What can I say? I love to see who wins the weightloss challenges. I am just as excited as the challengers are and I get so excited to see their faces when they get an award or win one of the prizes.
I must confess, I have always been the kind of person who tears up at a good performance. It doesn't matter what it is. I have been accused of getting misty watching a racer set a fastest record for the mile and my favorite college football team for winning the big ten conference. I shed a tear of joy watching with a mother as her special needs two year old took his first step. I beamed with pride as a bedridden eighty year old lady walked across her living room for the first time in seven years while her daughter sobbed tears of joy. And more recently, my heart became lighter when a sixty year old gentleman couldn't stop smiling as he talked about his hundred pound loss in ten months.
What is it about people that touches me so at some level and makes me misty? Its not easy to describe but I will try to give you some of my thoughts and a smattering of my beliefs. The first is that simply put, life sends our way a myriad of challenges we face. Some are a breeze to deal with while others are difficult, sometimes impossibly difficult. How we choose to face those challenges either brings us success or resignation. The challenges are numerous, background, education, gender, health, size, intelligence, mindset, experiences, I could go on and on. Each challenge comes with its unique struggle, physically, mentally and emotionally. Those people who are dealing with weight issues have their unique set of challenges they must overcome to be successful.
The first thing that really gets me going is the first time a challenger loses some weight and has some success. A lot of people entering challenges are beaten down. They have had so many tried and failed attempts that they no longer believe they can be successful. Many have a tiny bit of hope left but they are too afraid to believe that they can change things. They are not yet willing to believe that consistent practice of good eating habits over time will help them get the weight off.
The next thing that is exciting is when a challenger loses enough weight that they start believing in themselves. A small, tiny flame of hope just got a little brighter. The challengers focus a little more try a little harder.
And for a few people, I witness an amazing transformation as they take charge of their lives and consistently practice healthy habits and lifestyles. They are on fire and their focus is laser. Success feeds their flame and there is no stopping them. They find the belief that they can get the job done, the understanding of how to get where they want to go and they consistently practice good eating habits and lifestyles over time. It is not at all unlike the habits of a world class athlete or an old lady who realizes she can walk again.
I am proud to be passing out awards this week to some real class people. I will bring my tissues just in case.
Tags: Weightloss Challenge Diet
