Jennifer Hudson (b. 1981)

Quotes

• When someone wants to lose weight, they will do whatever it takes. They can’t do it for anyone else but themselves. It has to be for them alone. Without that understanding, they will fail.

• Anyone can lose a few pounds, but not everyone has the tools to stick with it.

• We can’t let our insecurities own or destroy us. We have to face them head-on. That was part of the challenge that motivated me to take this journey. I wanted to see what I could do and, more important, I wanted to understand everything that was holding me back.

• I am completely in charge of the choices I make about what I am doing to lose weight and get healthy. And you know what? We all have this power. Don’t be angry with me for something good I’ve done for myself. Be angry with yourself for not having the courage to do the same in your own life.

• If you’re... asking yourself why I have this success and you don’t, don’t be angry with me—stop and ask yourself what your issues are that are holding you back.

• Don’t be afraid of the answers. Be afraid of not asking the questions.

• If you can break down those walls you’ve spent so many years building to protect yourself, you can achieve anything.

• You have to accept the plan and realize that if you slip, and you might, you can’t use that as a reason to give up or stop.

• I am in control of all decisions that have to do with my image, which means that no one will decide what’s right for me except me. I’m not special. We should all feel this way about ourselves.

• Just as I had to go through a transition period, I guess [my friends and family] did, too.

• That isn’t about money, fame, or power. It’s about will, dedication, commitment, and knowing your self-worth. You can be poor as dirt and have those traits. Money can’t buy you values. You just need to know what is important to you and then feel secure in your pursuit to achieve that.

• Most people see themselves a certain way their entire lives. When they go through a massive change, such as losing weight, they have to learn to see themselves in a new way. It is one of the biggest struggles her members deal with on their journey.

• People get comfortable with the way you are—they have formed their opinion of you based on everything they see and know about you as a person. When you change that up by losing weight, they no longer understand you.

• When other people reject positive changes you make for yourself, there is always some nerve to get to the root of in those other people.

• It can be a real struggle to accept that sometimes appearance can be more important than talent or intelligence.

• So many people miss out on true talent because they can’t get past a look. At the end of the day, losing weight was easy, but finding talent? Now that’s hard.

• Appearance can always be changed, but the talent stays the same.

• We all have the power to choose how we are going to handle every situation we are faced with throughout our lives. We are in control of the decision we make whether it’s about work, relationships, parenting, or our health.