From 208 to 134 & Back Up Yet Again

I'm desperately trying to find some decent before and after pictures to visually illustrate my weightloss history. I do have in my possession the story of my Weight Watchers journey from a starting weight of 208lbs in February of 2002 with graphs and charts of the highs and lows. The low coming in June of 2004 and a nice, friendly number of 134lbs. That low number has now eluded me for years and I'm on a serious hunt to recapture it and if not it exactly a close relative of that number. I'd probably be happy with 140lbs but right now I can't seem to get away from the gravitational pull of a nearly 160lbs. I've been hovering around 157-158lbs and it's driving me a bit insane.

Yes, I know it's a number and yes, I know it doesn't define me BUT or BUTT it does keep me from fitting in clothes I've already got and would like to wear. It does keep me from being comfortable in my own skin and it does keep me from feeling better about myself and dare I even say feeling sexy again!!

I could go buy bigger clothes but I do not want to do that. I could just say the heck with it and be happy where I'm at but I don't want to do that either. All the evidence I've read points to being healthier and at less of a risk from problems like diabetes, heart disease or other issues at a lower weight. So if nothing else than for my current and future health why should I not be working on this.

I'm trying not to use my age for an excuse, but it would be so easy to do that. I continue to hear the comments from people, "no matter what you do you won't lose weight at your age".  And as I've stated before my response is usually 'really', but that comeback is weakening. Perhaps I should listen to the wisdom of others who have come before me and just say yep, you're right, I'll just give in to age, I'll use it as my excuse, pass that cupcake.

Nah, I'd rather try and put into practice something my friend Kristine taught me to say:
"Success is the best revenge"!  So I am going to continue to try in earnest to be successful and leave the family of the 150-160 #'s for a friendly group known as at least the 140's or 140lbs to be clear.  All keep you posted about my search for the elusive 140, now pass that mango.

Can You Say Confusion?

As I study and try and make sense of the information I'm reading about nutrition and wellness, what bothers me pretty much on a daily basis, is the ever growing and changing flood of information about diets. Like others of course I'd like to find that magic pill or easy fix to lose weight and keep it off. I didn't think I was one of "those" people who bought all the hype and diet books until I surveyed my bookshelf recently. What most discourages me lately and has me exclaiming my mantra "REALLY" is diet changes. How is it last year a plan was great, worked and had everyone on board, yet at the stroke of midnight in  a new year...wait, try this new plan, it's the best and you will lose weight. It can literally make your head spin and eyes bug-out like a cartoon character.

So, my plan, course of action, road map, or god forbid call it a diet is going to be fairly simple: eat what I like, have more fresh, whole foods, less overly processed foods and move around more. Actually make that move around A LOT more. I recently read that "inactivity may play a larger part than overeating in the causes of obesity". 

About eating more whole, fresh foods, I'm sure many of you have heard that if a product label includes too many ingredients your grandmother couldn't identify, then don't eat it. Another way to look at it I heard recently by Dr. Andrew Weil was: so for instance you are buying frozen waffles, if the ingredient list has too many items that you wouldn't put in it if you were making them yourself at home, put them back and walk away.

Another thought from Dr. Weil is that food should be pleasure and you shouldn't deny yourself or social events because of food. I don't advocate bad foods either. You shouldn't blacklist anything BUT, that being said, I once heard someone say if they were going to eat something they were going to have the best one of it. Even down to her apples. So that too has become partly my mantra, eating the best of something. I LOVE, LOVE chocolate but I rarely have chocolate that isn't fabulous and I eat mostly all dark chocolate for a couple of reasons: I like dark chocolate vs. milk and it's better for you. A win win to me.

I've also become an observer regarding food...ok at times I've been called the food police or reformed "fluffier" person. My recent observation was of the tray of mini muffins I put out for a meeting. Note: I always have both fresh, healthier items and not so healthy items at meetings since I'm often reminded not everyone eats or wants to eat like me. Anyway, those mini muffins hadn't been on the tray, which was napkin-lined for more than a minute or 2 when the grease underneath them started to form. By later in the day when I went to put them away, not only was the napkin soaked in grease but the platter had moisture on it too. So my observation, if I really want muffins I should make my own or look for those made with less fats and oils. It at times just seems to make sense although we've all (myself included) done mindless eating and just shuffled a mini muffin or 2 into our mouths. But I now have to ask, did it even taste good? If you try something and it's not the best or doesn't taste good...get rid of it and just walk away...better yet run, makes you work off more calories!

Where to begin?

At least several times a day I find myself exclaiming or at least thinking to myself  "REALLY".  Menopause, getting older, aging, whatever word or phrase is used for something related to my current life.

Let's see the latest has been I find I'm having issues with sodium bothering me. Of course the answer is well yes at your age, approaching menopause, that makes sense. But why does it make sense or better yet my question is consistently must I just accept all these little nuances in my life.

Weight has been a thorn in my side probably FOREVER like many women and men but lately I find losing difficult and yes of course the answer is don't bother trying, nothing will work its your age....and again REALLY?

Perhaps that's what I'd like to explore here either alone, if no one decides to read this or with others...just what can we do. Must we just sitdown, laydown or stop trying and accept that age is going to have its way with our bodies and we should just go with it.
Sorry but I simply can't accept that.

I'm taking a course in wellness and nutrition and hope to find some help and answers to how I can better nourish my body and NOT age so gracefully. I want to be fit, strong and not simply go thru the motions. I want to change the "just accept it, it's all part of getting older" attitude to "wow, I'm how old and look and feel this good".

And before I end this introductory rant for a point of reference to kick this thing off... I'm 51, soon to be 52 in April. I feel like I'm in relatively good health but know that there is diabetes in my family and my current weight or any increase in it could lead me down that road too. My mother died way to young at the age of 60 from complications from diabetes and I just don't want that to happen to me. And, my sweetheart, who I live with, wants me to be around a long time too.

So, let the new and improved me and any others who want to join me begin, why not right?