Weight was never an issue with me. I had five children and always was down to my pre-pregnancy weight without even trying within six weeks after the birth of each child. I guess in my twenties and thirties I was way too busy chasing toddlers, and carrying babies around in my arms to gain any weight. I cooked heathy meals. I grew much of our food, and I canned what I grew. I made homemade wheat bread. I was very conscious about feeding my family the required servings of fruit and vegetables every day. We could not afford junk food. We did not drink pop. I never even gave weight gain a second thought.
For the next ten years or so, I never worried about weight. I walked a great deal. I went dancing. I hiked occasionally. I worked a full-time job, went to school full-time, and I was a single mom. Who had time to worry about weight?
My sis and I went on a road trip to California when we were in our 40's. We had great fun driving her husband's Jaguar from Colorado to California to visit our younger sister. We could still turn some heads on that trip. I kept telling my sister that it was the car that we were in. Still, we looked pretty good, slim and trim, way into our 40's. (Sis is on the left, and I am on the right in the photo.)In my late 40's I married my wonderful husband. All of a sudden a few things happened. I developed thyroid problems, I started menopause, I married Mr. Candy/Cookie King, and we began to eat out a lot. I immediately gained 30 pounds.
Now, I am concerned. The doctors say I really must lose the weight. They are right. I don't like not feeling good. I don't want diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and all those other things that I am racing towards. I want to be healthy more than I want to fit into those size 8 pants. Ok, I really want to wear size 8 pants too!
DJan, a blogger friend, is writing about her goals to work on making a slight weight adjustment. She's inspired me. Now, I have made my decision public. I hate that I have done this! I will join the fight. I will go back to Weight Watchers. I know this works for me. I will do it again. Hold me accountable, please!
I'm so proud!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I didn't do anything about my weight until I had diabetes and had reached maximum dosage on oral medications. Now that I'm idle in retirement my weight is slowly creeping back up...on my last visit to the kidney doctor I got the healthy eating lecture. Maybe you'll inspire me to get back on track.
ReplyDeleteWe'll we watching for your progress reports and cheering you on!
I do hear you and that is the amount I needed to lose also. What used to be so easy losing those pesky few pounds, now days just doesn't work. It isn't a diet but a life style change and that is what we don't want to hear.
ReplyDeleteI found I needed to move more. My computer which is a boon to my brain is brutal on my butt. I am working on finding a way to require standing to surf the web and work on posts.
Good luck and we will be watching and cheering you on.
I can SO relate to this. It is a shared struggle.
ReplyDeleteHold you accountable? Now how can I do that without being close enough to hug you?? I'll try, though. Thanks for taking the initiative and moving into a healthy weight. It was my cholesterol that got me, and that I had gained ten pounds in one year without even noticing. (Well, I did notice, but I was in denial.) Now that I've gotten on the bandwagon, it's not exactly easy to count calories, but I'm doing it! Congratulations on "coming out"!!
ReplyDeleteI'm there with my weight also. For me, it's about getting the right kind of exercise, developing balance, strength and flexibility. And telling my husband Art, the shopper, not to bring home some kinds of food - especially things like chips and pistachio nuts.
ReplyDeleteMuch of my blog posting last year was about my health, prediabetes and losing weight. I was terrified of having 'diabetes' in my future. The end result is, I lost 40 pounds, but take the lowest dose of Metformin. I've since realized how much better that is than struggling over every single bite of food I put in my mouth but I sure gave it a fight.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to say I'm now back to the lowest weight I've been in the last 30 years. My surgery played havoc with that for a while but I won. I'm now looking forward to spring and losing 20 more pounds during the spring, summer and early fall.
Sounds like you're ready mentally to take this on. I'll be cheering for you.
You have cause to be proud of yourself. I need to lose quite a bit of weight, but cannot get myself to the point of dieting. I exercise strenuously and frequently and believe I am the only fit fat woman on earth. I am hypothyroid which even complicates things more.
ReplyDeleteI am currently trying to lose weight too. I've added walnuts daily and it's helping. I have trouble walking in the very cold. I need to find a way to get more movement.
ReplyDeleteVery brave, but a great way to do it...dive feet first and go for it!!!!! Blessings, Joanne
ReplyDeleteI need to lose 10 lbs -- I am sick of the muffin top and apple shape...it's hard when it's so cold and i love to make hearty warm goodies and desserts...stay strong!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this! I've gained 30 lb., after menopause, after marriage #2, but it just isn't happening!
ReplyDeleteI am a retired teacher, burned out caring for failing parents. Oh my.
I will be back to visit! Popped over from Kay's blog. cheers.
I need to lose around that same amount! It's so hard!
ReplyDeleteSally, I'm right with you -- the same amount of pounds. You know, about a week ago, I was digging up some photos for a colleague's retirement book and I came across one at a party where I was all dolled up in a formal dress with pretty hair. I looked FABULOUS. And back then I thought I was so fat. I'd kill for that now, and that 35 pounds would do it. So I go to Weight Watchers (because with my lung condition, carrying extra weight isn't smart) and then I cheat -- but eventually, it will happen because I just love living my life and want to keep doing it!
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