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!
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