Friend of Julie: Inspiration

Inspiration is an important part of my weight loss journey. It feels good when someone says I inspire them, but I too like to be inspired.

I'm inspired when I'm in a session with Julie and I hear stories of success and failure. It's easy to understand why success inspires me--when one thin person after another talks about having maintained their weight for several years and that they are here again because their size 6 or smaller pants are tight - who wouldn't be inspired? Part of going to her again is to hear such inspiration. So how am I inspired by failures?

I'm inspired by failures because they are also success stories. They indicate lost their mojo and they feel they can't get it back on their own, but they have come back because their pants are too tight. They've learned how to maintain, but as soon as they realize they're beyond maintaining--they returned for more help. This is inspiring, because some day I will too will be learning to maintain my weight. I'm inspired by the fact that so many are able to maintain without having to return and that returning for help is also an option.

I'm also inspired by those in the room who came back because they gained a size or two and want to take it off again, and by others who are there because they have maintained their weight for a while and have decided they want to lose more weight. 

Inspiration comes to me in many forms. I'm inspired by various types of art, be it a collection of work by a street artist or original by Georgia O'Keeffe. Art stirs my creative juices.

Movies inspire me as well. I'm inspired by other people's stories. I believe everyone has at least one inspirational story. I'm inspired by the show the Biggest Loser. I see how hard they work in the gym and how they confront themselves along the way. I'm inspired by the number of them who lose the weight and keep it off. I'm also inspired that I have a found a way less painful journey to lose my weight.

I also like to read inspirational and motivational books, articles, and blogs, and stories about people who were successful in loosing weight and keeping it off. Recently Aime sent me a link to Ben Does Life, written by a guy, who lost 120 pounds and went from being a depressed recluse to a motivational speaker. When asked "what is your advice for someone starting a weight loss journey" Ben replied:

"I have a few things! Be public with your journey. You don’t have to post everything on Facebook, or start a blog, but tell some people that can be there for you. You have to have a support system. Secondly, make goals, but make them small and measurable. And be sure to make non-scale goals such as running a race, completing a certain number of weeks of yoga, or going restaurant-free for X amount of days. Make it fun and cross them off as you go. Lastly, find something that you can have fun with. Running isn’t for everyone. You want to surround yourself with an environment that you can look forward to. Don’t be a slave to the elliptical rider or treadmill. Find an ongoing activity that can become a hobby."

Your turn - What inspires you?