Shelly’s Journal

Typically this is the time of year where we have a tendency to look at ourselves and try to do something different to make our lives better – that New Year’s Resolution. I have never been one to embrace such ventures, but usually like to look back to see what has evolved in the last year and encourage myself to continue the truths and pursuits that are the core in my life.

This year has been a lot about health and fitness. I took a look at my last year’s Christmas photos. I still looked pregnant in a way. I was 162 lbs. and wearing size 12-14 clothes. I had started back on the exercise trail, but things were slow going. Even in March at Bump’s birthday party, I looked horrible. I still was up in the 160s. I’d toned up a little to now squeeze into some 10s, but 12s were still more comfy. It was time to get serious.

By June, I’d gotten down into 8s, now weighed in the upper-140s. I was running 20-30 miles a week and doing weight training 2-3 times a week. While weight losses became much slower to come by, I still trimmed up. By the end of summer, I was back to my pre-pregnancy size, although still 5 lbs. up – probably a muscle mass issue (you know, muscle DOES really weigh more than fat.)

Fall brought jean season back – and all my favorites fit. It was so exciting. I continued to work out and as winter came into focus, the weight started dropping a little more. Now my miles are only about 15-20 per week. I was lifting 2x per week before my shoulder injury, and was starting to see the difference big time as I pushed myself a little to lift heavier weights.

And then Gil said, “You know, those jeans don’t fit you.” I was standing at the sink rinsing out some dishes, wearing my favorite jeans and feeling comfy. I stopped. I knew what he said was true. My favorite jeans – both pairs of them – had become too big for me. (Actually they were becoming a little ratty, too since I bought them in 2001.)

A year ago, all I wanted was to get back into my old clothes – to lose my post-pregnancy paunch. But I didn’t have much aspiration to push beyond that. My clothes didn’t fit. I wanted them to.

Along the way, I began to realize that exercise gave me many things that had been lacking in my life. I slept harder and needed less sleep. I had more energy and fewer weary moments. While I still wanted naps, I didn’t need as many of them. I could keep up with my kids better and my mind seemed clearer and more focused. I work out a lot of things in my head when I exercise – it’s a big stress reliever as well. And, it gives me a little liberty with my diet.

I don’t “diet”. I try to eat good foods, but have embraced a life of comfort eating. I graze, eating small portions of food here and there. Some of these portions are not so good for me, but I eat them in smaller quantities. They are my treats of the day. But I also eat good stuff – salads, fruit, whole grains – you know the foods. And somehow it works. I get my burritos and guacamole. I enjoy eating when I eat.

I’m not writing about all this to brag about my accomplishments, but to encourage so many of you who I know struggle with food, exercise and how your clothes fit. It’s worse in so many ways for women – especially the eating part. Gil just drastically cuts back on his eating when he’s trying to shed a few pounds. But he’s not handling food all day – buying it, preparing it, thinking about what to prepare, feeding it to others. All he has to do is worry about him. I live in my kitchen. I feed my kids, my husband, my dog and me. I’m constantly in the fridge or pantry for something or other. I plan to grocery shop, I shop, I read ads, I clip coupons. I search for easy recipes – online, in books and magazines, in my own recipe box. I prepare. I think about when I’m going to have time to prepare. I take things out of the freezer. I clean out the fridge. I wash and put away dishes. Very few moments go by in the crux of my day where I’m not food involved. I know it is the same for you.

I say to you – baby steps. Start making those little changes today. Walk for 20 minutes. Pass up dessert. Order salad instead of a hamburger. Drink water. Eat dinner on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Look at an exercise DVD or a class or whatever fits your schedule. Check thrift stores for used exercise equipment – or the newspaper. You know you better than I know you, so experiment and figure out what works. And do be discouraged by small setbacks. Don’t weigh yourself every day. Do a little more each time. Just a little. And while you won’t lose 20 lbs. in 2 weeks, at this time next year, you too could be saying…”Wow, what a difference a year makes!”