For nearly fourteen years, I’ve been fighting with myself about my weight. I gained nearly 30 pounds in my first year back in the US. I lost half of it when I decided to self-produce a music CD and a CD release party. The thought of seeing photos of me in years to come with that much weight on my body was a GREAT motivator.  A year later, I’d lost a job, a long-term relationship, and a lucrative music gig. I was distraught, depressed, and financially devastated. I began to comfort myself with my favorite food group – all things cake-y. And the weight piled on. And on. And on. When menopause appeared, it came with a dozen of it’s best friend – pounds.

I couldn’t believe it, but the scale told the whole AND the ugly truth.

I started trying to lose the weight. I worked out 3-4 times a week for a few months until my post-surgery arthritis kicked in and an ankle injury sidelined me. I struggled to accept that my body simply couldn’t take the all or nothing workouts of my ’20’s. I tried the 10 day Smoothie Diet. It didn’t satiate me. I counted calories – that made me hangry. I also tried intermittent fasting – I ended up with headaches. I blamed my irregular sleep habits and my crazy schedule – teaching during the week – gigging on the weekends. My late night companions driving the hour plus home from those gigs? Coke (for the caffeine), donuts (the sugar) and pretzels (crunchy), all chosen for their ability to help me stay awake while behind the wheel. I lost a few pounds here or there, but they all returned. 

A milestone birthday, my abs going on vacation and failing to help me get out of bed, and a photograph from a recent gig were the final straw. Enough was enough.

I’d halfheartedly tried Weight Watchers years back. Now rebranded as WW, I remember thinking that the diet was too restrictive, but for the short time I followed it, I did see results. Noticing how fabulous Oprah looked post-WW made me decide to give WW another try.

Since joining WW at the beginning of this year, I am down twelve pounds. I haven’t been at this weight in nearly seven years. It hasn’t been as easy as I’d hoped, but it hasn’t been as hard as I’d expected. The plan offers a lot of flexibility, and I don’t have to give up on my favorite treats. I just eat them less and in smaller portions. And speaking of less, I eat out a lot less and cook WAY more. It’s been an adventure in the kitchen, buying kitchen gadgets that I once deemed frivolous. I’ve bought some great cookbooks and have tried many new recipes. I use my new WW tote bag when shopping at my local Farmer’s Market each weekend, where I buy locally grown produce and meats. It might seem as though I’m promoting Weight Watchers. I’m not I’m just sharing what’s worked for me.

But the biggest take away? That after multiple attempts over these past few years, I’ve finally made some progress. After failing and starting over countless times, I have a reason to celebrate. I’m inspired to go after the next twenty, but doing so one pound at a time. Sometimes even a half a pound is enough. I’m sharing this to let folks know that as long as you’re breathing, keep trying. Keep reaching for your goals. If one thing/system/plan/regimen doesn’t work for you, go try something else. And whatever you don’t, don’t beat up on yourself. Treat the whole process as a journey of discovery. I remember once thinking to myself, “Well, here you are, working out again. What good is it going to do you?” I immediately rejected that statement and replaced it with something more loving such as, “Good for you! How awesome it is  that you refuse to give up on yourself.”

This advice isn’t just for those working to shed those extra pounds. WHATEVER you are yearning to be/do/have/change, go after it full stop – always do your best. Please, don’t ever quit.

NEVER. EVER. EVER. QUIT.