Life Moments: February 2019

Except for the time I was gravely ill and lost down to 106, I’ve had a problem with being overweight. Years have passed with the yo-yo in place. Losing. Gaining. Losing. Gaining. And with the life-impacting issues I’ve had the last few years, I just couldn’t care.

I now care … again.

I decided to actually experience how much 40 pounds weighed. That’s how much I needed to lose. I drove to a sporting goods store and walked to the aisle that had the handheld weights. I picked up a 10-pound one. It was heavier than I thought it would be. I needed to lose four of those. There was no way I could carry four of them in my arms. And sporting goods stores don’t have grocery carts. Back to the cashier I went.

“I need help.”

Boy was that an understatement … for more than just carrying those weights. Each day I traveled on my two feet with 40 extra pounds. I bought the weights. Again, I asked for assistance to carry 40 pounds to my car. He gathered them in his arms and easily took them to the car for me.

When I arrived home, I removed the weights one at a time and took them in the house. Finding a sturdy cloth bag with handles, I placed the weights in the bag … and tried to lift it.

I was appalled. Each day I burdened my body with that much heaviness.

Overweight can cause many problems … knees, heartburn, high blood pressure … need I go on? I’ve managed to escape those so far.

I can report I’ve taken one 10-pound weight out of my bag. The 30-pound bag is still appalling.

I have a lovely house. And I do maintenance on it to keep it that way. If I let it go, there would be issues. Again, with my car. I meticulously take it for service and make sure it has the correct gas in the tank.