Diet is a four-letter word

My turn to introduce myself. I am the "younger" (in age only) yet heavier half  of this blogging team. I have been heavy my whole life, but my weight has ballooned out of control in the last few years. I finally (FINALLY) pushed past the fear, resistance, and the "failure" demons long enough to start a weight loss program. No, I am not on a diet. I am embracing (more or less enthusiastically, depending on the day) a new lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle. I had to get to a point where the "I want to look better" turned into "I need to get healthier to be happier."  The fear of failure is very powerful. That will be the biggest battle...even bigger than the "I really want to eat that right now" battle.

I have successfully completed my first week on this new lifestyle. I welcome your own stories, your fears, and any words of wisdom you'd like to share. Those of us who struggle with weight have our own little fraternity. Everyone else is ready and willing to judge and criticize us enough...we certainly don't need to do it to ourselves or each other.

Hope to hear from you (someone?  anyone?  Bueller?) soon!

-J

"Life is Way Too Short to Spend Another Day at War With Yourself"

Let me introduce myself!  I am the more "mature" aka "older" half of this wonderful women duo. That means that at almost 70, I've had a few decades longer to battle my body. I've had successes and failures along the way but my weight has always been a major issue in my life.  I've counted calories, counted points, consumed some truly awful concoctions, talked, and spent lots of money along the way.  Bottom line: Here I am yet again (or still).

I've come to the realization that for all these years I've been "battling" the fat, been "at war" with my body, with myself.  My goal is to change the way I go about this, to approach it from a place of love, to accept my body, to honor it. It has given me almost 70 years of loving relationships and wonderful experiences.  I have not given it the love it deserves.  Before I can ask it to change, to become healthier, I first must accept it as it is, with no agenda.

As a beginning, I gave my physical body special treatment this past week.  I first had a pedicure, then a chiropractic adjustment, then a glorious 90 minute massage.  These all ministered to my spirit as well as my body. I also joined a fitness club but haven't been there yet. I know that physical activity will be good for my body but I need to get my mind around doing it out of love rather than as a heroic, forced-labor mentality.

As I attempt to embrace the words above, "Life is way too short to spend another day at war with yourself", I invite you to come along on the journey. Hoping to hear from you!

Namaste!
D