Posted in Random Musings
The Scale Is My Friend
Today I did the dreaded thing. I got on a scale. I have been putting it off for a lot of different reasons but I admit one of them was fear. I figured now was as good a time as any. I have now exercised for at least an hour for 41 straight days. I am noticably skinnier but not where I want to be yet. I took my blood pressure for the first time this week and it was high. I knew this meant my weight would be also.
I admit I was hoping for a slightly better number from the scale today. I was angry and disappointed to see I still had 26 pounds to lose (this is an estimate since I am mainly basing my goal on fitting into my good pants again). I shudder to think of what the scale might have said 41 days ago. I never want to do this again but I know I said that last time and here we are again.
It’s funny how it happens too. How easy it is to lie to yourself. I lost a lot of weight and it was really hard. I have a bad back and I am prone to migraines when I over exercise. Losing weight is an extreme sport for me but I did it a few years ago. I looked good, I felt great, I was healthy. Then I hurt myself again and the slow slide to here happened. I stopped exercising. I gained weight and then I stopped weighing myself. A great recipe for disaster.
There is some vanity in this. I want to look good for myself and for Sheri. It isn’t the driving force though. When I am exercising I am fine. The weight stays off but more importantly my blood pressure is good. My family has a long history of men dying young. I need to be healthy. I need to be smart. I have been neither.
So now I have stepped on the scale. I know what I have to do and I will. I have already lost 3 inches off my waist. I need to lose 3 more. Then I need to keep them off. Sheri and I have talked a lot about this and we are both on board. This has to be a lifestyle change. Eat healthy and live healthy. It is going to require a mental change. Enjoy food but always be aware. Stop making excuses and never avoid the scale again. The scale is my friend (I have been repeating this a lot today). I know the scale doesn’t give the full picture of a healthy person but it is a good early warning system. Now, all I have to do is take off 3 more inches and drop my blood pressure. A much easier goal then selling a few of my books.
