to remain realistic about what life will be like once they hit goal. Believe me, the rewards are well worth it but it is still a lot of work and I think it always will be.

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THEBEACHSLAP 8/20/2012 8:34AM

I really need you to follow me around and whisper this blog to me about every two hours. I have felt the same several times and it is hard to get out of the 'woe is me thinking'. Awesome!

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DEBLYNN323 8/20/2012 8:27AM