New Seasons inevitably bring new starts

Tulips in Central Park

When the temperature warms and the spring flowers start blooming, it’s seems as if the whole earth is screaming it’s time for a do-over. It doesn’t seem to matter how gray and ugly things get by the end of winter, in my observation, spring makes things either beautiful or it shines a light on it’s potential for beauty through change.

This year I find myself wanting a little bit of a do-over myself.  As I find myself  contemplating the things I’ve allowed to go dormant in my life, I am hopeful that a little life change of my own might bring forth a different kind of beauty.

With just a few minutes, a pen and blank piece of paper I could come up with a very long list of changes I want but if I strike out all the meaningless, superficial things I would change like the color of my kitchen, the color of my hair, the clothes in my closet, temporarily change my scenery to a beach locale, I’m left with some hard choices.  The most obviously needed change is my health and not insignificantly, my weight.

I’ve sworn never to ever again go on a diet.  I’ve succeeded at almost every diet I seriously attempted. At least for awhile.  And then I gained it all back and then some.  I’m glad I never kept a written record because if I looked at the grand total of pounds I’ve lost in my life I’d probably have a stroke and I don’t need another health concern to add to the list!    Something’s gotta give.

I don’t need Dr. Oz or Oprah to tell me more about weight loss.  I know what I need to know: burn more calories than you consume.  Genius.   So in order to exercise more, I’ve got to figure out how to do it without pain.  While I’m seriously doctor averse and have always been skeptical/terrified of chiropractors, I made an appointment to see if something can be done so I can exercise without chronic pain. One I figure the pain out, we can figure out the exercise plan.  If he can do something about my headaches, that’d be awesome  too!  Step one.

As for the consuming less calories part of the equation, I threw out the ‘bad food’ and went shopping for all the foods I already know I should be eating. I picked up healthy food for breakfast, healthy snack options for the office, stuff to make my own lunch, fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.  No secret weapons unfortunately.  I refuse to use the ‘D’ word but there’s gotta be a change in my relationship with food!  Something’s gotta give and if it’s not this, it’ll be my health, right? Step two.

If the books and the tv talk shows are to be believed, right motivation  is key to successfully navigating this change.  Well, in that regard mine is a simple one.  I no longer have the naive notion that if I lose weight I’ll find myself a new life complete with adoring husband who loves the new beautiful thin me and children who would need the lithe, energetic me to chase them around our beautifully manicured backyard. Evidently, it wasn’t motivation enough even then. Now that I’m older and wiser or at least more realistic, I simply want to be able to live the life I have fully.  I want to be able to take care of myself as long as it’s within my power and I’m pretty sure walking up two flights of stairs without being winded is part of that.  I want to be active and able to enjoy my friends and my family for the days that I am given; however many that may be.  Yes, something’s definitely got to give because the road I’m on won’t take me there.

The catch is that starting  change is always the easy part.   Following through is another matter entirely.  Especially for people like me. But excuses don’t bring change.  Talking about things or typing about them don’t bring change either. Only one choice at a time will.  So here goes.  Something is gonna give.

What kinds of tricks do you have to share to with me to help me stick with it and dare I say it, once and for all get to a healthier state?