Thursday 18 June 2020

The weight of things...

Slowly as we come out of lockdown and embrace our life again, it seems for a lot of people, that involves talk of diets or needing to lose weight.

If you have spent three months housebound and your head is full of weight loss upon release, I'd hazard a guess you aren't living enough.

Sure, cut out the desserts, slow down on the comfort food - maybe cut back on the alcohol and up the exercise, but don't taint your day but filling you head with the negative and frankly the infinitely boring. Try to eat healthily but don't make food, diets or weight loss your focus. Don't fill your head or worse, conversation with it. It only makes it bigger than it needs to be.

As I said when recounting the following tale, I didn't get to this age to bore everyone by talking about my weight, even myself in my own head.

The other day I put on my beloved but twelve year old Miro leggings. I thought 'I'm probably a bit too fat now for these to look good' but then decided to wear them anyway because I had places to be. Some noise is just too tedious and annoying to pay much attention to.

As I headed on my way, a complete stranger stopped me and asked me where I got the tights, because I looked 'fabulous'. And there you go. Who would I listen to? The voice in my head that's spent a life time chipping away unhelpfully or a complete stranger who went out of their way to let me know how good I looked?

It put a spring in my step and I thought, the Augusten Burroughs How to be fat chapter in his wonderful book This is How had obviously sunk in. For those that remember my Epiphany, I feel I've come a long way since then, weirdly without even realising it.

This COVID shutdown has been hard, there's been a lot of stress for everyone  - both emotionally and societal. If you have come out of this happy and with enthusiasm, don't drop the ball now over your weight. If you want to lose weight, lose weight but don't put yourself down about it.

I will lose my excess weight but it's not my focus. It can be a by product of getting my life back and really savouring opportunities and experience. We had everything stripped back for over three months. It's been a lesson in appreciating all the great things on offer and not to let events slip by. We lost a lot of time. What we should have gained is motivation and drive to experience more.

“Everything is irrelevant but this: to embrace life. To feel it. To savour it. To love it.”
― Marty Rubin

I know this isn't a fashionable idea, and as I said to my friend (who prompted the post) 'I'm very uninspiring when it comes to weight loss' but I've lost 2 kilos just by cutting out nightly desserts in the house and potatoes with dinner. Hoping switching to apples when snacking will finish the job. The cocktails are staying! I will need to do a bit more than that to get back to my old shape but as a by-product is fine by me. 


Musings Of A Tired Mummy

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday


Musings Of A Tired Mummy

17 comments:

  1. I've cut back on alcohol at the moment but that's more a worry that I need to more than anything.... and wanting to make sure I 'can'.

    I've definitely gained weight - though it's more been over the last 1.5yrs of my unemployment than COVID. I'd like to feel healthier I think.

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    1. The weight will go with the alcohol. That's a different issue and def worth investing some energy and head space in. I saw you're tweet and was going to reply with something flippant but so glad I saw this before I did. Good luck with that. It's a fine line between habit and addiction.Good to know for sure which side of the line you are on...

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  2. Unfortunately for me, weight gain comes with health issues, so I have been more strict and not gained too much, and I am also trying to loose what I have gained, as I can already feel some things causing issues that I know will be eased by loosing weight (knee and cardiac) but I agree that it's got to be done sensibly and these are not times to be putting pressure on ourselves

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  3. I couldn't agree with you more. We've treated ourselves to a few extra takeaways and some extra snacks during lockdown which we'll cut out again but let's face it, we're not back to normal yet and there's a lot of joy to be found in foody treats! #KCACOLS

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    1. I'm so bored of people talking about it. Does anyone really find it interesting? I exercise every day but I don't presume anyone else needs to listen to me bang on about how much I did...with everything going on in the world, both good and bad, how did this become the topic for conversation?

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  4. I've been putting a pretty big emphasis on exercise and trying to get more of these shorts to fit me again but unfortunately this belly started blooming a while before corona came around #dreamteam

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  5. I have been snacking on crisps and houmous every night with a glass of wine so I know my weight has crept up as I am no longer doing at elats an hour of walking each dy for the school run. I have just started the couch to 5k and am hoping it will make a difference! Thanks for linking up with #stayclassymama

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    1. It's funny how much walking you do in just every day life. I'm about a km a day down compared to last year now...so just need to boost that up a bit.

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  6. That's my theory - it's too boring otherwise. In good news, it is slowly dropping off without me giving up my nightly Negroni. I have to wear old ski gear for a party and I tried it on and my pants from 1994 (when I was tiny) still fit - the snap button popped but it did do up again. It doesn't look flattering but it does fit. I'm taking that as a sign that after three kids AND Covid, things are under control....cocktails & breat are still on the menu, even if potatoes and dessert are not...:)

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  7. I liked this post a lot. I agree none of us should beat ourselves up if we have taken a bit of comfort in an extra biscuit. I have been trying to balance it out with lots of workouts and running, but abs are made in the kitchen so mine are for sure pasta and biscuits :) #DreamTeamLinky

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  8. This is such a great post. We definitely shouldn't drop the ball on our current happiness levels over a little bit of weight gain. It's been quite an odd time over the last few months hasn't it. I've got into the habit of reaching for something sweet in the evenings. I might pinch your idea about having an apple instead. Thank you for joining us for the #DreamTeamLinky

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  9. it's definitely been tough the past few months. I need to cut down on red bull and wine :/ i probably get more calories from drinks than food ! #kcacols

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  10. Definitely about making little changes. And cutting carbs to help weight loss.
    I would keep the cocktails too 😊

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  11. I've been really enjoying home workouts with dumbbells - it's amazing what you can achieve without being able to go to the gym! #KCACOLS

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