The Time Has Come....

After 3 months of detoxing from 30+ years of stress-inducing newsrooms, I had an ah-ha moment the other day. I'm happy, I'm relaxed, I need to tackle something hard.

Uh, oh. That's my weight.

If Weight Watchers were a university, I would be a graduate student. I actually have attained the "lifetime member" status (reaching and maintaining your goal weight) but I confess, that was in the 80s. And the problem with the little Lifetime Member card is -- surprise, your weight. If I was at my goal weight, I could go to meetings for free. But I'm not. So the card, at this point is meaningless.

I know why I've gained weight over the years: Happy marriage, lots of cooking together; not being realistic about portion size; giving myself permission to "splurge"; and the worst, deceiving myself that wine, a liquid, doesn't really have calories.

There, I've gotten it all off my chest. If only losing the weight was as easy.

Before Menopause, I could drop 10 pounds if I needed to. After Menopause, I had a better chance of winning the Lottery than losing an ounce.

And while I go to the gym and walk about 12 miles a week, that only produces weight loss if it is combined with a diet, or as they now say, a better way of life.

In 1994 I was diagnosed with cancer twice in the same year! (A lot of awful stuff also happened that year.) I went through chemo, radiation, lost all my hair, etc. Nowadays, chemo makes you GAIN weight (isn't that the ultimate indignity?) So I asked my oncologist, "How can I lose weight?" He just looked at my bald head and overweight body and said "It's easy. Eat less. Exercise more." And I did.

But here were are in 2009 and even though I know that mantra, it's not that easy. I know I need some Weight Watchers matron to weigh me every week and write it down in a book. I know I need to keep a diary of everything I put in my mouth. I know I need that accountability and the camaraderie of other people in the same struggle in those meetings.

So, I'm going to go Tuesday morning. I know a few people in that "class" and it's a convenient time and a good moderator.

Think good thoughts for my journey. I'll keep you posted.

For some reason, the time is finally right.

PS_... weight loss tips, recipes, etc, would be greatly appreciated!

Comments

[Dixie Redfearn]

Aaron, I will check it out! And ask her to blog about WW!

[Aaron]

My sweetie is a Weight Watchers lifetime member as well, and I "copy" her food choices without attending the meetings myself. It's really been more of a lifestyle thing than a diet, but it's worked well for us!

She just started her own blog...hasn't really announced it yet, but is starting to post some recipes, and I'm sure she'll be doing some stuff about Weight Watchers from time to time as well.

You can check it out at www.caceyklein.com. :)