GENA - Re: Morning vent

[Guest guest]

Dear dear Gena,

>>Even after exercising 11 days in a row and I have been eating good,

drinking my water, the works. I'm about ready to scream here!<<<

How my heart feels for you - I understand EXACTLY how you feel when

you do everything right and still the weight doesn't drop. You start

asking yourself 'is it all worthwhile'?

Well, firstly, imagine what your weight would do if you WEREN'T

working so hard!!!

Secondly, all those muscles you are building up weigh much more than

the fat they are replacing.

Thirdly, what about giving yourself credit where credit's due? Just

look at your workout schedule. You should be SOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of

yourself and your determination. I bet you never in your wildest

dreams thought you would be able to achieve this level of fitness and

commitment.

Fourthly, TRUST and BELIEVE your chiropractor and gym trainer. They

know what they are talking about. They have probably seen many people

in the past with serious doubts about the 'worthwhileness' of all the

work it needs to get healthy and fit. I'm sure they haven't seen too

many with your strength of character and your determination to

achieve though.

>>>>I have to say, I have even had thoughts of not being as active

here.<<<<

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT did you

say?

>>>> I feel like who am I to give advice when I haven't lost in over

a year?<<<<<

Gena, Gena, Gena, listen to your Auntie Marie my sweet. WLB is about

MANY things but the most important one as far as I am concerned is

MUTUAL SUPPORT. What makes this such a special place to be is that

we all have a very personal acquaintance with the despair of being

overweight. It is so much more 'real' to share our struggles,

successes, frustrations, joys, discoveries and secrets with people

who KNOW what it is like from personal experience. We all know how

unreal it seems to be given weight loss advice by someone who would

be horrified if they gained a single ounce on their hourglass frame.

THAT'S NOT WLB and not what we're here for. Your honesty about your

struggles and your willingness to share them so openly are so

important to everyone. We all know that our journey is a difficult

one - we need ENCOURAGEMENT more than we need ADVICE sometimes and

your encouragement to the group in general as well as to individual

members facing particular issues is phenomenal. You give so much of

yourself. Hopefully YOU can now draw some encouragement from other

members' support for you. I know that I personally would be

devastated if you 'drew back'. Of COURSE I will understand if you

have to curtail your participation because it's it getting too time

consumimg (or for other personal reasons) but I want you promise me -

look me right in the eye dear - that you will NEVER consider

withdrawing or hanging back because you feel that you are 'not the

right person to give advice'. OK, do we have a deal???? After all

you have given of your time, your energy, your concern, your care,

your love and yourself it's now YOUR turn to receive. Please allow

yourself to receive as well as give. Sometimes it's hard I know, but

promise me you'll try.

>>>> I'm soo frustrated!!!!!!<<<

Sweetie, we ALL know how that feels. It takes courage to admit it

though and you are courageous enough to do just that.

>>>>I keep trying to take my own advice and think about how far I

have come but that only goes so far. I also try to think about that

when you aren't seeing results, see what you can to change and use

your frustration to get more determined but I have been doing that

and still nothing! I just don't know anymore. <<<<

Dear gentle Gena, revel in your successes to date, rejoice in your

insights, draw strength from the support of your friends here and

accept that we are in control of our actions, NOT the outcomes. You

are doing EVERYTHING right. You know you are. You have already

achieved a new level of fitness. Don't worry too much about what you

can't control - the scale WILL reflect your efforts eventually but

try not to concentrate on that. After all, I'm sure your goal weight

isn't the REAL reason you are here. The numbers themselves mean

nothing - they are just a 'concrete' way of expressing 'good health'

and I'm sure that good health is far more likely to be the reason you

began this journey. Look back at the past year a reflect on how much

you have achieved in your quest for a new, healthier way of life. I

bet you'll be amazed when you compare the Junne 2003 Gena to the Gena

of 12 months ago.

>>>> Don't get me wrong. I'm not giving up by any means. <<<<

Phew, I'm pleased and extremely relieved to read that.

>>>Just had to vent.<<<<

Don't we all? There's nothing like a good healthy vent from time to

time!!!!! Feeling better now dear???

SQUGS,

Marie