My husband and I have recently started dieting. Again. This time he’s doing it because of his health (a previous blog post). My health is better than his, but I’m still overweight. We both can lose weight. It’s keeping it off that’s more difficult. We don’t drink, we don’t smoke, we don’t carouse; we like to eat. Unfortunately, it shows.
My husband and I try to lose weight differently. He likes to change all his eating habits and foods, while I try to maintain portion control and still eat the foods I like. His works much faster, like all men. I average about two pounds off a month. I’ve only started this month, so I’m down two pounds. He’s been on his diet for two months and is down nearly twenty pounds. How is that fair?
Granted, I don’t try as hard as he does. I don’t like to go without all the foods I enjoy. My dad used to say, “Everything in moderation.” I try to follow that adage, but my kryptonite is portion control. If I like something I eat, I want more. Unlike me, my husband can change his eating habits, but he eventually gets sick of what he’s eating, and begins binging on his old favorites, chips and crackers. I guess neither one of us has the answer to successful “take it off and keep it off.”
My husband and I try to lose weight differently. He likes to change all his eating habits and foods, while I try to maintain portion control and still eat the foods I like. His works much faster, like all men. I average about two pounds off a month. I’ve only started this month, so I’m down two pounds. He’s been on his diet for two months and is down nearly twenty pounds. How is that fair?
Granted, I don’t try as hard as he does. I don’t like to go without all the foods I enjoy. My dad used to say, “Everything in moderation.” I try to follow that adage, but my kryptonite is portion control. If I like something I eat, I want more. Unlike me, my husband can change his eating habits, but he eventually gets sick of what he’s eating, and begins binging on his old favorites, chips and crackers. I guess neither one of us has the answer to successful “take it off and keep it off.”
The one thing we both agree on is exercise. We like to walk. Now that I’ve had bunions removed from both my feet, I’m enjoying pain-free walking. I get 10,000-12,000 steps a day now. My husband is getting 8,000-9,000. You’d think I’d lose weight faster! The problem is, I’m a writer. I sit a lot. I’m starting to get into a routine, though. We get up, have breakfast, and take the dog for a walk. Then I write, and my husband does his daily chores. We walk again when our son comes home from work, because he likes to join us before he begins his college homework. Now that it’s lighter longer at night, we usually squeeze in one more walk in the evening.
As I write this, it all sounds good. But what I forget to include is the lunch out with a friend, or my sister. Or the holiday candy and dinner. There are lots of little pitfalls during the week that make my weight loss difficult. If I had the will power to say no, I wouldn’t be overweight in the first place!
I do like the way I feel when I’m dieting. I have more energy. So does my husband. He takes less naps now. I know we are on the right track. I just hate that it always takes so long. Soon people will be noticing my husband’s weight loss, and I’ll be standing there saying in my head, “Wait! I’m dieting too!” Sadly, mine won’t be noticeable for about six months. I’ll take comfort in the knowledge that we are in this together for the long haul. His success is my success.
As I write this, it all sounds good. But what I forget to include is the lunch out with a friend, or my sister. Or the holiday candy and dinner. There are lots of little pitfalls during the week that make my weight loss difficult. If I had the will power to say no, I wouldn’t be overweight in the first place!
I do like the way I feel when I’m dieting. I have more energy. So does my husband. He takes less naps now. I know we are on the right track. I just hate that it always takes so long. Soon people will be noticing my husband’s weight loss, and I’ll be standing there saying in my head, “Wait! I’m dieting too!” Sadly, mine won’t be noticeable for about six months. I’ll take comfort in the knowledge that we are in this together for the long haul. His success is my success.
Are you fighting a bad habit? Do you have a weight problem, or something else you struggle with? I’d love to hear that I’m not alone!
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