Approximately two weeks ago, I decided to weigh myself on the "evil" scale. In my opinion, any scale can be "evil" providing it shows an unsuitable number. I've been weighed on lots of those types of scales. The worst of those memories was when I was around my top weight (400 pounds). I had to be weighed on a special scale for upcoming gallbladder surgery. That was an incredibly low point in my life. So, that is why I feel free to call a scale "evil," especially when I am concerned about a foreboding number.
Much to my delight, this scale revealed a flattering number. Guess what? The number "300" was displayed. I just about fainted! I was overcome by joy and pride. That scale must have found religion because it blessed me with that spectacular number!
For years, I have been plagued with weighing 330 pounds (more or less). When I started the column, I was down to 315 pounds, which was amazing. So, when I went down to 300 pounds, you can understand my excitement. As I have said before ... this is the first time I have been this weight in years!
However, I may have boasted too much because I did celebrate with some pizza. Well, let me rephrase that. It was more than some pizza ... it was a large pizza. My excuse was that it was more economical. Ha! Ha! I intended to split up that large pizza into several servings. That didn't happen. I ate half, then I ate the other half for snack. Oops! Well, I was glad that I ate it when I did. For one thing, it was absolutely delicious. Number two, I didn't deprive myself. Although, I think that if I would have had more servings, it would have displayed more self control. I think that "binge-fest" is out of my system. The most important thing that I learned was I'm not horribly upset with myself. That totally shocks me. I'm usually very hard on myself if I overeat ... not this time. I forgave my slip-up, for the first time in years!
Well, as the week progressed, my parents and I went to see my sister (she lives about three hours away). We celebrated the rat's (I mean my sister's) birthday. My brother-in-law fixed all the meals the whole time we were there. He is a wonderful cook! I gladly consumed all of those meals. I felt like I should kidnap him so he could cook for me. I'm sure my sister would differ with that thought; for those are fighting words. I can barely boil water correctly.
It was a true testament of how I would react outside my environment. I didn't do too awfully bad. They don't eat a lot of snacks. I do. I think I just eat a lot of snacks out of boredom or because it's "there" lurking in the fridge or the cupboard. DING-DING - It then dawned on me! Why don't I have an apple or a yogurt? I think my malfunction is that the food I eat (or the quality) is not as bad as my consumption (or the quantity). Also, if I have it in my house ... I will eat it!
So, what did these past two weeks reveal? Number 1: Slip-ups indeed happen in one's journey. Number 2: You just need to forgive yourself and move on. Number 3: Weigh yourself on a scale that you like the number it displays. Number 4: Have your in-law move in if he or she is a good cook.
I weighed myself today in order to post it for next week's column. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that I still lost weight from being 305 pounds (last column's entry). That is a loss in poundage of 3 (pounds). So, there is some bad news, too. I no longer weigh 300 pounds ... I weigh 302 pounds. I'm still happy with that number.
I've decided that one of the best ways to lose weight is to have miniature milestones. That next milestone is my desire to weigh below 300 pounds. I have in mind some rewards for my weight loss efforts. I would love to go to an amusement park, and some day it will come true!
Casi Stewart can be reached at casichilstew@yahoo.com. A Weighty Issue appears every other Monday on the Life page.
