Thursday, January 8, 2009

Support is such a great thing!

Support is the key for me. In all the attempts in my life to lose weight I never realized that, but this time I do. Support (for me) is essential to my success.

This is hard for me to type, because I have always seen myself as this strong, independent woman who can do it all on her own. Factors in my childhood forced me to care for myself and my younger sibling from about the age of 9 - and I guess since then I have always felt like I have to do it all alone. Which is weird, because I am married, and in most things I realize that we work together as a team to make this life great - but sometimes I just can't get past the feelings of that little girl who had to take it on alone.

Asking for help has always been hard for me.

As many of you know, my husband has been a great support to me through this weight loss journey this time around because he has chosen to get healthy himself - so we are doing this together (although he isn't actually doing WW). But that came on its own, I didn't ask him for help with that. He just woke up one day after I had started to lose weight and he made that decision for himself, which is good. I know that my example prompted him to change, but I didn't ask him to.

I have a friend that comes to WW with me. I didn't ask her to join, or to help me, she asked me if she could tag along. I love that she does - it definitely helps, but I didn't ask for that help.

One of the Weight Watchers Helpful Habits is to ASK FOR HELP. Their research has proven that having the help of those around you helps you to sustain weight-loss efforts. I now KNOW this to be true.

I now realize that I did ask for help. When I made the conscious effort to put this blog out there for all of cyber-space to read, that I was asking for help. I was looking for help and encouragement from others who are currently or who have battled with their weight. I DID IT - I ASKED FOR HELP!!! ME!!!

And that's what I got. All my times of success have been cheered on - and more importantly, this week, when I was feeling LOW and like I was struggling, in came the HELP that I needed by way of blog comments. You guys ROCK!!! You have helped me put things in perspective and realize that I am NOT going to give up. My team members have been great - GO TEAM LYNN!! But also others who are not doing the Biggest Loser Blog Edition - and even those on Team Angie (you're going down - lol) have supported me.

I probably shouldn't single anyone out - but I'm going to. Lisa has been supporting my blog almost since I began it - and her words really encourage me. She is also an inspiration as she has just lost 1/4 of the weight she wants to lose. So, thanks Lisa, you help to make this journey easier for me.

And THANKS to all of you who have commented, or even just read this blog - we can all reach our goals if we continue to reach out to each other.

Go TEAM Lynn!!

BTW, I am totally back OP!!!




7 comments:

K-Pow said...

Very very cool post.

Asking for help straight out is a very difficult thing to do for some people. I'm glad that you are able to find the help & support that you need. I think that is a huge step in the right direction.

Sooooo glad to hear that you are back OP as well. Its very easy to give up and I'm so glad that you didn't!

Team Lynn kicks ass!

Unknown said...

its great to have the support from people like that and not even have to ask them to do it. That's very hard to find and never take that for granted. Your going in the right direction and there is nothing but success for the future.

Fatinah said...

how nice that you came to this realization!

Team Lynn Rocks!

MeltingLisa said...

Awwwww you made me tear up! Thank you so much for your kind words Jen :) I see so many similarities in our way of thinking which makes it so much easier to help each other :)

You are so right, asking for a little help is key to success in most things.

You are having such great insights - there is no way you won't make it to goal!

Thanks again Jen :)

Tammy said...

I have a tough time asking for help and more times than not don't. The support I need is given many times without my asking, but that is being blessed with amazing friends more than anything else.

Team Lynn is going to rock this out!

Tanya said...

Asking for help is hard. I'm glad to hear you finally did it.

Vanessa said...

Great post!

Glad to hear you're back OP too. That's always such a nice feeling.

I don't think asking for help/support takes away from your strength and independence at all. Doesn't it take strength to admit that you need help? Isn't this just you utilizing your resources (friends, family, fellow bloggers) in such a way that benefits your health and happiness?

That's how strong, independent women get ahead in life...by making the most of what's available to them. So I'd say asking for help makes you one strong lady :-)

Go Team Lynn!