The Last Bit

Well, I was supposed to guest blog over at Bre’s place today, but, alas, something is preventing me from doing that. For whatever reason, logging in is not possible. Which irritates me because I should be able to figure this out, and I can’t. I suppose it should be some consolation that others are having a similar issue, but it’s not. I hate when I can’t figure things out. And, moreover, when I have to ask for help or admit that I can’t do something. Hate it. Sorry Bre, I am a bad blogging sub.

And I was going to talk about handbags and everything! Just imagine what we’re all missing.

Speaking of not being able to figure things out on my own (hate that. Did I mention that already?), now might be a good time to talk about weight loss. Or, in particular, my weight loss. A week or so ago, I mentioned I’d get around to talking about this weight loss program that I tried– and, that surprisingly, has worked. So far. Anyway, I know this isn’t the first time I’ve talked about losing weight. In fact, over 2007 I lost a good amount on my own. Part of that was recovering from a knee injury and, in turn, becoming more active again. Another part of that was waking up and taking stock of what I really wanted my body to be, what I wanted it to be capable of. So I lost weight. And it was great and I was happy. But, like many, many, people, there is always that last bit you can never seem to lose. Whether your last bit is five, ten, fifteen or fifty, it’s every bit annoying as those first pounds, or even more so. I felt this, in a big way.

I didn’t really know exactly what my last bit was, I just knew I wanted to get rid of it. But every time I tried, I just couldn’t get over a certain bump in the road. I’d lose a few, then gain it back. Or lose a few and then nothing. And then probably gain it back. It’s like a merry-go-round that never really gets going.

So, about a month ago, I was talking to my friend Carrie. Carrie is amazing. Carrie is a clinical psychologist and an avid adventure racer. You take one look at Carrie and admiration is flowing out of every part of you. You look at Carrie and weight loss is the last thing that comes to mind. Carrie is stunning. So when she told me she joined Weight Watchers to lose the ten pounds she could never get rid of, my jaw hit the floor. If she needs to lose ten pounds, what the heck am I going to do? But you know, Carrie did it. And then, in her go-getter style, she convinced me I could, too. It wasn’t just Carrie, it seemed the good ol’ WW, the one I’ve admittedly made fun of in the past (because points? What the heck is that about?), was popping up all around me. Friends, coworkers, other bloggers, they were all giving it a try.

So I sucked it up and got over myself and registered. The first week, I lost four pounds, then a couple more, then a couple more. Now I’m near that “last bit” I thought I had and just beginning to realize that there’s probably a little more to go than I thought. “Fat hides on runners,” Carrie said. While I don’t know that this is true for all runners, I can’t deny that I’m pleasantly surprised with how this is going. Even though I ate every last bit of my frozen yogurt over the weekend, I’m still sticking with it. It seems worth it, even though I’m paying money. Even though I had to ask for help. I felt like I wouldn’t be doing it “on my own” but, you know, I am. That feels like enough.

And what feels even better, what gives me that last bit of motivation I need on a dead-tired Monday night, is that it’s easier to run without those pounds, too. Maybe I’ll schedule that marathon yet.