Spirituality
 

The body goes through a lot of changes as it gets older. I’m 51 years old and every year I see a difference in my physical being from the year before; an ache here, a bulge there. One of my biggest concerns is my weight. Though I’ve always had a nice shape, I’ve also been prone to being over-weight. Though I would gain weight easily, I could shed it pretty quickly, if I put my mind to do so. And I usually did it without exercising.

 About seven years ago, I started gaining weight and nothing I did took it off. I went low-fat, no-fat, drastically decreased calories (I’m talking 500 calories and less a day—and, yes, I knew better). I even broke down and exercised. I’d lose a little then gain it back. Of course, I’d get discouraged and then would eat food I knew would not help the cause. The fact was my already slow metabolism had slowed down even more (if that was possible) because of changes (such as the decrease of estrogen production) that were taking place inside my body.  

 I had to stop focusing on losing weight, and deal with being healthy. I decided to add an exercise regime to my daily routine. I have stuck to this routine for over eleven weeks now. I’m very proud of myself, because I am one of those Americans whose lazy gene has dominated her life. Ask me how much weight I’ve lost. I’ll tell you this, the most I’ve loss is six pounds, but I’ve gained it back, even with the exercising and the modified low-fat diet. I say modified low-fat, because, honestly, I have not stuck with it everyday, not lately. A low-fat diet simply hasn’t been kind to me in the weight loss department. I still try to adhere to it as much as possible, however, because I have to be cognizant of plague build-up in my arteries.  

Last year, I lost 18 pounds, but I was eating less than 900 calories a day (along with exercising). I can’t live that way. Even though I’m not losing weight now, I am beginning to see and feel a difference in my body. My stamina has increased and muscles are becoming noticeably toned. I am four dress sizes larger than I was a few years ago, but I am also healthier.

 I guess you’re wondering what point I’m trying to make. Sometimes we set goals for ourselves that, without modification, can be impossible to obtain. We either punish ourselves by continuing the impossible quest, or we abandon them and stop setting goals all together. When you fail at reaching a goal, go back and re-examine your plan. Perhaps if you change your approach, you may come up with a way to attain it. However, if you exhaust every way you know to reach it, you may be able to modify it. I had to look at myself through different eyes. My desire to be that small person seems to be impossible right now, but that’s not a good reason to let my body go. If I’m going to wear a size 16, I can look good in it. My goal now is to look good out of it.

Prescriptions for

Romance

1. Scented Panty, no... Hanky
2. Poetry Will Do
3. Telephone Break
4. Moving Day