To Do List

After work, I headed to the 'senior' recreation center I joined yesterday. Wanted to stationery bike, treadmill and read before American Idol. Well, if I'd paid attention, I would have noticed the hours, painted in BIG letters on the door: Closed on Wednesdays. UGH. Gives me all the more gumption to hit it hard tomorrow.

Until last night, I've not biked or tread since I moved to the house in April 2008. Spoke of getting my own treadmill and bike--looked at some at the Salvation Army, yet never did. More afraid of the things not having any warranty left. You have 10 days to take stuff back, but my luck it would happen on the 11th. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. The sweat from my brow confirmed I was doing something right. Felt good to do something for me.

Then I stood in the Wal-mart check out line. A lady two spots ahead of me, was upset because of a price difference. The lady's voice raised louder when a manager cover, so gave me enough time to read Kirstie Alley's article about her weight re-gain in People. I'd caught Kirstie on Oprah a week or so ago and for the first time in a long time I liked her.

Part of never got over the fact Kirstie got the chance to fly around the galaxy and question Captain Kirk about his cheating in The Wrath of Khan. Then Kirstie wasn't in the next Star Trek: The Search For Spock. I never really forgave her. Yea, I watched some "Cheers', but bitter I was. But on Oprah and then read the words Kirstie said made me think: "We are one."

I lost 70 pounds. Kept if off for a good long time. Then when my trek to buy a house coupled with my job going loopy, I quit counting the number of Pringles Potato Crisps to pack in my lunch. Always been an emotional eater. Sometimes not even really knowing what I ate--just did because.

So more than half was re-gained. Not all. But enough. I relate to Kirstie's story alot. I've always been curvy--yet I started to have more of it. Hips. That's where all my fluffiness is. Can squeeze into some of my clothes. Heck, I threw out my 'fat' clothes. Wasn't gonna need em anymore. Was 100% sure of that--just like Kirstie.

And I didn't go back to fast food. I mean, if I ate anything fried, it was maybe twice a month. And that's when I'd splurge and go the best burger place in Dallas: Burger Island. My cholesterol went down so much, my cardiologist lowered my cholesterol medicine! So how did I gain weight?

Well, I may not fry much of anything-but Chinese food was a downfall. And of course ice cream, instead of just a few spoonfuls to soothe, empty Blue Bell pints started to pile up (I'm back to spoonfuls, not the whole pint. I canNOT and willNOT give up all my Blue Bell!) . At work, BOREDOM was my name so bag of peanut M & M's because my friends. Now the thing is, when I had my surgery in 2006 it took me until 2008, to eat a full vendor size bag of M & M's.

But like Kirstie, I quit exercise. Sure, I'd play racquetball with Movie Man, yet it wasn't a weekly ritual. My friend Maria and I would play weekly, until personal things in her life prevented her from having our racquetball night. Once I moved, I realized how convenient my apartment's work out room was. Five out of seven days, I either walked the park, hit the work out room, and had one night for racquetball. All that was pretty much gone when I closed on my house. You can eat a rice cake, but if you don't do some good for your body--it doesn't matter.

I blame me. I wanted that convenience of the equipment close and the park trail where I could rest on my Forrest Gump bench. Well, a year later as my knees ache, my belly bigger, the cute shirts I wore even a summer ago don't even button, and don't want to give my heart any extra work to do--I finally got off my duff.

Exercise matters. Alot.

And so I joined the senior recreation center in my city. Why there? I finally admitted to myself, I have hit their age requirement of 50 and get discounts. Swallowed my pride and did it. My knees begged me to. And, well, because the prices are half of the other rec centers, including those a couple minutes closer to me. The gorgeous building, and ton of the activities from the gym, ballroom dancing to canoe rides (I might have to think about, but this is about getting out of the box!) and swimming.

Even tho the gym was closed today, the pool was open. OK. I'm scared of water. Well, I can't swim is more like it. And I don't want my hair to get wet. Last night there were about 30 folks there doing water aerobics. All ages. The pool is always open. The one swim teacher said last night, it's easy on your knees. Soo...

When I was in the hospital, in 2006, I was so surprised how much grub they gave me. What I realized, the food was good for me. Fruits and/or veggies with every meal. I practiced that at home until-hey, I said I counted the numbers of Pringles to pack for my lunch. I was serious.

I am one to love yourself, no matter what stage you're in of your life. I'm OK with being a big girl, just want to be less of one. More so due to my heart. I want to do what I can to not have my heart go through another surgery. One scar is plenty.

I'm over Kirstie not being in The Search for Spock. Even tho if she had been, the Search would have been much more entertaining. We both have a To Do List. All about lifestyle change. Eat the good stuff, exercise and drink water...To Do.

Stay tuned.