Round as a Ball

Earlier in the summer an old friend of mine came over. Half of her was missing. She had lost 55 pounds since the last time I had seen her. She looked great. When I asked her how she lost it all she told me she spent 30 minutes on the treadmill at least 5 times a week. I am not huge into exercising and I am even less into dieting, but 30 minutes on a treadmill seemed very doable. I was momentarily inspired. I worked hard for a week and then we went out of town and I kinda forgot all about it.

A few nights ago in the car my boys were talking about ages and how old people looked and I was stupid enough to ask them how old I looked. My oldest son is old enough to say "the right thing". My youngest son is young enough to say it how he sees it. No malice intended - just the truth as he views it. His answer - I must be older because I weigh a lot. Knowing that he doesn't know how much I weigh, I asked him what he meant. His answer, "well, you know, you are kinda round as a ball".

In his defense, I asked. And to him weighing a lot is a huge achievement. He loves stepping on a scale and weighing more each time. He was not being purposefully mean. But I also know he was telling me what is obviously apparent to anyone who sees me. Half of me is not missing.

As of today, I am officially on a diet, running on a treadmill at least 3 x a week, coaching my son's soccer team, and joining a StrollerFit class.

So I have decided I am making it your (all 5 of you who read my blog :) ) responsibility to ask me how I am doing and if I am losing any weight. :) I need a lot of people to hold me accountable. Otherwise, I'll quit in a week. I know me.

I hope that by the end of this year I will no longer feel the sting of being told I am round as a ball by my six year old. I would love to be able to look back and laugh knowing that my present appearance is a thing of the past. (Honestly, it already makes me chuckle everytime I think about it, but I will find a lot more humor in the statement if/when I lose 50 pounds)

Wish me luck...