Giving Thanks

So the week before the half marathon is going well. I am a bit nervous still but the runs this week are going well. They are not the struggle they were last week. Endurance has returned. It will need to be enough. I have one more long run on Friday and will do a short run on Saturday and the half is on Sunday.

As I run the thoughts are all over the place. I have 60+ minutes to sort out a whole lot of life. Today it was thanks. I really am thankful for something that seems so silly. Ready? The calorie counting app I started this whole health focus two years ago on, MyFitnessPal. I am not kidding, it has been a stalwart guide through all of this. So I wanted to pass that on. I got online and sent a simple letter of thanks to the developers.

"MFP:
I have been doing MFP for two plus years now. I had a lot of weight to lose and had some success before with calorie counting. I decided to use MFP at the recommendation of a friend, and put only a few extra restrictions/guidelines on myself.

I have lost 90 lbs and am looking to do my second half marathon this weekend. I have to say, the feature to link MFP with other fitness apps (I use Endomondo for my running) has made my health focus so easy!!

I now have several friends who are doing MFP after watching me, and I am so proud of them.

If you want details, here is a blog post I wrote about the two year journey:

http://candlemom.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-difference-two-years-can-make.html

Here is a blog post I wrote last week about my first half marathon I did in December. That was an amazing goal to reach, and again, I thank you for your amazing, yet simple app for giving me the tools I needed to do it.

http://candlemom.blogspot.com/2013/03/december-16-2012.html

My most heartfelt thank you for a great great product!
AMG"

 I have to be honest, I didn't expect to hear anything back or if I did, maybe a simple "thank you for sharing". After all, this is a very popular weight loss/fitness app that is used by millions of people. My message was one of thousands they received today.

To my surprise, within an hour, I received this email:

"Hi AMG,

First let us say, Wow! Wow! Wow! Congratulations on your beyond tremendous success of 90 pounds! That is so amazing! Not only do you look like a completely new woman, according to your blogs, you feel like one too! We also have to thank you, thank you so much for sharing your amazing journey with us. I just finished reading your blogs, and still have chills! It is for members like you that make our jobs rewarding each and every day.

I was also absolutely taken away by your blogs, and truly enjoy the way you kept encouraging yourself. Yes, our program is a great tool, and it does help, but only for those who are determined to make a change. It is our members, their challenges, and inspirations that are the true success! We do hope you continue to enjoy using the program, and we wish you nothing but a lifetime of being able to say "I did it"!

All the best to you and your family!

N"

And that is a little reminder, it is worth it saying "thank you" even when you don't think it will hit it's mark.