What is success?

I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
Is that success too?

I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.

I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
think about this?

--
Annie

As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.

79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05

Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html

Annie, my definition of success is to do your best, every day. It isn't
about just losing weight, its about changing your lifestyle to include
eating healthy and moving more. Be honest with yourself and make each day a
success, one day at a time.

Dewolla
--------------
Highest weight 290
268/170-180/181
height 75"


"Annie Benson-Lennaman" <abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179055847.154976.259570@y80g2000hsf.googlegr oups.com...
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?
>
> --
> Annie
>
> As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
> 79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html
>

To me success is to go to bed thinking I had a good day, and to wake up in
the morning looking forward to another good day.

The good thing about it is, there's always tomorrow..

Will~

"Annie Benson-Lennaman" <abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179055847.154976.259570@y80g2000hsf.googlegr oups.com...
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?
>
> --
> Annie
>
> As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
> 79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html
>

With continued work, I expect you will reach goal. In my opinion "success"
is maintaining once you get there.

Many people reach goal. According to some sources 2% can maintain there for
10 years.

"Annie Benson-Lennaman" <abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179055847.154976.259570@y80g2000hsf.googlegr oups.com...
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?
>
> --
> Annie
>
> As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
> 79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html
>

On May 13, 6:30 am, Annie Benson-Lennaman <aben...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?

I find myself thinking these same thoughts. I'm now about 247-250. I
haven't lost any weight to speak of in nearly two months. My doctor
thinks I'm only about 20-30 pounds overweight. I weigh less than I did
when I graduated high school 23 years ago.

If I stopped now, many people would consider me to be a success. The
question is if I consider myself to be a success.

On 13 May 2007 04:30:47 -0700, Annie Benson-Lennaman
<abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
>Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
>about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
>Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
>for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
>get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
>lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
>But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
>the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
>to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
>very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
>think about this?

I think that losing a significant amount of weight and being able to
maintain that loss is a huge success. I'm not entirely comfortable
with the concept of having a weight goal, though I know most people do
so. If you'd asked me when I started dieting, I'd have said that I'd
be quite happy to just lose a good chunk of weight, whatever that
turned out to be. If I'd had to say where I hoped to end up, I'd have
probably picked a figure around 180 as being a great -- and possibly
attainable -- place to end up. It turned out that I could get lower
and chose to do so, but I think I've still have felt successful if I'd
stayed at 180 -- or at 220 for that matter -- since it would have been
a big health improvement over 262.

I think my self-image now as a successful weight-loser has more to do
with the changes it has made in my physical ability and well-being
than in the number on the scale. I'm sure you've achieved many such
improvements as well, so you must consider this a success.

Maybe you should just decide that -- for now -- you will focus on
maintaining at 180 for six months or so. Don't even try to lose more;
just tell yourself that this is where you'll be at this point. Then
maybe you can reconsider after that and see what you think about the
feasibility of making more changes in diet or exercise to try to lose
more weight. But for now, tell yourself that you've done great,
you're a success, and you don't have to do more unless you choose to.

Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

Thanks for the advice, all. I do agree that it is more important
for me to maintain than it is for me to lose at this point. And at
the very least, I am proving to myself anyways that I can do that
now. It's a reality check to hear that not only dropping numbers are
success.

I'm still not happy with my body. Part of the problem is that I
carry my weight in my belly. It's still big and spongy and droopy.
Not like before, of course, but still very visible. I'm simply not
happy with how I look. But I do look and feel a lot better. I'm just
not ready to give up on the thought of losing.

Still going to give a push towards losing. But I won't beat myself
up if it doesn't work at well. Thanks again!

--
Annie


As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.


79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05


Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html

Annie Benson-Lennaman wrote:
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?
>
> --
> Annie
>
> As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
> 79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html
>

Maintaining. That leaves the door open for another run at your goal
without losing ground in between quiting and restarting.
--

Cheese

http://cheesensweets.com/contacts/cheese.php

On 13 May 2007 04:30:47 -0700, Annie Benson-Lennaman <abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?

It is, just not as big, compared to being at goal.

i

"Annie Benson-Lennaman" <abenlen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179055847.154976.259570@y80g2000hsf.googlegr oups.com...
> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?
>
> --
> Annie
>
> As of 05-10-07: 258/178.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
> 79.5 pounds lost. 38.5 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html

Success is going be different for everyone. For me, to reach a size 6, to
be able to run a 1/2 marathon, to be able to bike 40+ miles, etc all spells
success for me. What is success to you? Without establishing it, you'll
never know if you have reached far enough, strived for enough, struggled
enough. Maybe the # you first chose won't wind up being ultimately what you
want.

As far as stalling... Maybe you need to sit at maintenance for awhile and
re-evaluate. But certainly, if your routine has been the same for any
length of time, you'd benefit from a change. The body does tend to adapt to
whatever it does repeatedly.
>

On 13 May 2007 04:30:47 -0700, Annie Benson-Lennaman wrote:

> I've been thinking hard about this recently. What is success?
> Obviously, getting to goal and staying there is successful. But what
> about if someone get two thirds of the way to goal, and stay there?
> Is that success too?
>
> I guess I'm a little anxious because I've been hovering around 180
> for so long. I wonder if the part of my brain that thinks that if I
> get to goal I'm starving to death is winning. I'm going to be
> lowering my calories over the next week, trying to shake things up.
> But I wonder if I might simply be doomed to failure.
>
> I have absolutely no desire to give up. That just simply isn't on
> the radar. But I've been wondering lately if it is possible to fail
> to hit goal even if one doesn't give up. I've been thinking about the
> very concepts of "success" and "failure" these days. What do you all
> think about this?


I think success is where the individual finds it! I don't believe in
some singular "success" point, as far as I'm concerned, if someone can
lose weight and maintain, even if they are not at goal, that's
certainly a success!

If someone can change eating habits and keep that up, that's a
success!

That doesn't mean one can't go further and have still *more* success,
but I say celebrate the victories you achieve. If you aren't giving
up, you aren't failing in my book!

--
Cynthia
262/243/152