Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Since I've mentioned before the hideous clothes won by Lauren Hart, the female host of NBC10's morning show, I had to show evidence.

She was wearing this godawful jacket this morning. It looks like some old lady's upholstery. You know, from one of those rooms where everything is pink velvet?

You ought to be careful when watching this show in the morning: you might snarf your cereal.

My morning exercise today consisted of shoveling the walk and shoveling out my car. There wasn't much to do with the walk, because my upstairs neighbor had already done it the night before. I just had to do what had fallen throughout the night.

My car was a little more work. While I shoveled, two kids came by and shoveled a neighbor's walk for pay. They were really fast. I'd hire them myself, except that I prefer to get the exercise myself.

Then I put the snow booties on Una and went for a walk. Or rather, a run. She gets very excited with fresh snow, before it gets all slushy and gross.

I had an interesting experience yesterday when I took some clothes to the consignment store. Some were mine and some came from Mom. As one of the volunteers went through them, she saw a size 20 suit. "This wasn't yours," she remarked.

"Well, actually, I used to wear a size 20," I told her.

"Really? How much did you weigh?"

I told her 220. "I've lost 75 pounds." She was astonished and started pulling over the other volunteers.

"Look at her. She used to weigh 200 pounds." They were all impressed and wanted to know my secret. I told them I watch what I eat and exercise, and that recently I've been doing Weight Watchers. Nothing glamorous.

It was a little strange being on display, but I was flattered. People always say things like I'm such an inspiration and they like knowing there are people like me. I suppose it can be inspirational to see someone who's achieved a big goal, who's moved from obese to healthy. For me, it was something I had to do, for my own health and happiness.

Then the volunteer asked me if I would stay this way now. "Of course." There's no question about it: I've learned healthy ways of eating which I plan to continue. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't maintain the weight loss for a good long time, even the rest of my life.

Of course, I have a big incentive: I'm getting rid of all my "fat clothes" except for a couple items I can use to show off.

Una has snow all over her face from burying her nose in snow drifts to pick up scents. She's got a huge smile on her face as she bounces along in her little snow booties. Whenever we go out like this, we see a lot of people smiling at the silly dog in snow boots. But I've learned from experience that without protection on her feet, much as she loves the snow, her feet get irritated and we have to cut our walks short.

Right now it's beautiful and sunny. You'd never know it stormed the day before.

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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