Success is more than a number on the scale

Alison,

You are a huge LOSER !!! which of course, makes you a WINNER !!!

Let me say this....I think you have done an amazing job at your weight loss and at handleing life in general.

I'll pm you my # let's nail down a lunch date. NOW ! Maybe split a salad at green house ? Or we can each get one and eat off it for days !!!

Big hugs !

Gurl, I've told you this before & I'm gonna say it again. You are a big time inspiration to me & a lot of other people here on OH. Your struggles are not uncommon. We all have our issues. You have continued to grow & thrive though this journey. Luv ya gurl, for reals!!!

 I know but it's still rough. I'm a work in progress :)

No, you are right,,,,it is not JUST about numbers.....but while we are on that subject....200 lbs!!!! seriously?!! that takes a huge amount of self control, self analysis, and just straight up HARD WORK. That is truly amazing and very inspiring. I know what it is like just to lose 10 lbs.....200...is just....well....it just is!!  

When you get yourself down or in a slump of sorts,,,you remember all that you have accomplished. You remember that YOU are more than just a number, more than just what your body looks like. You are motivating a lot of people here on this board and probably a lot more in your "real" life.

Keep your head up high and be PROUD.

I am only about a month post-op and I am so glad I started counseling a couple months prior to my surgery (and will continue for months/years to come).  It has helped so much.  Also, learning how to actually own my own emotions and not play a blame game or take on myself responsibilities or mistakes of others.... I could go on and on about how emotionally disfunctional I can be and have been.  I would continue this roller coaster, but I have decided not to.  I actually had to make that dicision and it sounds like you have too. 

Congratulation on becoming the person you were intended to be... emotions and all.  Your success is a wonderful encouragement to me.  So please know, your success is more than just weight loss and all the other goals you have reached, it is encouraging others to believe in themselves and to succeed as you have.  Thank You!

You are doing truly amazing. Congratulations !!! Try not to stress to much. Your'e awesome.

Lovely stuff...  That's the work isn't it, when were struggling and don't we all have lots of work to do.  (will we do it?)  We all want an easy road but the truth is, we grow stronger thru our struggles, that's were the growth comes from.  If I can take away, learn something, during every one of them, no matter how poorly I do in the struggle, well when you pile all those take aways up, then those times of struggle become the solid ground, we later, call success.   The lie is, that the struggles themselves, mean failure, they don't, if we look hard for something to learn in every one of them, like you write today, we mortar in another section of solid ground to stand on.... 

I'm sure you have heard it before but maybe this is a good time to repeat it; HALT (I think its from AA) it doesn't take in all our emotions but I have found its a pretty good tool to remember, if I am; Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired, I am vulnerable to make negative choices and before I act out, I try to identify the feeling with the compulsion to want to make a negative choice, its not magic but it does nurture the power of that emotion in my mind, by just recognizing what my feelings are at the time.  (Yea and sometimes I don't even have the strength to remember that tool but I purpose too use it and more and more, I do)  I have found its even more powerful tool, to log these emotions and events, then you have something to refer too, to remind you of your patterns and prior victories.  Theres a lot of work on this jorney, the best fruit, can be found beyond the surgeons cut!!!

OH confessional time.  I was at my mom's at Christmastime and she was telling me all of the reasons why I shouldn't be part of a support community "in the computer"  I calmly explained why it was so great and then showed her some pics that you had just posted of befores and of you at work, I think.  I told her it was great to see others doing really well and boy did she love your pics!  She's never given me a hard time about the computer again.  I think you are over the failure feelings, but if they come back, remember the ones following after your surgery day that see you are really successful and inspiring AND you made my mom chill out for a minute! That is no easy task, believe me.

 That's a nice story - thank you :)    I don't know your mom, but i'll never forget her :-p

Glad u crossed being a failure off of ur list because looking at ur stats its impossible for u ever to be a failure.  Hang in there and glad ur getting back on course!