The Southwest Voice

Okay, okay, I'll be the first to admit it. I am vain. I know, you wouldn't think that of a person who fits the description of "fat, balding, and forty (plus nearly a decade)" is vain, but it's true. I am so self-conscious of how I look that I avoid looking into the glass storefronts as I walk by. I just dont want to see how much weight I've put on. So, at the recommendation of my sister, I recently joined a nationally known weight loss organization. Goaded on by the success of Sarah Ferguson, and my inability to comfortably tie my shoes, I joined.

Now, you have to understand one thing, these weight loss centers are totally geared to women. Oh, they may try to slip in one photo of a man in the weekly pamphlets, but, no matter how you slice it, the programs are run by women and designed to fit women. Of course, the group leaders are great and I have felt nothing but welcome since I joined. However there are times that require a sense of humor. Probably the best example is when the group was discussing the Points Calculator. The leader promptly said, "This will fit nicely into your purse." Of course I had to ask, "Purse? What if I don't own a purse?" That brought the house down, and while I know I'm not being excluded, I have to chuckle to myself. And, by the way, under no circumstance am I belittling the Points Calculator, because for someone trying to maintain a halfway normal lifestyle, and at the same time follow the program, it is invaluable. And, I'm proud to say, I can count points with the best of them. So, I guess you could say that while I don't own a purse, the calculator fits nicely into my lifestyle.

It's now been four weeks since I started and already I have had some success — I have lost over 8 pounds. That's right, the same old 8 pounds I've lost a thousand times over, but I feel better nonetheless. In my attempt to not feel deprived I've taken the advice of the leaders and gotten creative. For the umpteenth time I've purchased fat-free this, and fat-free that (Haven't I been down this road before?). The other night my daughter called me delusional because I have said I prefer fat-free sour cream to the real thing. I guess I've psyched myself into believing that if this is all I can have, I'm going to enjoy it! The same goes for those mini-cakelettes that are no more than a healthy bite. They're OK, but I'd really love to raid the closest at Smith's Bakery (aren't their iced cookies the best?), but I have to use all the restraint I can muster. This time around, my goal is to stick with it, but unlike my fellow classmates I don't have that pair of size six jeans I'm trying to fit back into, or a certain poundage I'd like to reach. Nope, I just want to feel better, and although I refer to my weekly meetings as Fat Camp, I know that I have come to the right place for guidance and support. Besides, I'd like to be able to look into a full-length mirror, sometime in the not-too-distant future. Wish me luck!