Solstice Story

The road behind

At last I have succeeded in dropping my five pounds of winter weight gain. Now I can start working on losing the ten to fifteen pounds I've gained since buying my car back on Inauguration Day 2021. (Seems so long ago now ... )

Actually my weight is still in a reasonably healthy range, presently about 140lbs on a fairly muscular 5'4", over 65-year-old body. I feel a little bit silly, vain, even guilty for worrying about my weight, as if I've fallen for those unrealistic standards of beauty and fitness we're all supposed to reject.

But a few months ago I had only one pair of very worn 12-year-old jeans that fit comfortably, and about a dozen other pairs of pants that were too tight in varying degrees. I shopped around for something new, but size 8s were too saggy, size 6s too tight, and everything just looked and fit weird.

So I decided to get serious about losing the weight to fit into my old pants. That way, instead of buying new clothes, I can save my extra money for buying an N+1 bike.

Mostly I've done it by making sure to get out every day for at least a 2-3 mile walk, or a 10-30 mile bike ride. During the worst winter weather in January and February, when I tried a New Year's resolution diet, I was eating so little that I had no energy and spent a lot of time napping. I'm eating more now, though I've cut out ice cream and potato chip binges, and daily cafe visits for coffee and pastry.

I still usually treat myself after a bike ride, though. More exercise rather than a very restrictive diet is what's working for me.

Raspberries ripening soon