Determined To Succeed

The highest peaks of our achievements and successes will always go through the lowest valleys of failure. And dare I say some of that flavor – humility, patience, the ability to learn and grow from mistakes and most of all, appreciation for weight loss success – comes from, you guessed it, failure. In other words, you absolutely must risk failure. You have to throw yourself out there and say you are going to be on this weight loss journey no matter what and no matter how hard. You will probably have setbacks. I know I do. When I came back from Chicago after my mom died I gained back 20 pounds. I know I’ve always been an emotional eater, and my mom’s passing caused me such sadness that I turned to my old comfort foods for warmth when I felt cold and alone. I wasn’t happy about gaining the weight back. Not in the least. I was angry at myself. But I knew I wasn’t going to let her death from cancer beat us twice. I forgave myself, picked myself up and got back on track.

Failure is a matter of perspective and nothing more. Think about it. If you take three steps forward and then fall two steps back remember you didn’t fail. YOU ARE STILL A STEP AHEAD!!! Who cares if it takes a few months or even years to lose those pounds? No process means no patience. No patience means no understanding and appreciation for when we finally get what we want. It also means no true understanding of this journey to get from point A to point B.

If you are afraid of failing then you deny yourself the opportunity to embrace these failures and learn from them, enabling you to eventually succeed no matter what you do. You should never mistake past setbacks as a destiny of failure. They’re not permanent unless you let them be. New experiences always replace old ones and allow you to create different realities with success the potential outcome. In trying to re-lose those same darned 20lbs I learned what foods do and don’t work with my body, what exercises help me lose weight, etc. All of that came from trying (and trying again).

I am a “normal Joe” who wants his own trials and tribulations to inspire people to lose weight because we are all the same. Anyone fighting the “battle of the bulges” is in this fight together. My story is our story. I lost the weight of a grown man, which I cannot even lift in the gym! That is a huge accomplishment (no pun intended) and no matter whether you want to lose 5 lbs. or 50 lbs., or even 100 lbs., I believe in you and I believe you can do it just like I have.

By bringing your life and your body into a healthier new balance.