SCALING DOWN: Yes, I'm getting older, but I'm also smarter and stronger
Yahoo
Newsvine
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Google
Reddit
Fark
I started gaining weight when I was about 20 years old. Back then, my doctor said, “Get it off before you're 30. It just gets harder after that.” I remember thinking, “I have plenty of time.”
Today, “plenty of time” has turned into exactly two years — March 25 is my 28th birthday.
In theory, two years is more than enough time to lose the remaining weight. Of course, I thought the same thing eight years ago. The difference between the Stefanie then and the Stefanie today is that, thankfully, with age comes wisdom.
At 20, I was focused on partying and not studying for exams. Today, I'm a college graduate and still enjoy a good party, but only every once in a while. At 20, I was in a relationship with a guy who was running around behind my back, and I had some “friends” who knew about it. Today, I'm single, and any of my friends would kick a cheater's ass on my behalf (if I didn't beat them to it, that is).
At 20, I was only thinking about turning 21. Today, I know exactly what I want to with my life, and I have a Plan A and Plan B to make it happen.
The point is this: Losing weight is a serious thing, and I wasn't serious enough to handle it eight years ago.
There has always been a negative stigma attached to aging.
But it's not the thing to focus on. We should instead use our wisdom and experience to help us find things we CAN do.
The Stefanie of eight years ago wouldn't have been able to make that assessment. As one of my best friends, Sam, told me just the other day: “The old Stefanie would freak out; this one applies logic.”
The confidence I've gained from the accomplishments I've made so far, combined with just plain growing up, is what makes me feel like I can succeed in both my weight loss and life journeys. I might be on a tighter deadline to do things, but I am definitely in the right state of mind to take on the challenges.
(0)