The old saying, “getting old is not for the faint of heart”, is a scary thought. It can be true, but it doesn’t have to be. I believe that most of us go through phases of positivity and feelings of defeat or giving in. That is what I am having difficulty with. That tug of war of “I can do this”, “brand new day”, and all of that; then, “well, I guess it just happens when you age”, or “I’m just getting old”.

I have been waking up with new pains in my body that I am attributing to weight gain. I had even started to accept that the extra weight just comes with age and I need to just learn to deal with it. I didn’t realize how easy it is to throw your hands up and resign yourself to something negative.

Now, I admit that I am getting older and there are things that I can’t control; however, there are many that I can. This extra weight is definitely one of them. Whenever I have gained weight in the past, it has been relatively easy for me to shed the pounds and get back in the game. I am finding that age, hormones, etc., have done some things with my body that are making it more of a challenge to lose weight this time. My simple little switches and cutting back on specific foods, is not working. My regular walks outside and on the treadmill are not enough anymore. I am going to have to get serious about this and that is hard for me because I am generally lazy when it comes to my diet and food choices during the day. The easier and simpler the better. My dinners are usually very healthy since I am also feeding my husband and son, so that is a plus.

Yesterday I woke up with the “brand new day” feeling and a serious mindset to make some changes that will affect not only my weight, but my health. At 58, almost 59, I’m starting to think about when my husband and I retire and how I want to enjoy 20 more years together traveling, camping, biking or just waking up together each day. I want to be here for my daughter and my granddaughter. I want to see if my son ever gets married or has kids of his own. All of these things depend on how I treat myself, my body and how I change my habits. I quit smoking two years ago for the same reason; but, now I am realizing that more needs to be done.

As I start this journey (for the umpteenth time), I need to focus on this time, not the ones before. I have to forget about the failures and set my sights on the future and the things I still want to enjoy in my life. I have to come at this differently this time; understanding my limitations and yet realizing that I need new ideas to succeed. So, here I go. One foot in front of the other. Wish me luck and I would accept positive prayers as well. If anyone else is struggling, then join me and let’s do this together.

Brand new day.

S.