SparkSpotlight: Meg Marie (PEACELOVENYOGA)

By , SparkPeople Blogger
At SparkPeople, we love helping people accomplish big goals—but we believe it's equally important to celebrate the small successes along the way. Each week in the Spark Spotlight, we'll check in with a featured member about his or her proudest moments, biggest challenges and advice for others on living, thinking and feeling healthier. We hope these quick snapshots will help motivate you to keep moving steadily toward your own goals, week by week.
 
This Week's Spotlight: Meg Marie (PEACELOVENYOGA)
Age: 31
Location: West Salem, Ohio
 
Small Success of the Week
 
Meg Marie dropped to less than 300 pounds and is over the moon. She credits her weight loss to her daily yoga practice and determination to dig deeper into her practice and have more energy for her family.
 
What's your overall goal?
 
I'm a yoga teacher and studio owner. I have been teaching for more than five years and opened my studio in 2014. I began all of this [weighing] over 300 pounds. I taught at over 300 pounds and I continue to teach classes and enjoy my own practice every day.
 
My overall goal is to simply be stronger, fitter and more comfortable in life. I'd like to advance in my yoga practice and just enjoy being with my family while being confident.
 
How is SparkPeople helping you get there?
 
I love the way SparkPeople offers the community and tracking all in one place. I am able to track my food, progress and fitness, and then go right over and see what everyone else is doing. The community here at SparkPeople is my favorite part. They're here to cheer you on when you succeed, give you a swift kick when you ask for extra motivation and give advice, even if it's something as small as asking what I should eat at a Chinese restaurant. Someone is always there to support you.
 
What's your biggest challenge right now?
 
My biggest challenge is giving up sugar! I am currently working on doing desserts only on special occasions—I don't want to be deprived of them, but sugary desserts were getting way too common in my daily routine. I am working on making sure I can enjoy them without being addicted to them.
 
What advice do you have for someone who just joined SparkPeople today?
 
Do not give up no matter what. There will be days when you slip. You will go over your calories sometimes. Sometimes working out will seem daunting. But always show up for yourself. Always keep going. Every moment is a new chance to continue the journey.

I found that motivation is fleeting (as we all know). My biggest downfall before was I would ride that motivational wave and then crash when the wave crashed. The biggest change I have made is to learn that while those waves of motivation are amazing and I love them, I also have to accept that I have to keep moving forward even when the motivation isn't there. Motivation is amazing for getting us started, but willpower and persistence are what must kick in when motivation goes on vacation.
 
Want to be the next small success we spotlight? Share your successes on the goal feed or in the comments below, and you might be the next person we contact!