. . . or how I sacrificed my waistline for
science.
Last winter, I conducted a thorough,
scientific study. In fact, I proved, without a doubt, that there is a direct
correlation between muffins and muffin-tops. It was a long and rigorous
experiment, but I stuck with it . . . for science. No, I am not able to reveal
the downtown eateries who participated in this study, those devilish dealers of
delectable baked goods. Oh the warm, fragrant Cranberry Orange, the tart Lemon
Blueberry with the little drizzle of frosting, the Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip, and
the ever delightful and always tempting French Toast flavored, how you
all served me well in my thoroughly exhausting research.
In case you are not familiar with the term
“muffin-top” this would be the little fold of extra, um, well let’s just call
it a little “extra-me,” that was spilling over the top of my jeans. I know, I
know, it’s not a pleasant thought but this is reality. All of us, in middle
age, carry a little more weight around with us than we used to. Part of the
problem is our changing bodies and slower metabolisms. Another
contributing factor may be the stress from our busy lives. I am guilty of being
a stress eater. If life is giving me a hard time, you will find me melting
cheese on whatever I find in the kitchen. Yet, I’m learning to think about what
I eat in a different way. How is it feeding my body? How is it feeding my soul?
Although I’ve always eaten reasonably healthy,
with middle-age comes the need to pay even closer attention. Should I eat meat
and dairy? (Yes, I’m still eating dairy, no, I’m no longer eating meat). Can I
afford to eat organic? (I can’t always afford to, but at least try to buy local
and fresh). Am I getting enough calcium? (Yes, I am, hence the dairy). Should I
take supplements? What about herbs and fish oil? There is so much more to think
about these days when we decide what we are going to eat. I cook from scratch
whenever possible, read every label when it’s not! I’ve also started keeping a
food journal. No one else sees it, but it helps me keep track of what I’m
eating, and how I’m feeling. I have to admit I’m feeling better, especially
since giving up meat last spring and incorporating considerably more fresh
vegetables. It’s hard to believe that many of us, before we knew better,
survived a childhood filled with Hostess Cupcakes and bologna and ketchup
sandwiches.
I try to remember to strike a balance. It is
important to be aware of what I’m eating, but it is also important to enjoy
life as well. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to be more kind to myself. We
can’t give up everything. We just need to learn to enjoy the things we
love in moderation. I need also to accept that no amount of dieting or
exercising will bring my body back to the way it was when I was 25 and that’s
okay! I’ve grown so much since I was that age, and my life is so much richer
now. A little fresh fruit and Greek yogurt, a little exercise, and every
now and again, something warm and sweet with my coffee and my life is more
balanced, more whole.
I realized something else this week; besides
carrying a few extra pounds in my forties I am also carrying some old baggage.
I am hanging on to old grudges. If I have been hurt or offended, I am still
carrying it around. Oh it may be small, but I’ve still got it. I’ve got it
somewhere here, in the bottom of my Big Mom Pocketbook (disguised as a really
cool, hip bag from Mexicali Blues but we all know it is just a Big Mom
Pocketbook). If it was a really large offense, something that really hurt, I’m
dragging it behind me like Linus’ blanket in Peanuts. At first, it was warm and
comforting and no one minded if I carried it for a while, they understood. Now,
it’s become dirty, smelly and offensive to others but I still drag it behind
me, clutching it so tightly sometimes my knuckles are white.
This winter, I think I’ll do better. We have
to be conscious of how we take care of ourselves, inside and out. It's okay to
carry a little bit around with you. Having a few extra pounds and a few
unresolved issues is just part of being grown up, middle aged, and having lived
a rich, interesting life but too much weighs us down. It holds us back. It
keeps us from moving forward. Carrying around extra weight is not good for us.
It is not good for our hearts, and it's not good for our souls. We need to
let go of our regrets so our hands are free to reach for our futures!
The old baggage has served its purpose. We
need to look at it closely, examine all the pockets. Take out every lesson and
make sure we didn't leave anything good in there. Then just get rid of it, let
it go! Sometimes it takes time and courage. We may not always be ready. There
are a few things at the bottom of my Big Mom Pocketbook I'm not ready to look
at yet, but I think I’m ready to drop this old Linus blanket off into the
dumpster out back. Then, maybe I’ll do some yoga and or take a long walk just
to make up for the sweet, warm, fresh muffin that might be waiting for me
downtown tomorrow morning. I’m no longer regretting the past . . . or an
occasional muffin!
This piece was originally published on the Bangor Daily News website, November 10, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment