Maybe that comes from my very active, very feisty grandmother who was vocal until the age of 95 that she needed to lose ten pounds and would "notice" not-so-discreetly when anyone else did as well. Given her body obsession, she would still demand every person at the table have seconds, thirds and then dessert. She would also respond to any announcements about recent Weight Watchers successes with, "Ack! Have some more fried chicken!"
As schizophrenic as it sounds, it is probably an experience most of us have had in our families or at work -- the push (as one boss I had put it so irritatingly) "drop the L-B-S" mixed with the pull to pack on the pounds. In fact, I bet if we took a meditative moment to think about it, we could each come up with a healthy list of five of those supporters/sabotagers in our own lives.
What would happen, though, if we chose to push those memories and moments and people to the past? What would happen if we chose to really encourage the women we love in the healthy weight loss efforts they are making? What if we even did that for ourselves?
For some reason, it sounds radical. I'm going to push the (ahem) envelope even further by suggesting that we support the good kind of weight loss by writing out words of love and empowerment and well-wishes. On paper. In our email-addled, text-damaged, IM-vocabulary-stunted long-hand.
It might seem worse than counting calories or looking at another label, but can you imagine how fanfreakingabulous it would feel to leaf through a bunch of bills and coupons for discCheetos and sugar cereal to get a supportive sentiment from a friend? Perhaps in the form of an adorable, handmade card?
We all know it would feel great and would get a prime spot on the refrigerator real estate. We all know that little gestures like that go a long way when, dammit, the Double Stuff Oreos are calling again. Or when your grandmother is force feeding you carrot cake and root beer floats. Or when you just have a pound or so to go before you can actually sit down in those sweet skinny jeans.
This cute, humorous little card might just do the trick to send the real kind of love and support to a friend or family member or even to yourself when losing L-B-S is feeling weighty. If you don't know where to start, why not scribble out an offer to split a little dessert when she's ready?
Weightloss Goal Card, $5.50 - Colespic boutique on Etsy.
