Are you going to stick with it this time?

I have always received so much support every time I have decided to lose weight, and it’s one of the reasons I continue to keep my journey public. Being so open about my struggles not only lets others see they are not alone; it reminds me that I’m not.

Being so public about something so personal is liberating. It’s like you don’t have to hide yourself from the world anymore. However, being open comes with the good and bad. The good being the support you receive, even from complete strangers, and the bad being that even the closest people to you may completely crush your soul.

Ah yes, the soul crushers. These people know you (and your journey) very well. They appear to be some of your biggest supporters, but sometimes they don’t quite get it right. You’ll hear statements like “Is that on the diet?” or “You’re losing too fast.” Yes, these people mean well (I think), but they don’t understand how such seemingly innocent words can hurt someone working so hard.

I think the worst question I’ve gotten in the past month has been “Are you going to stick with it this time?” I have to hold back every time I want to respond with “Looks like you’ve stuck with being an asshole.” Most of you know this is about the 50^th time I’ve worked on losing weight. Sometimes my journey lasted as little as a few days or a week, and sometimes it has lasted months. However, this time it has to last forever, and that is what I’m working on.

So, if you know someone trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or trying to undertake another huge lifestyle change in some form, please be mindful. We all have our issues, and we don’t need to constantly be reminded by other people what they are. Yes, my journey is public, and the negative comes with the positive. However, if you love someone and truly support them, be kind or be quiet.