I Hope I Won’t Have to Eat My Words

I hope I don’t have to eat my words.

One thing about putting musings into writing is the record it creates. Consequently, these confessions are just for today.

A younger friend whom I told about my plans remarked: I am glad you are not taking OLD age lying down. Her words resonated.

I might actually be making myself accountable and keep on keeping on, becoming a better steward of the diminishing asset that my body is. Any other seasoned citizens interested?

In two weeks, I have lost three pounds and my BP is much better.

Now, the longest diet I have survived was 6 weeks. So far, I’ve been good for two weeks and I am ever so tempted to say OK — on to maintenance!

Well, not today; maybe tomorrow or the next day.

I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Anyway, a discipline doesn’t have to be a punishment, no matter how my inner child protests.

For today, then, I’ll turn a deaf ear to the Siren calls from the kitchen. Have you heard them?

There I was, sleeping peacefully… all of a sudden, I thought I heard a hundred-voice chocolate chip cookie choir calling me… ~Charles Schulz (Snoopy)

And I’ll ponder some unexpected successes.

I ate out twice yesterday: once at a Chinese restaurant, and later at a banquet. (At my age, I am NOT gonna sit around the house just to count calories!)

Eating Chinese did not derail me because I found guidance for better Chinese food choices. So, forewarned was forearmed.

But, at the banquet my choices narrowed.

The bread and butter on the table at the banquet, I knew to leave alone. I also knew that eating the desert, a luscious slice of cake, would be counterproductive.

So, there I was doing what my mother and mother-in-law practiced unfailingly when dining out, (or at home): leave the bread and butter alone and never, never, never, never order desert.

Had I paid attention to their examples I wouldn’t be the wonderful cuddly bunny I am now. (And may well remain!)

What does finally have my attention is that now, every ounce I can lose – and NOT pack back on– lightens the load on the old knees and hips.

Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. So a person who is 10 pounds overweight has 40 pounds of extra pressure on his knees; if a person is 100 pounds overweight, that is 400 pounds of extra pressure on his knees. ~ Obesity and Arthritis | Obesity – Arthritis Foundation

I hate the information age.

What’s more, the EMT guys might be grateful for the less they have to heave and haul out of the house, if I fall.

So, another reason to keep refreshing the eating plans is I am not just helping myself – I am easing the burden on future health care workers.

Remembering those words might help drown out the kitchen sirens who sing many tunes.