A Different Spring

The landscapers for our condo association were out in force yesterday, cleaning up from winter storms and blowing a fresh layer of wood chips. Things look SO nice, and with daffodils in bloom across the street, it really does FINALLY feel like spring. With temperatures in the 50's predicted into early next week, I'm hopeful that we've seen the last of the snow for this season.

In the past, signs of spring would almost always propel me into another attempt to try and drop some weight before summer. I would have spent much of the winter carb-loading as a way of coping with the cold and lack of sunshine, and would usually be up about 10 pounds by the time winter was over. Spring would bring a renewed effort to start moving and eat healthier, and I'd usually lose 10-15 pounds between early spring and late summer, before the weight gain cycle started all over again. Even in my 20's and early 30's, I always weighed more in the winter than the summer and I just accepted the fact that my "winter pants" were a size larger than my "summer pants." I now understand that I had already gotten into the oscillating gain/lose cycle that eventually spun out of control.

This is the first spring in years that I haven't been on a weight loss plan of some kind or another. Last year I was closing in on my goal (reached it on May 22), but I was still focused on losing weight. It seems strange to not have to do that this year - strange, but wonderful. I don't have any "winter weight" to lose - amazing. The few pounds I picked up over the holidays are long gone, and I never changed sizes, so I'm closing in on a year of being in the same size - even more amazing to me!

So this spring finds me in a place that I've probably never been before in my adult life, and it feels really, really good, and I'm so thankful!

For everyone here who's still on your weight loss journey, this can be the last spring you'll ever had to be focused on losing weight. Can you even imagine it? It WILL be the last spring you'll ever need to lose weight IF you commit to staying on plan and moving steadily towards your goal. Can you imagine next year this time NOT worrying about how you're going to look in shorts and a swimsuit? It can happen - MAKE it happen! You're worth it, and I'm cheering for you!