Waiting for the last “official” weigh-in is enough to make me eat a few peanut butter cups, but knowing not to munch my way through the wait/weight is one of the amazing concepts which has grabbed and held me these last four months. Gaining weight has grabbed my attention many times before, but this time it didn’t, wouldn’t, absolutely refused to let go. The time was right to retain all the ever present information, to digest it, to learn more about losing weight, and to change from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle.

Grabbed by the snippet in the paper to enter the Weight Loss Challenge, I had loud, conflicting thoughts---"Why not?” and “It’s so public!” So I took the first step by sending an email to friends asking for their opinions, subconsciously acknowledging the truth that I couldn’t do this alone. They, too, had conflicting thoughts ranging from, “Are you crazy?” to “It’s a perfect fit.” ( Personally, I think both assessments are right!) When informed I was one of the lucky Challengers, I sent another email imploring my friends to regularly read my blog, this time consciously acknowledging the truth that I couldn’t do this alone--another big step.

The third step was reconnecting with thoughts, emotions, and facts which evolved into the lessons I needed to help me through the coming days. Eating NO sugar, keeping a food journal, structuring exercise into every day, drinking enough water, and acknowledging hunger is not always about food are a sampling of these thoughts I needed to remember and repeat.

I have learned that peas are more than green vegetables! “Patience” is my mantra--so much more difficult to practice when you really need it. (What only 2 pounds lost?!) “Persistence” works with my mantra when I use the positive definition, “maintaining a stand” ( Yes, I will lose weight.) and not the other definition, “difficult to alleviate” ( Guess I can try, but you know how hard it is.) “Passion” is mandatory. Without that burning desire to look better, be healthier, lose aches and pains, weight loss just can’t be done.  ( I want this! I am committed! Toss that cheesecake in the wastebasket!) I am still learning to blend the peas with the “p’s” as I practice putting patience, persistence, and passion into my pounds prevention program. I know I have hit the mark when there is a certain clear and calm, yet aware and alive, peace in my life.

I have learned my asking “Why?” was a barrier I built specifically to delay the action I needed to take. If I sat pondering why I decided to eat myself into size 24 jeans, I could pretend I was working on the problem while finishing off a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I need the balance of contemplation and action to achieve the peace I do so love. The peace that comes from doing or not doing. The peace that ignores trying. A wonderful result of balance and peace is reveling in the big and small rewards along the way! The heady feeling of zipping up a pair of jeans 4 sizes smaller, the glorious comfort of actually fitting in the plane seat, feeling the thrumming steady, slower pulse rate during a workout, looking down and seeing your feet, not your belly, hearing the surprise in folk’s voices when they say, “Look at you!” It is an ongoing journey. I want to lose 30 more pounds, and the lessons I have learned are going with me, every step of the way!

I truly mean this with all of my heart--thank you! Thank you to the creators of the Challenge, my 5 teammates, and the gang at Curves. And thank you to all my friends who have used their precious time reading the blogs, responding to the blogs, clipping articles from the paper, asking how it was going and yelling out, “Hey, Skinny!” I needed your encouragement and help--you gave me your all!

The decision to lose weight comes from deep inside; however, the losing comes with loving support from the outside--so is the beauty of balance.

Eat Less. Do More.
- The Inner Yoda