1000 Views - A Thank You!

One of the things about blogging from the UK is that most of the hits on this blog come during our night. Its always nice to wake up to the odd comment or two, but this morning was especially nice, as IdleToIdol has now bagged over 1000 views!

When I started this blog, I never thought I'd get that many hits (if any). To my mind, the blog's primary function would come into effect AFTER I had reached my target weight, as a way to show my friends and family - or at least those who noticed my weight loss - exactly what I had gone through. Exactly how I had done it.

I also hoped that by blogging my weigh-ins, I would be more inclined to stick with it when times got tough. Even if I only got one hit a week, that one reader would be the person I had to impress. Part of the reason my previous weight-loss attempts failed was that there was no accountability - only I knew about my attempt, but as it was my own attitude and habits that had made me overweight in the first place, the excuses soon mounted, and the attempt collapsed.

Blogging has certainly helped to keep my objective firmly in sight, and ensures that every day, I think about my weight-loss. Every time I eat, I think about my diet. Every time I collapse into a chair, I think about exercising. Keeping me on track has been the main personal benefit of writing this blog - but would it have been enough without readers?

I don't think so. To know that someone else can see what I have done is a massive incentive to continue. From the casual visitor via Google (who's presence is usual a result of my search-engine-friendly "What Does 100 Pounds Look Like?" post!) to those who regularly pop in, it is the knowledge that someone else is following my progress that gives me that extra kick when I feel its getting tough. I feel that if I were to give up, I would be letting down my readers, so for that, I thank you.

But its not just about me, and my posts. It's not just your comments on my blog that help inspire me, but also everything you write on your own. As I have said before, almost nobody in the 'real world' knows about this weight-loss attempt, so it is my fellow bloggers who are my support group in this. To read about your own journeys, to hear about your ups and downs, and to compare methods, tips and diets, has made me feel part of something bigger. I'm not just lonely, overweight Headspace, vainly trying to shift his weight. I'm part of a dynamic, proactive community of people, from all over the world, all with the same goal: to improve our lifestyles. To regain our health and confidence. To take control of our lives. That's a morale booster, if ever there was one!

And all this is not to mention those of my readers who aren't actually trying to lose weight themselves, but drop by anyway! For you guys to put up with what has now been three months of constant chatter about pounds, and diets, and exercises - well, I can only say thank you to you too!

Anyhow, I've waffled on for long enough, but since I don't always remember/have time to reply to every comment, I wanted people to know that every single one is read, read again, and appreciated (and let's be honest, they usual lead to a smile or two!). We've got a lot more time together before I reach my target weight, so I'm sure I'll say it again before the end, but until then, one more time...

THANK YOU!