[I][URL='https://open.substack.com/users/163689517-susie?utm_source=mentions']Susie[/URL] inspired me with her beautiful layout “[URL='https://oscraps.com/community/media/resolve.408240/full']Resolve[/URL]” to write this journaling. Not only her stunning layout, but also her journaling got me started.

At the beginning of my health journey mid January 2025, I doubted my ability to succeed. However, I understood that without total dedication, failure was inevitable. This time had to be unlike all the others. In the past, I had toyed with the idea of losing weight, making hesitant attempts but never fully committing. But something changed. A deep determination ignited within me—a drive I had never experienced before. I wasn’t just going to give it a shot. I was determined to conquer my battle with weight once and for all.

And for a while, I did just that. I went all in. Every single day, I chose myself, made better choices, moved more, and pushed aside the doubts that had held me back for years. The pounds came off excruciatingly slowly, but more importantly: I felt stronger. Not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I proved to myself that change was possible. I rewrote the story I had been telling myself for so long.

Then came our short vacation. A well-deserved break, a moment to relax, to break away from the structure I had built. And somewhere along the way, I lost control. Little indulgences here and there, under the guise of "I deserve it." After our first walk, I had huge blisters on my ankles, and putting on shoes became unbearable. So there I was, on the couch, with a book. And before I knew it, I had strayed further from my path than I had wanted. A familiar story, one I know all too well. In the past, this would have been the moment I gave up, convincing myself that I had failed again.

But this time is different. Because I now know that progress is not a straight line. Life happens. Vacations, parties, setbacks, moments of weakness—they're all part of it. And they don't mean that I have failed. What really matters is what I do now. And what I do now is get back in the saddle. I refuse to let a small detour lead to a dead end. I have worked too hard, come too far, and invested too much in myself to let my progress derail over a few missteps. So I get up, dust myself off, and move on. Because I know what awaits me on the other side of perseverance: a healthier, happier, more energetic version of myself. A version that doesn't give up. So here I am. Back on track. Re-centered. Focused. Stronger than ever.[/I]