I joined and quit and rejoined Weight Watchers so many times between 2000 and 2009 that I lost count. I even lost weight successfully a couple times but eventually gained it back. Why was this time different? When I joined WW again in 2009, I think the ultimate thing that was different was perseverance. I never quit. I had many ups and downs. I still do. I have struggles right along with my successes, but I keep on going.
Perseverance is defined as “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.” I really like that the definition even states “especially in spite of difficulties” because that truly describes my journey. There have been obstacles. It has never been easy, but I never quit.
We cannot let one bad weigh in be the reason we quit. I gained and lost 10 pounds several times over the past five years. At one point I even gained 20 pounds. That 20 pounds could have become 80 pounds very easily if I had given up. I tried to take it 5 pounds at a time. In the beginning, losing 100 pounds seemed totally overwhelming. Five pounds seemed possible. After I lost 5 pounds, I focused on losing 5 more.
Short-term setbacks didn’t convince me to quit this time. When I joined in 2009, I had also decided I was just over it!! I was over feeling bad. I was over being tired all the time. I was over being depressed and miserable. Committing to change has also helped me be successful. I realized that what I was doing was not working and was not making me happy. The only thing left to do was to change.
When you combine the desire to change with the determination to succeed, there’s no stopping you!
You have it in you to succeed. I do not have any special strengths or abilities. Perseverance is all you need. Don’t ever give up on yourself. You are worth the effort!!
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