Is It All About Gainz?

It is.

This post is short and sweet. Let’s celebrate some happy today! Something to consider as you start, continue, re-commit, and celebrate your own weight loss path.

I surround myself with success stories. I also surround myself with those currently in the trenches; with those who may have once been a perceived success story and who are now back in the spiral of it all, fighting it every day. I love all these people. I love them because they are real and their accompanying stories are just that; moments in time that at any point in the day, week or year, could be easily re-written, and a new chapter started.

So, is this journey all about gainz? Yes. It is. But maybe not the kind you may be thinking. I can explain.

Who in their adult life has the opportunity to connect with new friends? I mean really. I would have never thought in my early 30’s I would be meeting women from across this continent, with a common love and interest (yes, New Kids on the Block). For almost four years, I traveled, Tweeted, joined forums online, met my child-hood boy band four times in person and got to connect with some pretty amazing women. I am happy to say, that all these years later, we are close and they are friends I know I can lean on, laugh with and enjoy.

Much like the reunion of strangers (us fans) and one of the greatest break-through boy bands of all time, this undertaking, one of the hardest things I have EVER done in my life (my weight loss) has brought amazing opportunity. All in all, what I have gained in this process has been as equally amazing as the weight I have lost and the healthy life I continue to appreciate.

I have experienced two life-changing moments; well, much more than that but for the purposes of today’s post, let’s focus on the two mentioned above. Much like other huge moments in life such as having children, getting divorced, starting a new sport or hobby, even taking on your own business, these large life moments can be extremely taxing, overly joyful, and exhausting. They test our ability to survive through turmoil and excited newness. Toy with emotions we never knew existed. And quite honestly bring us to our most humbling moments.

And in these moments, connecting with others who share your experience is amazing and essential.

I have met SO many amazing people over the last two years. These are my gainz. I have online friends with whom I may never get to hug in person, but through our tough fight, our battles and vulnerabilities, we have found a common ground. Our war wounds is our foundation of friendship and as we continue to connect and share and grow, we learn about families, and jobs, and hardships and everything that makes us human.

It doesn’t need to be a lonely road because while you may feel like you are alone, there are so many others who have fought the same fight; who may have lost a million times, but they are stronger and wiser as they trudge forward to the other side.

I honestly don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for Tim, Sam, JT, Dave, Maggie, Greg, Les, Collin, Edgar, Jess, Sarah, Jill, Alan, Andrea, Ruby… and the many others I have connected with over the last little while. There will be many categories of support systems in this road to health, I have learned that. Many will be co-workers, family and friends. But that special group of people who have gone through it, know what you are going through – well, that’s just a whole other group of special.

And getting to meet these people in person has been one of the greatest gainz this journey has offered me. Holding back the tears is a tough thing to do when you have so many things to thank them for.

My gainz have far outweighed what I have lost.

Thank you, friends.