Nobody's Further Along Than You

[SusieQ]

Do you ever sometimes get discouraged when the friend you joined WW with has lost of all of her 20 pounds, and you've still got 60 to get to goal? Or find that you get envious of someone who loses steadily, while you go in fits and starts? Wish you just automatically be at Lifetime already?

Well, here's something to keep in mind.


The friend who's lost 20 pounds is working the program. The steady loser is working the program. The gal at Lifetime status is working the program. Yes, at Lifetime, she's still working the program.

No matter where we are with our weight....we are all just working the program.

Losing or maintaining, we're all doing the same thing: discovering ways to nourish our bodies and feel great. Those of us who are losing are not on diets. No, we're experimenting with food and activity behaviors that we will live with the rest of our lives. The weight loss is a by-product of those behaviors!

[glow=red,2,300]We are all just working the program.[/glow]

So the next time you feel a bite because you see someone who seems to be "further along" than you....just remember....they aren't, really. They are working the program, just like you. Nothing changes in maintainance that significantly. You are already there, every day that you use your head in making your food and activity choices.

There is no end to this. This is just life. That's why we have to make choices that we can live with for a lifetime, and why small changes count so much...because they add up over time. Think of it as freeing you from the tyranny of the scale. It doesn't matter how fast it goes down. It doesn't matter how long it takes you....because nothing is going to change when you get there.

The rewards of being slender - great health, more vitality, energy, wider choices in clothing - all can be enjoyed along the way. (They tell us even a 10% loss provides great health benefits!)

So try to remember to focus on the now, make it rich and rewarding and nurturing, and the goals will take care of themselves. Nobody's further along than you...we are all here, just working the program. ;D

Susie

[vita77]

What a great concept! I can't tell you the number of times I've encountered someone who's upset or angry because s/he feels s/he doesn't measure up to someone else. It's a race without a finish line, isn't it?

[simpsoncd75]

It might be also good to remember that someone else is probably jealous of your progress.

[becky]

Thanks, Susie.
As a leader of At-Work WW meetings, I need to remind members of this occasionally.

The groups tend to not be dynamic--rarely many new members, so they get very familiar with each other and their histories with weight loss. I remind them it is not a competition and that one person's struggle with 5 or 10 pounds is just a valid as that of someone with 100+ to lose.

Thanks for a few new points to make to my groups when this comes up next time.

Becky

[dennes]

Oh I like this Susie! I do that all the time--look at someone else's progress & wonder why I can't do better. I ask --what am I doing wrong? I find it hard to think that someone who has only 10 pounds to lose can even understand what over 100 pounds means. And all the while life is happening now, not in the future. Once I said when I get thin I'm going to get a French manicure. My husband said no you're not! Get it now! When I look at my beautiful nails I think--these are my thin hands & I am encouraged.

[akansan]

I love this concept. My sister and I are losing together (roommates, both Core followers), and while we're losing at the same rate, she's always been about 10 pounds lighter and built differently. The 10 pound gap remains the same, but she looks like she's lost more weight than I have, and she's fitting into smaller sizes sooner than I am.

This is a great thing to keep in mind!

[jojopaul]

Thanks for the perspective. I really needed that.

[denisephd]

Boy!!! did I REALLY need this! I lost weight so consistantly and quickly at the beginning because of my set determination and strict following of the plan. The past year I've been kinda wandering and playing with it. I've lost more but MUCH MUCH slower. I also tend to want to beat myself up... "If I had just not blown it or stayed on program better I would be at goal by now.... " etc. I KNOW this is stinkin' thinkin'!!

Thanks again!!!