WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.
Welcome to WHEE. Get moving and jump.
I had a diary and ready to go, but Louise’s diary this morning made me think about my own turtleliness.
I’ve been dealing with weight issues most of my life; I was put on my first diet as a child. My weight stabilized in my teens and remained in the “normal” range through my 20s with only occasional bouts of fluffiness. Things changed in my 30s because I could afford to eat more than cereal and it was easier to buy a burger and fries than to cook healthy meals, to drive instead of walk, and to collapse on the couch after work instead of exercising.
On my 40th birthday I realized I was no longer young, and I looked back at all the wasted years of “tomorrows.” I didn’t like what I saw. I was morbidly obese, I was always out of breath, and I could barely walk a block without my feet and knees hurting. I was also stuck at a dead end job I hated because I was too self-conscious to go on interviews. The next day I signed-up for prepared diet meals, and the weight started to fall off. It then occurred to me that if I started moving it would fall off even quicker (I want it now!), so I started walking – a little further each day. Within a short time I was walking every morning, lifting weights during lunch, and hopping on my stationary bike every evening. My weight plummeted, so I cut back on the food and exercised even more (I want it right now!). I quickly reached my goal weight, and it was so easy. Not healthy, but easy. I transferred to another department at work, I was thin, I could easily lose weight any time I wanted, and life was good.
During the past 10 years I’ve gone back to eating those diet meals several times, and each time the loss was slower than before. Each time I quit before reaching my goal weight. I started again a few months ago, but with limited success. I stuck to the food plan and exercised every day, but the scale barely budged; in fact, I actually gained weight one month. I got frustrated, I got angry, and I quit. I’ve now gained back what little I lost and then some.
I am now a weight loss turtle and whether I like it or not, whether it’s fair or not, it’s the way it is and nothing is going to change it or make it easy again. I can’t have it now. Tomorrow is going to come whether I eat fast food or I eat on plan; whether I exercise or I sit on the couch; whether I am more or less healthy than I am today. I am a weight loss turtle, but this turtle is not going to look back at any more wasted “tomorrows” because tomorrow I will be a healthier than I am today. Slow and steady will get me where I want to be,even if I'm no longer in a race. And who knows, maybe if I take the time to actually learn something, I'll actually learn to do it right.
Aug 3 Mon AM - NC Dem
Mon PM - Wee Mama
Aug 4 Tues AM - Kascade Kat
Tues PM - Brimi
Aug 5 Wed AM - Edward Spurlock
Wed PM - help
Aug 6 Thurs AM - Darthstar
Thurs PM ???
Aug 7 Fri AM ???
Fri PM ???
Aug 8 Sat AM ???
Sat PM ???
Aug 9 Sun AM ???
Sun PM ???
You can be a diarist too! Let us know if you want one of the open slots!
PS: This is my first diary (I’m no longer a diary virgin). I apologize for the screw-ups (hope they’re not too bad – guess I’ll find out soon enough).