Success Stories

Originally Posted: October 2007

But I don't feel like a success. I'm not at goal yet, I still have (6, 12, 20) pounds left to lose. Sound familiar, is this you? I can't tell you how many times I've heard these statements; it seems we're all obsessed with the numbers game.

I recently had the chance to spend an extremely memorable weekend with some beautiful women -- all eDiets members -- and we talked about our own struggles with this very topic. First, let me show you our picture (that's us getting ready to run a Half Marathon, in sub 30-degree temps! Perhaps a psych evaluation is in order...)

Do you see success here? I've known these women for many years and shared in their struggles and their triumphs. I know they are each a success. Yet when asked about a Success Story, each of them (myself included) responded with the familiar phrase, "But I'm not at goal yet." Defined by weight alone, this is NOT the picture of success. So with that, let me tell you a little about each of the women in this photo.

Left to Right:
Cathy C. That's me! I'm 32 years old, and I don't have nearly as many roles to fill as these other tremendous women. I work a full time job, I'm currently single, and I have no children (I've got it easy!). I've trained for three and completed two half marathons (I sustained an injury just days before the second one). Over the past year, I've made sweeping changes in my life and made of it what I want. I've lost 115 pounds with eDiets, yet you'll often hear me say, "but I still have 6 more to go to goal."

Janet W. is next. Janet is a 37-year-old full-time working mother of two young boys, and a wife. Like the rest of this bunch, Janet has recently become a running junkie, devoting several hours per week to support her running habit. To date, she's run two half marathons and is gearing up for a third in January 2008. Janet has lost 56 pounds with eDiets, and has 8 pounds to go to her goal.

Leslie J., 41, also a full-time working mother of two, a wife and a novice runner. Leslie has overcome a life-long battle with eating disorders, and only two hours and change after this photo was taken, she completed her very first half marathon (after only running her first mile just 6 months ago)! She's now getting ready to run her second at the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco in mid-October. Leslie has not had one instance of disordered eating in the past year, and has safely lost 16 pounds with eDiets. She has 30 pounds to lose to reach her goal.

Alicia W., a 37-year-old full-time working mother of three, who also volunteers for both school and church functions in her community. In addition, Alicia lives on a farm with many daily farm chores to complete. Alicia suffered a severe back and hip injury in her late teens that still causes her intense pain on a daily basis. She too has trained for and completed two half marathons. Goal is 35 pounds away for Alicia.

Finally we have Jeanne D. Jeanne is 52. Her son is grown and married, but she juggles a work commute between her small town home in Alabama and Philadelphia on a weekly basis. She's an avid kayaker, adventure racer, golfer and runner! She's also in graduate school part-time, and a caretaker to her aging mother. Jeanne has now completed three half marathons, and preparing for as many as three more in the coming year. Ten pounds stand between Jeanne and her weight-loss goal.

Would you tell any of these women that they are not a success? If they confided in you what they did me, what would you tell them? My hunch is that you'd tell each of these beautiful, strong women that they are not only a success, but an inspiration to us all. Each of these women has something to celebrate and be proud of. Every pound they've lost to date (a combined total loss of 289 pounds!) should be celebrated, goal or not. Those last remaining pounds do not negate the weight loss they've already achieved, the athletes they've become, the tenacity they've exhibited, nor the confidence they've gained.

So let's commit to this together. The next time those dreaded words invade your space, "But I don't feel like a success yet," take a moment to reflect on all of your accomplishments, the daily battles that you face down as you just go through life! Let's recognize that the struggles and the smallest of triumphs are all worth celebrating; whether that be staying on your meal plan just for today, drinking all your water, working out three days this week, losing half a pound, running your first mile, reaching your toes or pulling your belt one notch tighter... Define these as SUCCESS.

Not convinced? I asked Pam Ofstein, eDiets Director of Nutrition Services what she thinks about our focus on the scale. "Think of your scale simply as a way to keep track of your weight -- not your success. The number you see each time you step on it is only one indication of how you are doing. It is more positive to focus on changes in habits verses changes in numbers. Remember the number doesn't determine who we are -- just a guideline for where we want to go."

I like this part the best: "Remember, the number doesn't determine who we are -- just a guideline for where we want to go." Don't get me wrong, the scale has its place and the numbers have to (and will) come down at some point. But starting now, let's broaden our view and start defining a new version of success. Easier said than done, I know. Just let this serve as fair warning to you for when I come knocking down your inbox to write YOUR success story!

Labels: definition of success, half marathon, success-stories, weight-loss