A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME

Well, I did it this time. Fourth of July weekend and I picked that specific holiday to join Weight Watchers. The only holiday worse would be Thanksgiving.

Crying, moaning, whining and self-loathing didn’t help me lose the extra 30 lbs quietly creeping up over the last few years. Neither did exercise at the gym, Pilates, bike riding, yoga, Zumba and dance.

It was fine time I faced myself in the mirror and realize it was what I put IN FRONT of my face that was the problem. Attending my first meeting in Sodus, I weighed in at a hefty 157 pounds. At only 5’2” tall, I couldn’t believe my eyes, but knew it was real. Good lord, the only difference between me and Orca was the size of our blow holes.

Sharing their weight amount is as traumatic for some women as sharing their age. But I am desperate and my pride has gone out the window. The number is out there and I have to deal with it.

Of course, I blame my husband. When we first met, Riley, our chocolate Labrador, and I, weighed the same amount. 118 pounds. That was too much weight for him, but not really enough for me. I was thin, but looked unhealthy.

“Honey” he said one afternoon as we were enjoying a cocktail. “You are too thin – you need to eat more.” Not being one to argue when there’s pizza on the table, I whole heartedly agreed. The reason I blame him is because he never told me to stop. My diet of Dunkin Donuts, Burger King fries, and Gus’ fried chicken didn’t help and I knew something had to be done. I thought I could still eat like I did when I was in my 30’s because I was exercising. God knows what I would look like if I hadn’t at least been doing some kind of activity everyday. Plus, I love to cook, and had been really ramping up the vegetables and fresh fruit. But apparently, it wasn’t enough.

What woman looks in the mirror and is perfectly satisfied with what she sees? Not many, I’m sure, and in reality it is a function of society’s obsession with thin. True, many of us are overweight, and some are dangerously obese. I figured I would use the accountability concept of Weight Watchers, writing down everything I put in my mouth and the weekly weigh in. The concept is simple – portion control, sizes and eating the correct things at the right time. You can eat what you want, just not the giant servings I had become used to. This is going to be a challenge, but I am ready.

So over the course of the next few months, I will chronicle my 30+ pounds loss, and hopefully will not hurt myself doing it. I give myself until Christmas to lose these unwanted pounds, and knowing you will now be reading (& watching?) will give me incentive. I will never divulge whom or what I see at meetings; that is private and I would never intrude upon someone’s life without their consent. But when it comes to me, it will be open season. If you see me eating fries, tell me to spit them out! If I’m at an ice cream stand ordering a giant sundae, yell at me. I’ve put up the same “Before” picture printed here on my refrigerator. Let’s make this fun, because it’s the only way I going to do it. I know I can do it. Eventually.