Cheryl’s Success Story

Key to Success

Welcome back to another Wednesday full of inspiration and success!  This week we are going on a journey with Cheryl*, a lactation consultant, married for 30 years and mother of five children who range in ages from 17-26 years old.

One of the interesting things about Cheryl that I believe our readers will identify with, is when asked if she would participate in being interviewed for a success story, she was surprised, thinking to herself, “Am I really a success?”  But as she reflected in the week between when she was asked and when she was interviewed, she realized all of the goals that she has accomplished.

The biggest challenge for her to overcome when she first began with Bonnie was that Cheryl had become obsessed with dieting.  For some reason nothing was working, no matter what diet she went on, and she did not know why.  She recalls, “I would stay on it a couple of days, and then I just couldn’t stay on it…it just was not working” much to her frustration.  She was very unsure before she came in, but she had a friend who went to Bonnie (our first success story of the summer!) who looked great and had referred her, so that gave her hope.

After her first session, Cheryl remembers “I was and still am surprised that I could eat so much! And I was so happy she gave me two starches to eat at every meal.”  Learning which starches were the right ones to fuel and satisfy her was very gratifying, and she was happy to learn how to eat carbohydrates and work them into her meals properly.  After the first appointment Cheryl was happy to learn she did not have to look at the scale, “Bonnie would weigh me and take it from there.  That by itself has changed my life.  Even at home, I am like ‘Let me get on the scale and see how I am doing’ and I restrain myself.  It is such a relief.”  She loves that her mind is no longer focused on food. 

While she is always aware of what she is doing when it comes to what she eats, the focus is now on her and the relationship with food.  In comparison to past experiences with trying to lose weight Cheryl says, “With all those diets I had been on, I never once learned about that.”  This new relationship with food has impacted her family as well, “I am calmer, happier, and I have more of a sense of humor.  I think my family appreciates that I am not so focused on a diet, because they really felt bad that it took up so much of my energy and time.”  They love that she no longer speaks negatively about herself and is a freer person. 

Cheryl wants to continue to explore herself and see what other changes she can make.  She states, “Of what I have accomplished, the greatest goal was being considered a success and being interviewed for this story!”  She now realizes she is not all about the diet and the scale.  There is more to her than that.  For other people Cheryl advises to realize you are a good person and to continue to explore who you are.  “Happier is better and that leads to healthier decisions and more confidence in yourself.”   She believes stopping the worrying leads to living a fuller life.

Cheryl’s message inspires everyone to have confidence in what you can accomplish today, and every day that will lead you to a healthier life!  And remember, even though like Cheryl, you might not think at first you are a success, remember all that you accomplish every day, even the little things, and believe in the success that you truly are. See you next week!

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of Bonnie’s patients.

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