One Year and Good Progress

Yesterday marked day 365 of logging into my fitness pal. I set what I thought would be an easy goal: 20 pounds. No big deal? Well, when food has been a central issue in your entire life, and you once lost close to 100 pounds, the years of weight creeping back up exact a terrible emotional price.

I have been on and off diets since I was a child, with one period of time lasting seven or eight years when food and weight gain were not problems, and I maintained a healthy weight for my diminutive stature – definitely not skinny, but “acceptable.“ But other than those years (in my 40s), I have otherwise been dealing with food issues as part of my life.

Having been everything from 92 pounds to 190 pounds (I’m only 4’11”), I was convinced that losing the 20 that I put on a few years back after some injuries would be straightforward. And enough to at least feel a bit more like my old self again.

I was wrong. It wasn’t straightforward. It has been hard, hard, hard. But I will say that using my fitness pal to hold myself to account, and in particular the ability to pay closer attention to nutrition and water intake, have significantly assisted in making progress. As of that one year mark yesterday, I have lost 19 of the 20 pounds I targeted. Once I meet that goal, I actually have a bit more that I need to lose - a matter of being healthy for my age and height.

Over the course of this past year, to be honest, I yo-yo’d a significant amount in months five, six, and seven. But by continuing to track everything I was eating and drinking - every day - using this app, at least I knew I was remaining accountable. And I think that accountability is incredibly important. Likewise, the kind and positive comments from other people who are also working so hard to get healthier and fitter with an assist from this app.

The best part? While I may be lighter when it comes to pounds, even better - I feel lighter emotionally. And that makes all the difference in how I see and interact in the world and with the people I love. I call that a success.