How did I let myself go?
Well, it didn’t happen overnight. No one force fed me bon bons and truffles as I was tied to a bed. I managed it all on my own. What did I do? I kept telling myself I would take better care starting tomorrow. That was 4,650 days ago, give or take a few. I will say it’s the longest thing I have ever done consistently, but nothing to be proud of. It started with going through a rough patch of Ovarian and Uterine cancer in fall of 2010 and even though I vowed I would really start living my best, healthiest life the day they did a very thorough removal of all my inside girl parts. I didn’t exactly flip that switch. Mind you, then I was in great shape, 145 pounds, loved to wear pretty clothes, life was amazing. I really did have it all, a great job, a boyfriend in Italy and a wonderful home but it didn’t stop the big C from raining on my parade. I know I am one of the lucky ones. It was caught early, but that’s a story for another posting. Still, even though I knew that each day was a gift, I didn’t walk the walk.
What I did do was live, live well. In fact, now I am in the best place I have ever been. There were some terribly dark times along the way, but now, I am my best self. Well, sort of. There’s just this little problem, I managed to gain a bit of weight over those 4,650 days. You probably know the drill, that 5 pounds that you swear you can lose in a week drinking lemonade? Well, multiply it by 14 and you get a new magic number on the scale, 215ish. I know, many of you are thinking, but you’re happy right?
Wrong, really when I think about it. I’m not. Even though I put on a great front, I’m really not. My clothes haven’t felt, or really looked good in ages, my joints hurt and I can’t touch my toes, or get up off of the floor unassisted and on top of it, I’m 62, in that final third of life. So over the past few weeks I have been planning, mapping, doing pretty lists of the things that would help me, but still haven’t done. Then my team of great Drs. gave me news that I need to lower my Cholesterol, my Glucose and my weight. Well, actually I told them before they could, I already knew. Who was I kidding.
So here I am. Kicking off 183 days of getting my act together and sharing it with anyone who will read, laugh and cry with me. This is not a lose 20 pounds type of journey, but let’s see how subtle changes work. There will be weekly reports on how it’s moving along, sharing what worked and what didn’t. I know my tribe is out there and I want to help. Whether it’s how living with the worry of cancer hanging over my head doesn’t go away, or what I ate for supper that was really yummy, that’s what the next couple of months will be. It’s all about sharing and supporting each other. That’s what a tribe does, and well, drink skinny margaritas as needed. Enjoy the ride with me!
KjW
I'm in the exact same boat and rootin for you. My partner and I really liked the older weight watchers and even though it was a lot of tedium keeping track we liked the accountability of going to meetings and getting'weighed'. No meetings near us anymore.
Wishing you well on the journey.