Funny, huh! The ladies in charge of "Waist Management"give these stickers to anyone in the group who's lost
five or more pounds!
I've always been pretty interested in learning about health and nutrition, but this class has been that extra boost I've needed to lose those last few pounds that I've been trying to lose, well, for years, honestly. Not that I feel I've needed to lose a ton of weight or anything, but this has been a goal for my own "personal best" that I've had for a long time, and I can honestly say that the weekly class and the weigh in especially have been so crucial to my success. Having that accountability element has been what's motivated me to get out of bed in the mornings to go hit the gym and to stay away from treats and just live and eat better. I don't think I've ever felt so great, and I mostly just feel good about accomplishing something that I've said I was going to do. I've never been so proud to be a big loser! :)
The second accomplishment may not seem like a big deal, but it's a huge step forward for me. I asked for help. In a moment of stress and frustration, I asked a friend for help. Maybe not a big deal to those of you who are better at this (and a lot less prideful!) than I am, but I really, REALLY struggle with asking anyone for help. I somehow have it in my head that I just need to suck it up and get through whatever I'm struggling with alone. I know, how prideful and dumb, not to mention lonely!
So it seems like some of the advice I recently read in Jane Clayson Johnson's book, I Am a Mother, is finally sinking in. In one of the chapters of her book, she debunks some of the existing myths about motherhood, including the myth that "needing help is a sign of weakness." She says this about that myth: "You don't have to be alone as you make your way through motherhood. It's okay to ask for help. In fact, some of the best friendships are developed between mothers who are willing to empathize when sorrow sets in, to listen when you simply need someone to talk to, or to pitch in when things get tough."
How true this is. And how grateful I am for the friendships I am forming by having to rely on others for help. Living away from family has forced me to ask for that help outside of my family, which, for some dumb reason or another, is so, so difficult for me. But I'm learning. And yesterday I made the huge leap of letting someone know that I was struggling, and then, when she graciously offered to help, I let go of my pride and accepted.
So I'm vowing to be better about this. And I think one of the reasons I think I will be better is this: I love being asked by someone else for help. I am so happy to help anyone who needs an extra hand, especially if and when that need is urgent. It makes me feel good to be able to help, and I feel so flattered when someone thinks of me as someone they can call when they need help most. And if I feel that way, then why would I feel like I'm imposing on someone else when I need their help? If it's such a blessing for me to be able to help someone, why would I deny the same blessing to another by refusing to ask for help?
So there ya go. My two self-granted "atta-girls" for the week. I think I mostly want to document these accomplishments because I'm so grateful for them. They've been things that I've had to pray for help on, that I've had to work hard for, and that ultimately, I received strength that was not my own to be able to accomplish.
So it seems like some of the advice I recently read in Jane Clayson Johnson's book, I Am a Mother, is finally sinking in. In one of the chapters of her book, she debunks some of the existing myths about motherhood, including the myth that "needing help is a sign of weakness." She says this about that myth: "You don't have to be alone as you make your way through motherhood. It's okay to ask for help. In fact, some of the best friendships are developed between mothers who are willing to empathize when sorrow sets in, to listen when you simply need someone to talk to, or to pitch in when things get tough."
How true this is. And how grateful I am for the friendships I am forming by having to rely on others for help. Living away from family has forced me to ask for that help outside of my family, which, for some dumb reason or another, is so, so difficult for me. But I'm learning. And yesterday I made the huge leap of letting someone know that I was struggling, and then, when she graciously offered to help, I let go of my pride and accepted.
So I'm vowing to be better about this. And I think one of the reasons I think I will be better is this: I love being asked by someone else for help. I am so happy to help anyone who needs an extra hand, especially if and when that need is urgent. It makes me feel good to be able to help, and I feel so flattered when someone thinks of me as someone they can call when they need help most. And if I feel that way, then why would I feel like I'm imposing on someone else when I need their help? If it's such a blessing for me to be able to help someone, why would I deny the same blessing to another by refusing to ask for help?
So there ya go. My two self-granted "atta-girls" for the week. I think I mostly want to document these accomplishments because I'm so grateful for them. They've been things that I've had to pray for help on, that I've had to work hard for, and that ultimately, I received strength that was not my own to be able to accomplish.
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