I belong to a unique club.

Half the time, I don’t really ever want to admit that I belonged to the club that came before it, and I want to push that identity away, as if it never existed. The rest of the time, I struggle with understanding that I can’t simply divorce a big chunk of my life. I am the sum of my experiences, and I shouldn’t ignore the things that have changed me — both for bad and good.

I mention these “clubs”, because my current club is unique enough that not everyone can join; in fact, most can’t. There’s no secret handshake, no admission process, no fees to pay. The neat thing about this club, though, is that others in the club seek me out, and I do the same. We share an experience that’s not only unusual, but hard fought for — and quite often, we don’t share it with those who aren’t in the club.

Triple digits, baaaayyyybbbbeeee!

I’m talking about the Century Club — my own (not-so-original) moniker for the folks who have lost more than one hundred pounds. We are kindred spirits, no matter how we lost the weight. We are winning a war, no matter if we have more to lose. We live lives with chronic pain and other challenges either caused or complicated by our years spent in that other club; the one we fought to escape. That one has shaped us as much, or more than, membership in the Century Club.

Someone contacted me just last night; someone I casually know through a group on Facebook. The group has nothing to do with weight loss, but someone else in the group asked for photos of those who post, and I posted my profile pic. I keep a number in the corner of my pic; it’s my current loss. I do this for my own transparency, as a reminder to be mindful of my progress and journey. I explained the number, because many are curious.

That someone and I chatted privately; our total losses are only a pound apart, and we have similar amounts left to lose. We’re facing similar issues, especially pending knee replacement. We talked about the special things relevant to losing that much weight, as well as the joys; the things that those outside of the Century Club may find intriguing, but can never fully understand without experiencing them. It was common ground, and enthusiasm for the challenges to come.

Great weight loss isn’t just about seeing a lower number on the scale and fitting into smaller clothes. It’s about transformation, dedication, trial and error, mending old wounds — both physical and mental. We are warriors, and the victories are the bodies we are learning to live with and improve.

For my sisters in the Century Club (and brothers, too, although I mostly know the sisters!), this blog’s for you — congratulations for a job well done, and may your victories continue. You just never know when you’ll find another member.