What is success to you?

Have you ever considered what it means to you to be successful in your fitness goals?  Is it reaching that weight number that you've dreamed about for years?  Would you count yourself successful if you won athletic competitions?  Is success, for you, defined by how certain (or all) parts of your body look?  What would have to happen for you to feel successful in your fitness and exercise endeavors?

I'd like to suggest something.  What about if we redefined success?  Instead of focusing on a number, let's focus on the lifestyle (no pun intended!). Think about this:  If skinny is what you're after, you can GET skinny.  Of course you can.  Anorexics achieve skinny.  Bulimics achieve it.  Men and women wear their bodies out achieving the skinny goal and so can you.  But let's face it.  That's not what you really want.  You work out, stay faithful to your fitness routine because you want to be healthier; and we all know that skinny doesn't always equate to healthy.

So back to redefining success.  What if we define our success in terms of the healthy habits and activities that we do daily?  I always say, "Do the healthy things and then let your body do what it's going to do."  You may find that living with healthier habits does NOT make you lose those last 10 pounds.  Does that mean you're not successful?  NO!!!  Your brain may want to lose 10 more pounds, but your body may be saying, "No!  I need those 10 pounds.  They're not extra pounds....they're ESSENTIAL pounds!"

Success is an everyday term, NOT a once in a blue moon term.  Are you making healthy choices more now than you were last year?  Are you moving your body more now than a few weeks ago?  Managing stress better?  THESE are successful!  And success isn't a stagnant place.  It's not a trophy you win at the end of a tennis match.  It's ongoing.  Daily.  THAT'S the beauty of success!!  You can be more successful today than you were yesterday in managing your healthy habits.  And if you're less successful tomorrow, there's always the next day!

Cut yourself some slack and keep your eye on the real prize.  It's NOT the 10 or more pounds.  It's not the Iron Man Bench Press competition.  It's not firmer thighs (NO, it's NOT!).  It's a healthier, happier you who appreciates and cares for your body!  Now THAT'S success!!!!