A word about discouragement.

I start this post having reached my first goal. I lost two pounds this week and as such have lost my first half a stone (or 8lbs if we're being really specific). This was the information I needed to hear to tell me that my work at losing weight back at university has been going well and that I can continue to lose weight and have fun with my friends. Next goal, is to have lost my first stone. We'll get there.

This is not why I have felt discouraged. I have the most amazing friends, and in general they have been so incredibly supportive. Have there been a few funny looks with Lucy and I whack out the scales at meal times? Yes. Have there been moments when people have not known how to support my efforts? Yes. That being said, at no point has anyone made me feel like what I'm doing is a waste of time. Until today.

As with many incidents at university this issue emerged with a conversation about alcohol. I am not a massive drinker. I have had my moments of excess but as a rule I don't have a need to drink on all that frequent a basis. I think that's because my parents raised me in a very Mediterranean fashion and as such alcohol has never seemed that exciting, it was simply always present. As such, in general I am not drinking because I don't want or need to use my points on alcohol when it could be used on something that I actually genuinely do want. Most people understand this explanation and just drop it. Today, however, a friend of mine decided to inform me that being "on a diet" doesn't work. This is great, when you're trying to change your lifestyle and at times feeling discouraged on your own. I don't necessarily like people telling me to my face that I am doing such a good job, but certainly the last thing I want is mot be told that it's a waste of time.

Fortunately, after I tore this person a text based new one, I could easily brush myself off and not let it affect me. I know that he meant no harm and this probably comes from him never having experienced a weight problem. Ultimately this post is not about him. This about all of the times that people get discouraged. Specifically, all of the times that people will tell you that they love you 'just the way you are'. Whilst that's amazing, and ultimately all that anyone really wants - acceptance- when you have actually committed yourself to improving yourself, for yourself and no one else, you just need to have someone say 'I will support you, whatever way that may be'.

To anyone trying to change their lifestyle, don't let anyone else get you down and to the people who think that they're only helping, remember that your helpfulness is directly proportional to the goal the person is trying to achieve and by all means, love us for who we are, whether we're changing things or not.