The first week of this writing workshop, I met Rachel. She’ll turn 50 in a short time, and she is on her way to losing the last 10 pounds of her 50 pound goal. Losing weight isn’t the only thing Rachel has changed about her life recently, but she has definitely committed to a more healthy life style.
We’re living in the dorms on the north end of campus, and Rachel is walking to the workshop every day (there and back) despite 90 degree heat. I walked with her one day. I didn’t really have the shoes to do more than that. As I drove by her in my car, I asked if I could transport her bag for her. She declined, saying she wanted to have the extra weight.
As we meet for meals, and even when we went to Applebees, Rachel didn’t waiver from her goal. She watched her calories, as well as something else — I don’t know what. Um, protein? I’ll have to ask her. She is an inspiration.
The first week, late at night, a group of us were chatting in our dorm room, and we were talking about weight loss. I mentioned I was almost 100 pounds overweight, and I wanted to lose about 75. Rachel was astounded. To her, she said, I didn’t look overweight. I asked her to guess how much I weighed. She said 180. That’s always a hard question — you tend to say less than you really think. But when I told her I weighed 237, she was shocked. Ah, the advantages of my five extra inches.
This week we’re here for five days, and I brought my tennis shoes. I need to walk. Maybe not to the workshop (my deodorant can’t take it), but walking every day. And maybe Rachel can lend me a little bit of will power. I need to be more diligent in saying no.
One night a group of us went to Applebees after 9 p.m. for half-price appetizers. Rachel went because she knew Applebees has a Weight Watchers appetizer. She saw something on the menu she’d like to try, but she couldn’t find the points value. She asked the waitress, who tried to find out and finally came back with a phone number to get the information. Instead of eating the item anyways and vowing to do better another time (like I would do), Rachel declined the unknown points and went with what she knew was OK. Later, Rachel learned what she wanted was actually less points than the other, so on our next trip to Applebees, she ordered the item.
The first trip to Applebees? I ordered the spinach dip and chips which are probably enough calories to keep me in good stead for a day. I don’t know for sure. The next time I ordered nachos and ended up taking most of those home, so I did better (if you don’t count the two bahamamamas). Ah. Will power. I can’t stop trying though. If I think about it enough eventually I’ll start doing it too, right?
My favorite find — I found Hormel makes these fabulous meals that store in a cupboard and heat up in a microwave in about 60 seconds. They taste great too. Rachel noted some of them are just as good or better than the Weight Watchers as far as whatever it is she watches. I asked Rachel, she looks at fat and fiber content too. Her WW meals have to be frozen. This is great considering I’m living in a dorm four to five days a week right now.
And instead of eating one of my good meals today, I am going to go eat somewhere. Today I gave my teaching demonstration, and I grew more nervous as the time passed, and then I had to sit there for a half hour without me making any comments and listen as others commented about my demo, and I grew really nervous. I actually kept my hand in front of my mouth to keep me quiet. And I just need to leave this room for a bit. And I need some will power. Maybe Rachel has some to spare.
I so want to lose weight without the work. I wonder if Staples makes an Easy button for that.
