So, you might remember how, like 2 months ago I mentioned I was going to begin nutritional lifestyle changes? I’m really happy to report that I’ve been pretty successful! At last weigh-in, almost a week ago, I was down 14.2 lbs. Pretty dang good in my estimation.
Part of the reason I’ve been able to stay on task is that I joined up with three other like-minded friends to form sort of an e-mail support group. We check in every week with our weight loss (or that occasional pesky gain!), share our latest Yummy-Despite-Being-Healthy food find, and just generally prop each other up and give encouragement. I didn’t really realize how important this was until a couple weeks ago.
I was out and about, feeling hungry, and was tempted to go buy junk to eat. For some reason, it crossed my mind that I had reached the point where, in every other diet I’d been on, I quit. I’d lost some weight, I just happened to be hungry and figured I’d done well enough. I’d quit and go back to my former eating habits…and we all know what happens then, right?
But, knowing that my Wacky Weight Watching Writers (you know who you are!) were there in the wings, waiting for me to update how I was doing and to smack me around if I was slacking off, I knew I wouldn’t quit this time! It was a wonderful feeling!
It’s the same way with writers, you know? We have our support groups, our friends, our sisters (or brothers) of the heart and pen, who keep us grounded. Who pick us up when we’ve been rejected, because they understand what it’s like. Who hold us accountable when we slack off. But most of all, who are our friends when we need them. And, believe me, as fabulous as this career can be, it can also be harder than anything you’ve ever done–including making lifestyle changes like cutting out sugar and trans-fats.
Make sure you know who your friends are and hold them close. I pity anyone on this journey alone.
I
my friends!
