( CNN ) -- In my life , I 've often heard that `` comparison is the thief of joy . '' I never really thought much about it until taking on CNN 's Fit Nation challenge . If I were to compare myself to my Fit Nation teammates , I would believe I 'm falling short . Will Cleveland runs something crazy like a six-minute mile ; I 'm steady at a 15- to 16-minute mile . Tabitha McMahon makes swimming look effortless , while I need an additional swim coach outside of Fit Nation . It would be easy to look at that and think I 'm failing . Some people think comparison is a good thing . `` Why would n't you want to swim as well as Tabitha or run as fast as Will ? '' It 's not that I do n't want to . It 's just that I 'm not there yet . When we compare ourselves to others , we ca n't be objective . When we look at those who seem to have it all , we beat ourselves up . But we do n't have all the details of their situation . Get fit and others will follow . During my runs , I 've noticed three sets of people : Those I 'm faster than , those I 'm slower than and those who run at a similar pace . Running allows me to stop all the noise of day-to-day life and focus on me . It 's a time to cleanse my mind . If I started comparing myself to the other runners , I would n't be able to enjoy `` my time . '' Inevitably when we compare ourselves to others , negative thoughts enter our consciousness . The negative thoughts might be directed toward ourselves or at the people to whom we are comparing ourselves . It 's my experience that negativity only breeds more negativity , and that 's where comparison leads . I 've decided my motto for the rest of this triathlon journey , and my life , is going to be `` no comparison . '' When I say `` no comparison , '' it reminds me to be present in the moment and not be defined by another 's opinion because I 'm the only one who knows me . It 's more than a race to me . I 'm getting ready to attend my 15-year high school reunion in a week , and I 'm truly looking forward to it . I know some former classmates will be comparing themselves to the rest of the class , and some will even compare themselves to me . It 's already happening . Daily I hear , `` I wish I had your dedication '' or `` your willpower '' and so on . Stop it people ! Do n't compare yourselves to me because you only see what I let you see . Every day is not smooth sailing . Even though I 've lost more than 185 pounds , I still see glimpses of the old me . When I get stressed , I still want to go to food for comfort . I admit that I have broken down a couple times recently and had a piece of cake or an order of French fries . At first I beat myself up and felt guilty . Then I told myself what 's done is done ; get back to obtaining the life you 've been dreaming of . This 198-pound me has more confidence , strength , happiness and love in her life than the 385-pound me did , and I know the 150-pound me will have even more of that than the 198-pound me . You may lose friends when you lose weight . There is a fine line between inspiration and comparison . I have many people I admire , but I do n't want to be them or be like them . I 've have a couple of special personal trainers in my life . Seeing them help people , including myself , become the individuals they 've only ever dreamed of being has made me realize I have something to offer other than my story . Those people have inspired me to study for my personal trainer certification . I 'm not setting out for Jillian Michaels status ; I genuinely want to help others the way my trainers and friends have helped me . Each of us are unique and have something different to offer the world . The only person we have to be better than is the person we were yesterday . I challenge you , dear reader , to starting living a life of `` no comparison . '' When you take the pressure off yourself to live up to the image of who you think defines success , you will be surprised at who you can become . Follow Annette on Twitter @ trihardannette .
Fit Nation member Annette Miller 's new motto for life is `` no comparison '' I am a fat person and you are not. " Miller : Comparing ourselves to others makes objectivity impossible .