63

It all started with a top that I wore before I had Yaya. I was going out and thought I would wear it, only to find that it was a bit tight. It was the same with couple of the skirts.. and I knew there was no point trying to escape from the inevitable…And I found myself walking to the washroom and checking my weight on the weighing scale.

I weighed 55 kg last year and I now weigh 63.

I have no words to describe the devastation I felt.

Part of the weight is due to the medications I take. Part of it due to lack of exercise. Before going to Manila, I walked 10 km everyday and it was impossible to walk in Manila and I kind of gave up. Once back home, I was bogged down with work Β and didn’t have time to go for a walk and often ate out. It wasn’t a good combination. Weight gain is a bane of middle aged women and I had allowed it to happen.

Few months ago, I needed to jump on to a boat from the ground (low tide) and I couldn’t lift myself up. Few days ago, I saw a youtube video of an elderly lady on monkey bar.

I felt it is time I got my acts together.

The first thing I needed to accept was that this was a long process. There was no quick remedy. I allowed this to happen and I just have to work and get the weight off. So, I now walk everyday for 60 minutes. My aim is 6000 steps/ 5 + km and 60 minutes. If I walked really fast and managed 6000 steps in less than 60 minutes, I continue, till I reach 60 minutes. The same with the distance.

After a successful month of walking, I checked my weight. I gained an extra kilogram.

The only way to lose weight is to create a caloric deficiency. ie, you reduce the calories you consume and increase the expenditure of the calories by exercising. I did the exercise part right, but not the food intake part. I love good food!

I met with a friend who is a dietitian and she found a few things wrong with my diet.

  1. I don’t drink a lot of water. I don’t like the taste of plain water, so every time I am thirsty, I have tea.
  2. Β I eat a lot of chocolates and cheese
  3. I eat out a lot

She suggested fruit infused water. Every morning I make a pitcher of fruit infused water. (lemon slices/orange slices/strawberries/mint etc)

I only have tea twice (and then cheat and have a coffee when I really need a hot drink..and convince myself that I am not really cheating as the coffee is still berry infused..coffee berries!!)

I cut down on the chocolates. I like cheese too much

If I have not lost much weight in the next couple of months, I will have to take off cheese from the menu.

My aim is to get back to 55 kg by December. If I didn’t lose my weight by then, I will just have to start going to the gym.

As for the upper body/arm strength, currently I use my son’s chin up bar and so far, I have managed to get my feet off the ground.

I know hindsight is a bitch, but I wish I hadn’t been this lazy.

 

 

6 thoughts on “63

  1. so why not start with the gym? πŸ™‚ It is also winter in your part of the world… so eating more tends to happen.. you can see i have mastered the excuse piece..
    Good luck exercising.
    Today one of our retired assistants had come to visit. She is 68, exercises everyday. She looked awesome.. toned and ripped. It is doable. Compared to her we are spring chicks πŸ™‚

  2. Way to go Sarah! I was wondering if you were all right since you didn’t blog in a while. The fighter & survivor that you are, I understand its still not easy to ignore the hurt, when its your own blood relations (speaking from experience πŸ˜‰ But this too shall pass & you shall prevail πŸ™‚ Anyway, sending you lots of positive thoughts & best wishes!

    p.s: the gloria Gaynor track “i will survive…” plays in my head everytime, i am reading you blog πŸ˜‰

  3. Hi! I heard that emotional stress causes a lot of health problems. Even I am suffering from some autoimmune diseases. U have gone through a lot of emotional stress in ur life Sara does it impacted ur health? Coz u raised the kids alone. If not then what’s the secret??

    • Kala: I have learned to live my life to my own terms. Which makes it easier not to get stressed. At the end, the only master I ever listen to is me. I knew I have MS about 14 years ago. I don’t think it was due to stress. It is one of those things you get being alive.

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