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Health & Fitness

Taking Pride in Your Reality

Learn to be proud of what you've achieved, even if others think you haven't measured up to their unrealistic expectations. It's only your own expecations that matter.

Let's be honest. How many people do you know are totally supportive of your journey to truth? How many people support you airing your "dirty laundry" so to speak? This year has truly been a journey of truth for me, and there has been a startling lack of support from my family and friends.

April was a rough month for me in terms of sticking to my lifestyle changes, and while I get that I totally have control over my actions and thoughts, I can't help but remember conversations I had in March with someone who didn't really get it. I was sharing my weight loss with this person, and when I had said I had lost, at that point, 16 pounds, the person asked me, "And when did you start losing weight?" I said it had been about 8 weeks, and the person harumphed and said, "Well, people on the 'Biggest Loser' lose ten pounds in one week."

Yeah, well people on the "Biggest Loser" don't have a full-time job. People on the "Biggest Loser" are sequestered from their husbands, wives, children and pets. People on the "Biggest Loser" have nothing to do but work out and eat well.

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Living a real life and trying to reach a goal is a heck of a lot different than being sequestered and working 24/7 on just that goal. I commend the people on the "Biggest Loser" - they are a huge inspiration to me, and I'm so glad that television show is on to inspire and educate.

But I would just ask that people keep in mind that things aren't always what they seem and reality shows these days aren't so much about reality. The trainers on the "Biggest Loser" are truly amazing. They spend time with the contestants aside from the gym and help the contestants realize why they were eating so much before, why they were not working out before, why they were not healthy before. That makes a world of difference when each conetesant leaves the "Biggest Loser" ranch, or so I would imagine.

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That didn't stop Erik, the winner of season 3, from gaining back almost all of the weight he had lost within four years of his season airing, though. It's easier to lose weight when that's all one is working for and living for, day in and day out. And however you want to look at it, I choose fortunately, that's not how I'm living my days.

I'm working full time, I'm spending time with my husband and cat (and the cat takes up more time than I would dare admit), I'm reading, I'm crafting, I'm budgeting, I'm living. And when I find time and am motivated, and let's face it - I can always find time, but motivation is harder to come by - I exercise, which is most every day of the week. I don't, very unfortuantely, have Jillian Michaels (trainer from the "Biggest Loser") yelling in my face. I don't have Allison Sweeney, host of the "Biggest Loser," presenting challenges to me where I can win a new car, very very unfortunately.

I'm doing the best I can with what I have. And for the majority of the people of this great nation, they're doing the same. I don't always make the right decisions. I don't always know what exactly I'm doing. But I know I'll eventually get there.

My weight loss may not be on par with the "Biggest Losers'" contestants weight loss, but I've lost my cat twice over. That's truly mind boggling to me. I used to carry around, in the weight I've lost, two of my cat. I've lost a baby. I've lost the weight of almost three full gallons of milk.

I'll take those 22 pounds and be proud of what I've achieved. What are you proud of? What have you been working toward despite obstacles thrown your way?

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