Choose You Blog

A photo of me reflected in the lake I walk by every day.

I wasn’t really trying to lose weight; I was just trying to maintain. The weight I was at was about 5 to 10 pounds over what I thought was my ideal, but it was satisfactory. My doctor approved, my BMI calculator approved, and I was satisfied it was good enough. But since making my Choose You pledge, Ive veered away from frozen, boxed meals, cut out coffee (except on Sundays), watched what I ate more carefully, varied my exercise routine and when I stepped on the scale, I was down five.

Maybe it’s cutting the coffee. Maybe it’s varying the exercise. Maybe it’s summer — so my appetite is down and so is my “well layers will hide it” excuse. Maybe it’s just that much more work to walk in the heat and humidity.

Or maybe it’s just overall making healthier choices. Anyway I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

A lot of people look at me and think my gift horse is just luck. I wish they knew how hard I work to stay at this size and keep in shape. I wish they knew I struggle daily too, with my weight and health. I wish they knew it wasn’t easy and just luck. I wish they knew I cut things from my diet too, and that, despite all my best efforts, I still have some areas that I’ve just accepted will never improve. Not at my age, or at least not without suddenly becoming a Hollywood celebrity with an entourage that includes a personal trainer and dietitian. I wish they knew that I don’t think anything about anyone at any size because I’ve been there too. I wish they knew a few years ago I dropped 50 (now 55) pounds.

When I finally got motivated to lose weight and get fit three years ago, I had overcome quite a few obstacles. I had a lot of bad habits — dealing with hot and long summer days with the kids by making all too frequent milkshake runs, for example. I lacked good habits — daily exercise. I  was moving into my late thirties after having had two children. I had a load of excuses: I had no time, I had two kids, where would the kids go, what could I do, it felt too hard, I was too tired, it was adding stress, other efforts had failed, it wasn’t that bad was it, my hormones were wonky from pregnancy and nursing and on and on.

A friend said she was joining Weight Watchers and I decided to join her. I knew I needed help and truthfully, the accountability. By joining a group, I got support, tips, suggestions, reminders of good habits, and of course, weekly checkins. Not everyone wants a group but those same elements can still help. Journaling eating and exercise is useful. Having a partner or support system can too (and you are WELCOME to use me, right here). The Choose You pledge is great accountability.

Most importantly, though, is that commitment — do you have any lingering worries, doubts, excuses, or obstacles? What are they? Let’s talk!

My biggest right now, as a confession, is that point of Good Enough. I lost the weight, I exercise every day, my clothes fit, so…it’s good enough. I haven’t been challenging myself, though, or continuing very reliably on my goal to improve more on the progress I’ve made. Dropping the five pounds, though, has sort of re-energized me to consider the next step in better fitness and diet.

I’m doing pretty well with skin protection. I’m writing this in the shade while wearing SPF 50. And next week I have my biopsy. I figure come what may, if I’m in the best shape possible I give myself better chance all around.