Will the Lost Weight Find Me Again?

As always, reading the past blogs may help if you are new to my "musings". 

My journey down a path to optimal health continues onward. I didn't quite know that is what I was on, a journey I mean. First it was find something that works and just shed some weight. 50lbs off in 4 months was great but I still had lots to go. The holidays loomed large and I thought "Oh no, this is bound to become really difficult now". It wasn't, nothing changed. Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went and by The 2011 Superbowl party, I had shed about 90lbs! 

Looking back at my daughter's wedding pictures where I thought I was so much thinner, I now realize how much I still had to go. It is funny that we look in the mirror and see only what we want to see at that moment. I am pleased I did so well then and even now but months later and a lower weight (one I truly never thought I would see), I felt NOW I finally made it to my goal! Funny thing was, my first goal was find something that worked. Check! Take off weight by Sarah's wedding. Check! Keep going and don't mess up for the holidays. Check! Keep on the path... don't get off....you can do it...Wow! I made it! Wait, where was I going again? You see, when you are morbidly obese or just overweight, you need to live in the now. The now is just doing what you can do, one day at a time, to start moving toward a goal that may or may not be known to you. My first goal was to see a scale, with me on it, that read under 200. For most folks, though fewer and fewer have no weight issue, it is hard to imagine seeing a woman say 200 was a goal to be made. More would say one should never ever get close. Unless you are 6 foot 5 inches, it may be ok then. I believe a goal should be taken in many baby steps and then once you make it, set a new goal again.

Next stop 180lb. That should do it, the first 90 was easy, breezy, so why not! I had ammunition now. I knew what to do, knew I could do it and now was a health coach for the company that helped me get there, Take Shape For Life. Not only would I have to be accountable to myself, but as a coach, I had clients that I could show how easy it was. Also, I would have people watch me lose and look up to me as a guide. For me, this was important.

Paying it forward has always been a big thing for me. Owning The Book Worm Bookstore was a way to do that. When a crazed parent rushed in searching for just 1 copy of the book which their child needed 2 weeks ago for a book report, and was due in the morning because the parent was just informed and often no other store had any copies of it, I could just walk over and pull it from the shelf and hand it to them, Wow, what a great feeling. I could make a difference in someones life, albeit a small thing, that worked for me.  Now I could make a difference in another way. This helps me more than them, really it does! Some of us need the accountability too! We need to know  that eyes are upon us and watching to see if we can do it. Our success is a VERY public thing and if we fail on a "diet" then everyone will know. No hiding it unless you have very good Spanx undergarments which they do make these days but only make so much of a difference!  

When you hear of someone that is trying to get healthy, you may want to let them know you support them and hope they make it to their goal. Maybe ask what their goal is. Often there isn't one or it is a modest goal to get to the next goal. Being held accountable may make someone make their goal. Take this advice if you are that person, as well. It really does help. But you still need to want it for yourself. No one can really acheive their health for someone else. I am just learning this now.

My journey goes on...I will continue it next week. Hold me accountable if you don't see me post!