It’s day five of my journey to physical health and well-being.  The fact that my bum is moving in time to a different drummer than the rest of my body, finally inspired me to take action.  Lifestyle changes are a full time commitment, however, not unlike raising children.   You can’t take a child back and trade him or her in once you have them and keeping a healthy svelte body, especially after 45, is, did I say svelte?  I think I’ll need a trainer for that but healthy will do. 

This is, I must say, the second or third lifestyle change I’ve made in the last six months.  The first being to move from California to Maine, much to my mother’s chagrin, and the second was not taking a teaching position for the first time in 22 years.  With anxiety comes eating and with Maine comes snow which was a marvelous excuse to sit by the fire, read a book, and avoid any physical activity.   All of which adds up to large chair shaped buns, flat sided thighs, and a serious lack of stamina.

Thus it has been five days of extra veggies, a variety of fruit, complex carbs (no bread), lean protein, and no sugar outside of its original form.  Sounds like every weight loss regime ever created.  As much as I’d like to find the quick fix, at my age especially, there isn’t one that will last.  In my thirties I could stop eating lunch for a week, exercise a bit, and voila, on the weekend I’d be three to five pounds lighter (as if anyone would notice that much today).  Now I actually gain first before it dribbles off.   Although I need to loose thirty more pounds, it isn’t a recent issue but a six year struggle to loose the weight gain I made  prior to my pregnancy.  Pregnancy weight is gone thanks to Weight Watchers. 

I’m a recluse, of sorts.  I hate crowds, but I love shopping in the city.  Weight Watchers sounded to me like punishment for the punishment.  Picture a group of people all trying to loose weight and giving their testimonials.  That was my misconception.  Really the meetings were fun and informational. 

Now, I need to just live differently.  I can’t eat a box of Cadbury Creme Eggs, a sandwich with bread and mayo, and a bag of chips without gaining significant weight.  It comes on almost instantly but taking it off is a slow and dedicated process…so here I am, I’ve identified that I eat for entertainment and to fill my inadequacy void (thank you Bob Greene).  Good eating plus putting The Science of Success by James Arthur Ray should lead to health, wealth, and a love for who I am. 

Oh, did I tell you it is a process that takes time and practice?  The Laws of Attraction or “The Secret” aren’t about just sitting and thinking and “poof” everything is fixed.  It is a process that involves hard work and a concerted effort.  It is the answer to what I need, a self esteem, for one, so I’m putting the principles into practice.    We’ll see where I am after the weekend.