Now's the time to tackle your weight - seizing the moment
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As I type this, it's almost exactly two years since I started my weight loss journey. Two years that changed my life completely. I never want to go back to being the fat old me.
It was round about this time of year that Ali and I began to confront our unhappiness at being grossly overweight. We'd had a very indulgent Christmas and New Year, our reward for a hellish year. We'd eaten and drunk all the rich and naughty foods we wanted with absolutely no self control - we deserved it!
After it was all over, and things got back to normal, the consequences of our indulgences were very, very clear. As I sat in front of the mirror to put on my tights, I felt a despair I could no longer hide. Ali saw my face and for the first time we talked about our weight.
I told him I hated how I looked; that I couldn't run or climb stairs easily; that my fat made me feel old beyond my years. I was soon going to be less mobile than Mum, and already had chronic back and knee pain. A life of pain and failing health lay ahead.
We talked about wanting a long and healthy life together and we decided to do something about it. We knew being overweight increased our risk of many diseases and conditions, especially for me - a woman of a certain age.
That Sunday, a beautiful sunny winter day, we walked along the beach and decided it was time to change; to take control of our weight and choose a healthier way of life. It was down to us, no one else was going to do it.
When we got home, I signed us up for TescoDiets and started to work out our new life, starting with the shopping list! All the remaining Christmas 'treats' were ceremoniously binned, it was time to make a new start, to live differently.
We weighed ourselves, and were shocked. I hadn't been on scales for years and never ever told anyone my weight except the doctor. I logged my 12.5 stone. Next, I worked out our new way of eating and ran off the shopping list. It all felt very strange - weighing food, portion control, no nibbling and eating less than half what Ali ate (not fair!!). But we did it and we made the changes.
As we start 2012, we're still a healthy weight but we've got a few more pounds than at the start of 2011. We don't want to go back to fat so we're starting 2012 back on our weight loss diet and we're staying on it until we've lost those extra pounds. Even if we just do this once a year, it will stop the fat slowly sneaking back on. That's how we got so fat in the first place, a pound at a time!
This is a great time of year for life-changing moments. It's a time to look back and look forward, to review our lives and our goals to consider new possibilities.
Sometimes you have to wait for doors to open. New Year often means new doors open, even if they're only ajar. These are the times when our lives can change. Watch out for your moments - when you think - 'I wish I could lose weight', or 'maybe I could lose a bit of weight' and 'by this time next year I want to be able to'...
This is when we're thinking about changing; when things are beginning to move. No matter how small and tentative the thought, nurture it, care for it, grow it, don't kill it. That thought, that moment, can help you change your life for ever.
There's the saying 'a moment on the lips a lifetime on the hips'. It's supposed to stop us lapsing. Well, what about focussing on a different moment, the moment where you feel strong and ready for change; the one where you feel positive about eating healthily and losing weight. That's the moment to treasure and focus on.
Wherever you are in your weight loss journey, I hope that 2012 takes you where you want to go, or even just a little bit closer. Listen and watch carefully for your moment and when it comes, go for it!
If I can do it, so can you. You can do this, just believe.
Take care
Suex
ps you can read more about my weight loss journey in My Blog
I believe Sue,I can lose this weight..
I've been mucking about on TDs since October,keep starting,keep giving up.
Just stumbled across your blog,wish I'd looked sooner.You have given me hope..
Here's to a new me in 2012..
Julia x
Comment by Golden -
Ha ha! Know what you mean Princess! :-)
Comment by PILATESPRINCESS4 -
Hi Sue, I'm some way from being able to see my hip bones but it is good to feel them at least!!!
Comment by DORIS4FUTURE -
Thanks Ladies, there's somehow a bit of room at this time of year before everything kicks off again when you can sneak things in! Summer doesn't really work for me somehow. I love Pilates princess4, isn't it great to feel your hip bones! here's to a fit and lean 2012xx
Comment by XENAPRINCESSSSSS -