Step 4. Commit to losing weight. NOW.

It took me a year of "trying to lose weight" to actually lose weight. I was not committed to actually losing weight. I lacked conviction. I lacked follow through.

One day, sitting in my cubicle at work, I decided "I'm going to join Weight Watchers today." So I did.

I started Weight Watchers on December 22nd. 3 days before Christmas. The day of my company's Christmas Party. People thought I was crazy. I wasn't. I was done with all the BS. "Someday Isle" had come. I was doing this, and I was doing this now, damnit! I had my motivation and I wasn't going to make anymore excuses. I was fed up, and I wanted to change, and I wanted to change NOW. I texted my husband and said "FYI, I just signed up for Weight Watchers. I hope that's okay." There was no discussion of "is now the best time, blah blah blah." I was finally ready to quit putting it off and quit pretending it didn't need to be done. Whew. Finally.

It's kind of funny that I started losing weight 2 weeks before New Year's. I'm sure people thought it was strange. They were probably already planning their "New Year's Resolutions" lists and I'm sure that losing weight was near the top. But really, why do you allow the calendar to dictate your health decisions? That's crazy. When you're ready, you're ready. Go for it. I was glad that I chose to join WW when I did, because I'm sure that if it was a "New Year's Resolution," I would have been less successful. For most people, NYRs are a whim. Kind of like what I said in step 1. We want to achieve this change, without actually doing any of the work to change. NYRs are expected to fail. Within days. I've now been on WW for almost 6 months. I'm still trucking along.

I can't remember what the original conversation was about, but my husband was asking if I was sure that I wanted to do something. and I replied, "There's no time like the present." He wrote it on our fridge. There's no time like now. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. What are you waiting for? If you were to die today, are you happy? Are you where you want to be? If not, do something! You need to be satisfied. We only get one life. Don't waste it. Even though I haven't accomplished all my goals, I am happy. If I died today, I'd be happy, because at least I'm doing what I need to do to get where I want to go. In case you never make it to your destination, be happy with the journey.