For those of you who don’t know, “onederland” is weight loss surgery lingo for, “my weight starts with a ‘1’!” I know I’ve had lots of great “little milestones along the way,” but when I recently crossed the threshold to ONEderland, I was so proud of myself. When I started my weight loss journey just over eight months ago, my weight started with a “3.” For what it’s worth, so did my clothing sizes. “3x”…“30.” Yep, 30! Today, it’s an entirely different story. You’re more likely to find me trying on an “XL” or “16” and finding that, actually, they’re a bit too large. What can I say? A lot can happen in eight months.But what about the next eight months? And the eight after that? For that matter, what about the rest of my life? What happens next? The quick answer is…I don’t know. For eight months, I’ve done everything right. Exercised regularly. Cut out all bread, rice, and pasta. Kept my calories low and my fat lower. Eliminated all fried foods. In doing so, I’ve certainly been richly rewarded on the scale, having, thus far, lost 145 pounds. As large as that number is, it’s not enough. OK…don’t be alarmed. I don’t mean that the weight loss is too small. In fact, while I have not reached my goal, I’m quite close and have no doubt about whether I’m going to enjoy continued weight loss success. What I do mean, however, is that a number on the scale will never be enough to motivate me to keep making the right choices. Let’s face it…long before I had gastric bypass surgery, I wanted the number on the scale to be something other than what it was. Yet that wasn’t enough. When you think about it, most men and women, even those who are not obese, or even overweight, have 5 or 15 or 20 pounds that they want to lose. While those few pounds may serve as an initial motivation to start eating differently or moving differently, how long does that motivation last? What if it wasn’t 15 or 20 pounds, but rather 150 or 200 that you wanted to lose?
Ultimately, I believe that long term success is tied not to the rewards we see on the scale, but rather the rewards we see in life. As a result of losing this significant amount of weight I am free. Free to travel (without a seatbelt extender). Free to walk (without my back aching). Free to shop (in numerous clothing stores because now they all have items that fit me). Free to line dance and Zumba (to my heart’s content because now my stamina is through the roof). Free to stand (for hours in the kitchen cooking nutritious meals for my friends and family). Free to enter restaurants (without the apprehension that I won’t fit into the booth they offer me). Free to comfortably ride a bicycle (while the wind blows through my hair, for the first time in more years than I can count).
This freedom is my motivation. Experiencing all of these wonderful things, and anticipating the many wonderful things to come, keeps me making the right choices. So, whether you have 20 or 200 pounds to lose, imagine for a moment the freedom you could enjoy if you reached that goal. Would you have more energy to play with your children? Would it cure your high blood pressure or diabetes? Would it improve your stamina? Would it give you more time to spend with those you love?
I guess what I want to know is…would you stop existing and would you begin to live?
Ultimately, I believe that long term success is tied not to the rewards we see on the scale, but rather the rewards we see in life. As a result of losing this significant amount of weight I am free. Free to travel (without a seatbelt extender). Free to walk (without my back aching). Free to shop (in numerous clothing stores because now they all have items that fit me). Free to line dance and Zumba (to my heart’s content because now my stamina is through the roof). Free to stand (for hours in the kitchen cooking nutritious meals for my friends and family). Free to enter restaurants (without the apprehension that I won’t fit into the booth they offer me). Free to comfortably ride a bicycle (while the wind blows through my hair, for the first time in more years than I can count).
This freedom is my motivation. Experiencing all of these wonderful things, and anticipating the many wonderful things to come, keeps me making the right choices. So, whether you have 20 or 200 pounds to lose, imagine for a moment the freedom you could enjoy if you reached that goal. Would you have more energy to play with your children? Would it cure your high blood pressure or diabetes? Would it improve your stamina? Would it give you more time to spend with those you love?I guess what I want to know is…would you stop existing and would you begin to live?
