San Diego Reader

Just when I was going to get back to taking a daily walk, the following flyer was distributed throughout the mobile home park:

NOTICE TO ALL RESIDENT'S

THERE HAS BEEN A MOUNTAIN LION SEEN IN THE PARK THE LAST FEW DAYS. PLEASE WATCH YOUR SMALL CHILDREN AND SMALL PETS1 REMOVE ALL CAT OR DOG FOOD FROM OUTSIDE AT NIGHT IT WILL DRAW IT INTO YOUR YARD. YET IT CAN JUMP A 6 FT. FENCE.

THANK YOU, MANAGEMENT

Holy crap! After getting my picture taken for my Reader profile this morning, it has become painfully evident that my weight has gotten out of control once again. Since the fall, I believe I've gained at least twenty pounds--maybe more--and although my doctor hasn't said anything about it, I know it's time to take some serious action to preserve my health.

In 2004, I was not only diagnosed with breast cancer, but diabetis as well. Terrified that I'd have my leg cut off (it happened to my diabetic father-in-law who constantly ate sugar) or worse, I dutifully lost sixty pounds and not only survived cancer, but was able to go off all meds as well. Unfortunately, doctors don't tell you that some of these health problems can be corrected. Maybe they like for you to stay sick so they can make more money--I don't know why else you rarely if ever hear a doctor say it.

Anyway, today is the day I'm going back to eating forty-five grams of carbohydrate, three times a day; and, fifteen grams two times a day. Actually, my diet doesn't have to be that strict. When I followed this diabetic eating plan before, my blood sugar dropped to eighty and I almost passed out.

The key to losing weight, I have found, is working with yourself and not developing an "all or nothing" attitude. Some people--usually the fat ones--think you either gorge on a gallon of ice cream or live on carrot sticks. The most effective way for me to lose weight is to deny myself nothing, I just eat smaller portions of whatever I do it. No more walking down to the store for a candy bar at three o'clock. From now on it will be an apple and a bottle of water.

I'm a vegetarian and so eating to lose weight is a bit more difficult. Meat is a low-carb product and more filling than some of that veggie-burger stuff. But I'll perservere, mountain lion be damned!

My weight watchers digital scale is currently weighing me in at 193.1 pounds. This cannot be happening to a woman who as a young girl was considered anorexic. It doesn't help that I'm glued to a computer for most of the day, and at 53, I'm toast by three o'clock. The last thing I want to do is to go walking when my body just really wants to take a nap.

But I've got to do it. My clothes are too tight and its hard to find any that will fit unless I start sewing two parachutes together. Ugh!

I will never be able to pull this diet thing off without making my state of disgrace public, so I'm posting this blog and hoping that the public humiliation I'll suffer if I fail will keep me on course.

Wish me well!

M.