Every once in a while, the Husband takes over with the kids for the evening. Basically, I fly home from work as quickly as I can, and spend all evening at the local Panera/Starbucks with my laptop and our jetpack (yay for having my own portable, secure wi-fi!).
A few weeks ago was one of those nights. As I sat in the restaurant, it was nearly impossible to avoid hearing other’s conversations. There was the family on my right with the mom in dreads and the father who caught my attention with buzz words that could only be from someone in my career field.
There was the woman to the front of me, with her laptop and headphones. She must have been watching some kind of video because every now and then she let out a giggle. It was adorable.
Then there were the two women and young girl to my left. The young girl was probably 12 or 13 years old, and clearly on the heavy-set side. Not obese, but definitely pudgy. Just seeing her brought back memories from when I was her age. Hair frizzy from an at-home perm (it was the early 90’s after all!), overweight, and self-conscious. Kids that age are notoriously cruel, and I don’t know how many times my parents had already attempted to put me on diets.
It didn’t surprise me when the three women started discussing diets. They talked about everything from Grapefruit to Paleo…and it just made my heart sink.
Those of you that read regularly know I’ve been struggling with extra-slow weight loss for the last year and a half. I’m not following a “diet” and I’m not denying myself. But I am making the changes necessary to live a healthier life. In all that has resulted in a 20 pound weight loss. It’s so incredibly slow, and there are definitely times I want to chuck it all, and jump on the latest diet bandwagon.
BUT…I feel healthier now than I did when I got married; even though I weighed almost 20 pounds less. I can run faster and farther than ever in my life. I can lift heavier weights and for more sets than ever before. Best of all, I’ve actually maintained a weight loss for the longest time ever.
I’m taking the turtle approach to health and weight loss…and I’m loving the results. And if my girls ever struggle with their weight or body image, I hope to instill in them the knowledge that health is more than the number on a scale or following the latest fad diet. This cycle can and should stop with me.
