Guest Post: Nadia & Her Weight-Loss Mission

Hey guys! Please welcome Nadia’s 12th guest post!
________________________________________________________________________________

We all believe in a magic number. It’s not real – that’s why it’s magic. It’s an illusion that has no real bearing on our lives.
[photo cred]
Does your scale read like an Eight-Ball and tell you whether you’ll have a good or bad day?

Yet it still exists, looming over us like the dust cloud that hangs out with Pig Pen from the Peanuts cartoons.

There’s a lot of argument over whether the number on the scale matters. Personally, I have always judged weight loss and gain by how your clothes fit. If your jeans feel a little tight, there’s probably a reason, and vice versa if they feel loose. I have used a scale to show an explicit loss (or gain – gulp!) of weight, but I’m not a big fan of them. Why? Because then we’re slaves to the number.

I’m now at the end of three months of a voyage of eating healthy and losing weight. It’s been both easy and difficult, sometimes at the same time. But so far, it’s been a very good thing for me. And yet, I still don’t feel like I’ve accomplished what I want to. How in sweet Moses do I continue to lose the rest of this weight? Moreover, should it even matter whether I lose weight or not?

In the end, it does matter. I come from a history of cardiovascular disease – staying healthy is very important to me since I don’t want to suffer the consequences later. However, whether I weigh in at 140, 130 or 150 pounds is dependent on how I feel about it. Will I feel comfortable at 150? Obviously not – that’s why I started losing weight in the first place. Am I comfortable at 140? Somewhat – which is a slippery slope to be on, as I could easily start to gain weight again. Will I feel more comfortable at 130? I think so. Thus, it’s worth it to go the extra mile.

How do you feel about the number on the scale?

Best Meal:

Open Sesame Restaurant in Long Beach: I got the vegetarian combo at this Lebanese restaurant. Potatoes in lemon and olive oil, plus hummus, pita, falafel, tabouleh and babaganoush. Yessssss!

Worst Meal:

Strawberry Shortcake ice cream: Yes, the Good Humor kind. I believe this had some insane amount of saturated fat. Next time, stick to the vegan ice cream!

How I Worked Out:

Some swimming, a little dancing, a little bit of weights. Not much to report.

What Did We Learn?:

As much as I might want to quit and get back to eating cheeseburgers without a care in the world, being healthy is a full-time job. Staying on the course and looking at the bigger picture is what will lead me to getting back into more of my clothes!

This Week’s Goal:

Last week, I insisted that the Feed Me I’m Cranky readership choose my next goal. In fact, I’m asking everyone to chip in and do the same for next week’s goal too! But for now, The Cranky One has spoken:

“Thou shalt not eat fast food for a week.”

This is one of those situations that is deceptively easy. For you see, now that I have been told it is forbidden, I am more tempted to have it. However, I will be sure to meet this goal. Remember, kids, one step at a time.

Start Weight According to Crappy Target Scale: 142.6

End Weight According to Crappy Target Scale: 141.6 (still not where I want to be)

________________________________________________________________________________

What do you guys think about “the number on the scale?” Does it have any bearing on your attitude? Should it? Do you have a history of disease in your family that motivates your healthy lifestyle (or attempts at one)?

To see Nadia’s first update, click here; her second, click here; her third, click here; her fourth, click here ; her fifth, click here; her sixth, click here; her seventh, click here; her eighth, click here;  her ninth, click here;  her tenth, click here; and/or her eleventh, click here.

<3,

The Cranky One