It IS WHAT IT IS
By Mary Ann Senatore
Your Weight Losing Friend!
Hello All! Its me, Mary Ann and before I explain It is what it is, I just want to say that my trip to Vegas was absolutely fabulous. The hotel was wonderful, and Cher was spectacular!
It is what it is means that if something has happens that we cannot change, then it simply is what it is. What can be done about something that cannot be changed? Do we regret it? Do we dwell on it? Do we seek out alternative solutions? Do we simply accept it? Or, do we learn from it?
I am talking about not only weight loss this month, but something that happens to all of us, and that is weight gain. In my first article, I mentioned a new friend, the scale. Who is going to tell you honestly that you have gained weight? A true friend. The scale is our friend, and sometimes that friend tells us of a gain.
No one likes to see the scale go up, but horomones, medications, injury, lack of exercise, or simply an all out eating binge will eventually catch up to us and the scale will never lie to us. But, is a gain a reason to give up? Of course not!
Recently, an article about a celebrity who gained weight was published and references such as fall of the wagon and failure were made. Fall off the wagon? This was one question I could not understand. Failure was also a concept that escaped me. Of course it is a set back when we gain, but once we see a 5, 7 or 10 pund gain, it is then that we need to regroup.
We all know that losing weight is not easy, so when something is so difficult, do we want to do it again? I will be honest, I did gain 6lbs when I returned from Vegas. I was on vacation and I was there to enjoy myself, and the food expiernece was part of the trip. Do I eat like that “normally?” Of course not! When I returned home, I faced the scale, and pulled out my Weight Watchers week 1 book and rediscovered my excitment about the program.
I didn’t gain back all 63 pounds, I gained 6lbs. I knew why it happened, and expected to see a gain. I knew when I got back from the trip that I would have to really discipline myself, and I did.
Do I love chocolate as much as I always did? Of course I do, but now, I have learned how to make choices and be in control. The key words are choices and control. I was in control in Vegas, and I knew what to expect when I got home. I made choices at meal time so that I could enjoy desserts, but, as soon as the trip was over, so were the desserts.
Before the weight gain spins out of control, catch it, make smart choices. It is what it is because the weight gain has happened, but learn from it, know why you gained, and then as Frank Sinatra says, pick yourself up and get back in the race. That’s life! Your life! As each 5lb weight loss is a milestone, each 5lb weight gain is a small set back. We have the ability to make choices and take control before the small set back turns into a mountain we can’t climb.
As always I am in this with you,
Your Friend, Mary Ann