My journey didn’t start back in December when I decided to get up, move forward and take control of my life. It started back when I began reading Tyler’s blog over at 344pounds sometime during the September before. I’m not sure how my Google reader came about to suggest that I start reading his blog. I wasn’t really reading stuff on weight loss at the time but Google reader suggested it and I followed its recommendation. He began to speak directly to me without even knowing he was doing it. Three months later I found myself beginning my own journey to lose 100 pounds. I would comment here and there on his stuff, not really knowing how this blogging world worked but eventually I took the plunge and started my own blog. In the beginning I felt alone and unsure that I could even lose 10 pounds. I didn’t have a blogroll and I certainly didn’t know a single soul doing what I was about to start.
I began to search for other weight loss blogs. Eventually I found people just like me. People wanting to lose weight and do it right. People wanting to take control of their lives; fighting to become not only healthy in body but also healthy in spirit and mind. People who understood me. Some of those people were way ahead the game. Giving me the necessary support to keep moving. Most of them were just starting out, like me. We banded together and off we went down a path that would change our lives forever.
The reason I’m saying all of this today is because I don’t know where you are on this journey. Maybe your way ahead of the game. Maybe you’re just starting out. Maybe google reader suggested you read my blog today and something inside of you is telling now is the time.
Reach out.
Know that you are not alone. We understand. Even if you think we don’t. We do. We know what’s like to cry and be mad at ourselves. We know what it’s like to move the scale around on the floor in hopes that it will give us a different number. We know what it’s like to look down at the apple we’re about to eat and secretly wish it was a ginormous chocolate chip cookie. We know what it’s like to see someone running outside and pray that someday that might be us. We know what it’s like to get so close to a goal only to have it slip away for another day.
We know.
We also know what it’s like to cross finish lines, enter Onederland and put on a size 34 pair of pants for the first time since middle school. My friends (and I consider anyone that has been a part of my journey my friend) are there for me everyday when I can’t be there for myself. We’ve weaved our lives together through blogging, facebook, twitter and even eventually being able to meet in real life to become friends that hug after races as we cheer each other on to run like the wind toward the finish line and to cross it with a smile. These people are my lifeline. I may not know them personally because we’ve never met face to face…
But I know them.
We have cried together. Laughed together. Lost and gained weight together. We’ve stopped binges together and planned meals together. We’ve shared intimate details of our journeys together. We’ve opened the door to Onederland together and shut the door to our past together. We’ve celebrated the Non Scale Victories together and put a hand on the shoulder of someone ready to give up together. I am grateful for all that they have given me. I am grateful for all that I have given them. A path can be scary when you feel alone and unsure which direction to take. When you grab the hand of a friend, its just that much easier. So today I write a simple thank you to some of those friends that have been with me since the beginning. I’m not going to link their blog or tell you to go friend them on twitter, that’s not the point. The point of this post is to tell you reach out and band together. Support and love one another as you take on this Life Changing Journey. It’s scary, it’s hard and it is worth every step.
Val
Sharla
Brandon
Molly
Vinny
Michael
Tyler
Jess
Seth
Jeremy
Kelly
Rachel
Bobbie
Meegan
Ed
Robby
Aliza
Sheetal
Thank you.
You are an incredible person, Tara. I haven’t commented much on your blog, but I read it faithfully. I started reading back around February and have been in awe ever since.
I’m about where you started your LCJ. I’ve been trying to work on changing that, but I keep making excuses. So, I’ve gone back and read some of your posts from back then. You were a machine!!
So, alas, I begin again…a journey to world I’ve never been in. Thanks for posting your honest thoughts and feelings as they have resonated with me. I continue to wish you success as you move to maintenance. I hope to be there with you, some day.
You will get to where you envision yourself…stop thinking “I hope” and start thinking “I will”. This journey didn’t survive on sheer hope. It survived (and continues to survive) on sheer determination to see success and to finally rid myself of the fat.
You will!
End of story.
It is your comment and comments like this that keep me reading, keep me struggling, keep me banging my head into that red X and moving forward.
I know I can do this, and I will.
Amen for reaching out. What would we all do without each other? We can do it alone, but why on earth would we want to?? Why make something that is already so hard, that much harder? Friendship, support, accountability, love, understanding, and even the kick-in-the-pants when you need it. THAT is what makes this process a little easier. What a relief.
The best part about this journey is meeting people and finally knowing someone really does understand.
Excellent post. There are so many people who I am so happy I’ve “met” through this online weight loss community, you among them. When it gets tough sometimes, it’s excellent to know that we have each other to turn to.
tough times, sad times, even time of absolute hilarity!
Wow, yep…cry together…even when it is the first post you read of someones…when you see that they “get it”
tara i love you! i think about you everyday, no joke. you are awesome.
Miss Molly you are never farther away than a Holla in my mind! Word.
Awesome. Mine was Jack Sh*t. I looked up elliptical on twitter and he was the first one to show up. I saw the WIDTH posts and I knew what I had to do. Ryan pointed me to you, and I’ve been hooked. Thanks for sharing Tara.
We find each other for a reason. I’m pretty excited I get to be one of your reasons and vice versa!
If thanks is required – its is always always always mutual between the two of us.
I know you know the size of my gratitude because I feel it from your direction too.
T-20 weeks. April 2011. xox
Holy crap!!!! 20 weeks!!!!!
<3
Love you, Tara!
You are an awesome individual.
So absolutely true! There are people that I have “met” through blogging that will be friends for life. The people who are in this community probably know more about my inner thoughts than the people in my everyday life. They know how much we/I struggle, they know when to be strong for each other. We all support each other without question, and it’s such an amazing thing 🙂
I love, love, love ur blogs! I am very new to the blog world, I’m really happy I started. Your blogs are very candid and real. I’m jus starting my journey once again and I hope to stay focused and see it through this time. Congrats on your success and thanks to u too!
Totally crying. Must go blog. Love you!
[…] wrote an amazing post (as usual!) that got me thinking. Reaching out is incredibly hard. For me. And probably for some of […]
This is great. And just what I needed. I just started blogging a little over a month ago, I have no idea what i’m doing. And i have NO idea what a blog roll is. Guess I have some homework to do tonite. 🙂
Thank YOU Tara! You have always been such a huge inspiration for me, and always have positive and encouraging words to give. It’s funny, you and I both got started on this LCJ at right about the same time, and we both got started from Tyler’s blog.
The people in this community are an amazing bunch, and I absolutely know that I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been so far if it weren’t for all of you.
This is such a great post. Honestly, without the blogging community we each find, where would we be? You’ve continually been an inspiration to me and helped me keep going even when I got stuck with the weight loss. So THANK YOU.
A
M
E
N
It takes a Tribe and ours ROCKS.
So good to talk to you this morning! You are busy thanking everyone, but I need to thank you. I was SOOO stuck on that week 4 of C25K. You didn’t know me at all, but came up and offered encouragement and support that helped me push through that extended run. I look forward to followling your blog. 🙂
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