Guest Post: Skinny Emmie

It’s my pleasure to post a guest post written by Emily. I love her website and she inspires me every day! Not only that, it was Emily that informed me FIRST magazine was looking for success stories. Because of her, I’m featured in the magazine that came out TODAY. More on that tomorrow. Now…Emily…

Finding Success

by: Emily Sandford, aka Skinny Emmie

I am so happy for Lisa and being featured as a success story in FIRST. For someone as myself who has struggled with weight my entire life, being a success story is something that seems like a dream. You can work hard and push yourself for a while, but to sustain and reach the final destination of GOAL is something that is done so infrequently, based on the harrowing statistics of diet failures (and my own person experience of having restarted a weight loss journey at the rate of about twice per year since I was 10).

image via Bruce Berrien on Flickr

What if we flipped our perspective and looked at each smaller victory as a success story?

I’m 78 pounds into an (at least) 255 pound weight loss journey. Even if I hit 110 pounds lost like Lisa, I’m still not even halfway. Talk about a deflating thought! How will I ever get to the finish line and be called a success?

Sometimes, all you need is a perspective adjustment to feel better. If you flip these thoughts of desperation or longing for reaching the finish line and look at all of the seemingly small accomplishments made to get to this point, the success stories will become evident, even if you’re not at your ultimate goal.

Here are my tips for finding (and celebrating) your successes no matter where you are in your journey:

• Stop the comparisons: I fall into this trap all the time, and even mentioned it at the beginning of this post. I can look at my journey and see that Lisa’s 110 pound weight loss wouldn’t even put me halfway to mine. Instead of using this to spiral me into depression and self-loathing, I have to flip the switch. Lisa is 1 person, and I am another. What she did is fantastic, and what I’m doing is fantastic. To compare myself with her and what she’s already been through is discounting everything that I’ve done so far. So stop.
• Don’t get sucked in: Many times, people read others success stories and decide to follow whatever program the successful person has done, disregarding what has been working for them. Something takes over your inner voice that says “maybe THAT will work faster, or better, than what I’m doing now” and then you abandon your program. While this may work for some who are flailing about, if you have a program that works, why would you be so quick to jump ship? What works for one isn’t guaranteed to work for another. Take a step back and evaluate your program instead of trying to copy someone else’s. Remember, your mileage may vary.
• Use your own measuring stick: Having a big number weight loss isn’t the only way to be a success story. Look for things other than numbers to measure your achievements against. For example, I took my dog for a 2.1 mile walk/jog today, something that 78 pounds ago, I would not have physically been able to handle. According to my measuring stick, this is an amazing success. According to others, it sounds like an insanely little feat that wouldn’t be celebrated. The most important thing to remember is to let you be you, and to not ever minimize your achievements.

So after you pick up the magazine and read about Lisa’s success, congratulate her, and appreciate the hard work she’s done. Then go through these tips above and use the positive energy to propel you to YOUR next success, no matter what that might be. We’ll all be there to cheer with you.

Emily blogs at Skinny Emmie, a weight loss blog that chronicles her 255 pound weight loss journey. She can be reached there, and also on Twitter and Facebook.