The Gabester and I go on a Diet

The Gabester and I go on a diet.

As I mentioned last week, I started working out with The Firm Tapes that my sister gave me a couple of years ago.  (So when I feel the burn Sis, I think of you!!)  But it’s time to really get serious about losing some of this poundage for a number of reasons.  

First of all, Noah has his first communion in the spring and I would like to look nicer for the pictures.  I don’t want to be embarrassed with how I look or hiding behind people so that I don’t look like a whale out of water in the photos.  

Along the same lines I also want the kids, but particularly my teenagers, to be proud of my appearance and not ashamed of it.  I think that’s important for them and for me.

Lastly, I am determined to be my Aunt Dorothy when I’m in my 80s.  Aunt Dorothy is in her mid 80s.  She’s the kind of woman who put up dozens of jars of preserves last summer that she grew, picked, and processed herself.  She also walked to the nearest neighbors (a good half mile or more) when she blew a tire last winter without any problems at all.  AND she goes to the nursing home to visit the “old folks.!”  I mean she’s just a fantastic, enthusiastic,  giving woman and part of that is because she has mentally and physically kept herself going.  That’s how I want to be too!

With that in mind, I’ve got a 10 year old who is having a bit of a weight problem.  It just started last summer but he really has packed on the weight and is off the chart for his age and height.  (In all honesty he is also in the 99th percentile for height so he is destined to be a big guy.)  But it is a difficult, sensitive line to walk when dealing with a young person and weight.  I don’t want him to starve himself, I do want him to be aware of what he eats without being too self conscious.  On the other hand, I don’t want him to be an obese teen or young adult.  He understands all of this as my family has been devoted to The Biggest Loser on NBC for the past 2 seasons!

But it’s so hard to deny yourself isn’t it?  I made a deal with Gabe then – that we would do this together and see if we could lose a little (or in his case just maintain) over the holidays.  

I’ll keep you posted.