So this past weekend I went away on a scrapbooking retreat. Yeah, yeah, say what you want you non-crafty peeps out there, but I happen to LOVE scrapbooking, and nothing was going to keep me from my paper trimmer, ribbons, papers and adhesives! I drove about 3.5 hours to get there (btw, listening to podcasts ROCKS on a long, boring drive!) and stayed at a friend’s house. Love! We had ages to get caught up, managed to fit in a hot stone pedicure (luxury!) and dinner in a fabulous (and famous!) local Greek restaurant, Koutouki Ouzeri. While — if truth be told — the greek restaurant ranks as the highlight of my weekend, I did accomplish some nice layouts (them’s scrapbook terms, folks). Here’s a picture of my favourite:
Okay, so I only got 8 pages (4 layouts) done in the weekend, but hey, it was fun!
So what, you’re wondering, does all this have to do with weight loss? Well, on the surface of it, not a whole heck of a lot. But see, it’s funny, my weight loss is something I thought about a lot this past weekend. Funny, since I had decided to give myself the weekend "off", and not worry about what I ate. And for the most part, it was okay. I did scarf back a whole bag of chips (over a 2-day period, in my own defense), as well as a nice sampling of curry-flavoured chips (it’s a little bit disconcerting as a chip flavour, but they really, really do taste like curry!), a handful or so of licorice and a bunch of not-so-light meals. The food at the crop (that’s scrapbookin’ talkin’ again) was what you’d expect…make your own sandwich for one meal, baked pasta for another, and squares for dessert. Yeah, I had about six of those, all told.
And then there was the Greek restaurant. Opa! We ordered the Meze, which is like Tapas or a t’able d’hote; they bring you a little bit of everything. And, so, of course…I ate a little bit of everything! But it was spectacular…the food: great. The ambiance: even better. We were seated by Theo (hunky star of Food Network‘s The Family Restaurant) who was even cuter in real life than on TV. And then we developed a little bit of a girl-crush on the belly dancer. Yes, belly dancer! And then the smashing of plates and the waiters dancing with the patrons…it was a night to remember!
So, you can see how a preoccupation with food was building up, right? Then a friend-of-a-friend commented on my weight loss. And we got talking. And you know me, I never mind talking about weight loss! She wanted to know what motivates me. Which was a tough question. Well, actually, not a tough question so much as an involved question. What motivated me at first, was part jealousy (my friend and scrappin’ hostess had lost 40lbs or so) and part desperation (bigger than ever, and hating my body). What kept me going…well, you guys have been here to witness the moving target of my motivation! There have been several: looking good in clothes, feeling more healthy, being a good role model for my daughters, overcoming my compulsion with food…and I could go on!
In the end I was just honest with her. I don’t know what the secret was this time. I’ve tried (and failed) loads of times to lose weight. When I woke up that Saturday morning in May and joined Weight Watchers, I didn’t really believe that this time would be any different. But something was different…I just wish I could have told her (told anyone…EVERYONE!) what that something was. I wish I could bottle it up and give it to everyone out there’s who’s unhappy with their weight and hasn’t managed to figure out how to lose it. If I ever do figure it out, it’s yours for the asking. Free. It’s too good of a thing NOT to share.
I read your posts ever week but have never commented. (We live in the same city though!)
Thanks for sharing your failures and successes (mostly successes!) with all of us. Your journey really is inspiring and nope – there is no magic secret when major life changes are concerned!
Kath – I actually got teary eyed readying this (lack of sleep a definite contributor). I think your point is such a good one. There is no magic pill, no secret, no one thing. This process like any change is exactly that, a process. It is a complicated and complex series of choices and a shift in thinking. I think that that is the real revelation.
i really feel like we’d be such great friends!! i am a HUGE scrapbooker too!