Autumn and loosing weight

I just got back from a walk. It is crisp and a little windy outside, a perfect autumn afternoon. Some of the trees on the Pratt campus are starting to change and there are a few roses blooming in the rose garden. As I walked around the garden I wished I had my camera to take pictures of all the pretty flowers.

Well, talking about autumn in NY isn't really why I am writing today. My real reason is to say - I have signed up with Weight Watchers. I got fed up last night, especially with my high blood pressure, and I just did it. I figured, I need a food/eating coach and they have a pretty good reputation. I can't take any of the first line drugs for my blood pressure, so the weight has to come off. Time to be a grown up - stop whining about it (at least to myself) - and making excuses - and get on with it. Yes, I have had some success over the last few years taking off about 40 pounds, but more has to change and they can support me while I do it.

You might say "this is related to cancer how?" well it is a no-brainer at least for me. I want to live a good while longer and to do that I have to take off the weight and get the blood pressure under control. Well, what did I learn from cancer - GET HELP! I have to shed this "i-can-do-it -on-my-own" attitude and just do it. Well, I still have to do the work and make the choices, but now I have a coach and a place to go for support. It is related to cancer in another way by wanting to take better care of myself all around. I fell into some "comforting" patterns, salty snacks, sweets (always my downfall), that though they may not be the best for me, helped me through a tough time. While I only gained about 10 pounds through the cancer, which considering what was going on, wasn't too bad. I have been able to take off that 10 pounds, but there are patterns that still have to change and I might as well get help doing it.

I am thinking about my goal weight. My ideal weight would be between 125-150. I have alway thought of a good target for me to aim for, at least for now is 200. That means I have 76 pounds to go, at least from when I last weight myself.

So, there is nothing like paying for something that makes it a good motivator. By paying for it I am making the commitment to myself to show up for myself and feel better for myself and to get help doing it. I am making the financial committment to achieve this goal. Also by telling all of you that I am doing it, and going to a weekly meeting, is also another motivator to not only reach my goal, but to keep me honest while I get there.