Here I am in January, talking the same &hit I’ve been talking for the past 30 years.
Gotta lose some weight. Gotta get some more energy. Gotta Gotta Gotta.
This has been the same sing song for most of my life. As age has crept up on me, so have the pounds, the ticks and twicks of being female and being human.
I get so tired of listening to myself.
But something feels different this time around. I’m not as flippant about losing weight. Not as smarmy I-can-do-it as I used to be.
This year feels more serious than those of the past.
I realize that deep down inside I want to go to my grandkids’ graduations and weddings. I want to visit Ireland and go back and have a birthday dinner on the top of the Eiffel Tower and walk in the Pacific Ocean. I want to be able to fit in cute summer dresses and not look like a Telletubbie in my swimsuit come Disneyworld in April.
And that I can’t do that comfortably if I don’t make an effort to get rid of the mental and physical burden of all these extra pounds.
I’m not talking miracle weight loss here. Ten pounds could make a difference in how I feel about the world — and myself.
I know many many friends who have gone the GLP1 route, finally having come across something that works for them. And I’m happy for them. I don’t have the money for weight loss shots, and I’m not sure I’d want to go that way if I could.
I want to do this the old fashioned way. Stop eating chips and platefuls of pasta and drinking sugared drinks like I’ve been wandering through the desert for days. I want to stop making excuses for bad choices.
I really need to do this for me.
Viruses and cancer and broken limbs and heart attacks always dance around people of my age. Life is finite. Yet somewhere in this finite future there has to be a way to prolong the inevitable. A way to work on that which can be worked on and leave the rest to chance.
And this time I think it’s going to work.
I know at least half of you reading this this morning has set similar goals this cold January morning (or warm if you’re on the other side). I know many of you have started, fallen, and failed.
But there’s something to be said about trying one more time. For YOU. No matter if it’s quitting smoking or losing 10 pounds or finding a way to deal with your OCD or ADHD, you always have the chance to start again today. One step at a time.
Wishing you all a successful New Year’s resolution, or, if you’re like me, a successful day.
One day at a time.
Oh dear Claudia, I know this all so well and many with me. Some people are thin while eating all day, it is not fair hey ! And they don’t realise how lucky they are. As for the expensive slimming shots, don’t use them, once you stop using them you gain all you lost (said a study recently). The best way is the slow way, little steps. Like eating French; it means your dinner is only a lot of veggies and a bit of meat, fish or chicken/turkey it really helps, cut alcohol if you can, breakfast and lunch ; grains, nuts, low calorie fruit like apple, pear, pineapple…or bread with low fat meat or cheese or….and an airfryer will help to loose weight too as you need a tiny little bit of olive oil on meat, veg, and other things. And drink lots and lots of water.Good luck.
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You share just what I am doing. I don’t buy chips and cookies and keep my pasta to a couple of times a month (I am a certified pasta head). I’ve always envied those who have always been thin, but that wasn’t my destiny, so time to straighten things out. Thank you for being by my side!
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I wish you all the luck in the world dear Claudia, and with little steps you can go a long way. Drastic changes are never good ( I know from experience ). On the other hand : how many of the women with a perfect body and face are really happy ? I once had a collegue who was tall and weighed 52 kg and she said she was disgusted with her weight and looks, she said 48 was the best for her as then all her “fat rols !!!!!!” were gone. How can you have fat rolls when you are tall and weigh 52 kg ????
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Ha! I suppose we all are the biggest critique of our own body. I know I’ve had this Polish build all my life — I just want to be a healthy Polish granny! So you are right. Eating habits and go-to’s are so important. One step at a time. And although it’s only been a couple of weeks I feel like I’m finally sticking to a new way of eating. Let’s hope!
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Sending positive vibes your way. There are so many theories on weight loss, but in the end, you do what works for you. It might be a combination of several plans. Give yourself grace.
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I am. And so appreciate the support.
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Good luck and hope you reach your goal quickly.
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I just want to feel better. You know? Life changes can be kickers… like so many other things. That’s why I’m saying one day at a time.
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Celebrating right along with you. On October 1st of 2021, I ceased eating anything with added sugar. Now, If I was eating something that I did not realize had added sugar, I stopped in mid bite and tossed out the uneaten portion. Did you know that canned peas have added sugar??? This narrows my eating menu quite a bit, however, it opens up many new adventures. I also ceased eating pork (since eating pork shuts your digestive system down for 24 hours) as well as I have increased my clean water intake. So, has this allowed me to dump weight like dropping a hot rock? Bit by bit, as well as allowing me to become much more aware of how other food categories are processed or not processed by my body. I am becoming more satisfied with smaller portions of what I DO eat, learning to not be as connected to the opinions of others, and I have absolutely NO cravings for anything, ever! Work it however it works for you and enjoy the amazing glowing ball of light emerging! ❤
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My daughter in law has a dairy and other allergies, so I have learned to read every label now, both for when we cook for them and for myself. I am staying away from processed food and try fresh whenever possible. I don’t buy cookies and chips, although I do try a few in other situations. I know it’s a lifestyle change, not a six-week fix all. And thank you for sharing YOUR amazing glowing ball of light!!!
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Hi Claudia. I usually refrain from advising people who want to lose weight. But something about your tone in this morning’s post has stirred me. I suggest you consider The DNA Restart, by Dr. Sharon Moalem.
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I thank you for your suggestion and I will look into it. Has it worked for you?
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I have been fortunate in my life not to have struggled with weight. My interest in Dr. Moalem’s program is in avoiding chronic illness and increasing my longevity.
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I’m wanting to do the same! I weight 200 pounds and I’d like to lose at least 50 of those. I’m trying, trying. X
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One day at a time, my friend. I find if I don’t buy it I don’t eat it, so I limit my chips and pasta to visits to my kids house….ha ….
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You can do it! I decided I had to do something back in 2023. It took a year but I lost thirty pounds and so far have only gained five pounds back, which I hope to get rid of this year and more.
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You are such an inspiration! I want to do it so I’m not short of breath all the time… and I’d like my clothes to fit a little better. I’m not expecting miracles here.. just health.
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Just less bread and sweets… more water and protiens. Nuts and meat and potatoes and veggies.
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Amen and yes. That’s exactly what I’m doing. It’s the simple common sense point of view that will work in the long run.
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No pills needed! Just restraint! :>)
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Tell me about it! Will power is not my strongest trait….
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:>)
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👍😍
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