“A fit, healthy body—that is the best fashion statement” ― Jess C. Scott

The last few months I have been tracking what I eat (not always, but often), stepping on the scale, scowling, stressing, and not losing.

I had an epiphany this morning while emailing a friend.

She tracks everything she eats. She limits everything she eats, she is totally focused on a goal, gets on the scale daily and is struggling to get down and I realized the biggest issue both of us are facing is STRESS (mind you she is half my size, but still, you get my drift).

Here’s what I wrote her (Warning – I have a foul mouth and when emailing my grammar abilities fizzle to oblivion – apologies in advance), “Ok – first of all – ALL research says that when you starve your body or refrain from a craving that your body will HOLD IN fat, NOT get rid of it. Why? Because it is now under stress – fight or flight. Your body’s response to stress – physical and emotional – is to STORE fat. You are hungry EAT. I’m not going to track anymore. I can’t. It’s stressing me out. My body physically and mentally is already under so much stress that I’m fighting a battle, quite literally. It wants to store that shit like there’s no tomorrow, and I hate it. M is right – stay off the scale. People develop eating disorders that way. You are verging on anorexia, no joke. How much of life will you enjoy if you spend it all worrying about what you are eating. As long as you get your exercise, and eat healthy – fuck the rest. Holy shit, I just came up with my mantra lol. I need to take my own advice. I don’t care what the scale says, I care how my clothes fit, I care how I feel, I care how my lungs work, I care how my brain functions, I care about being healthy – NOTHING else. If I am not healthy, I have nothing since I won’t be able to keep up with the kids. I could weigh 100 lbs and still have not enough energy. OR I could focus on health weigh whatever and rock it. WE CAN ROCK IT!”

There you have it folks. I’m not a scientist, I’m not a dietician or doctor or nutritionist or personal trainer or any of that. I have seen a personal trainer, doctor, dietician, etc, many MANY times over the years. I did manage to lose weight about a decade ago and I felt amazing. I want that feeling. I don’t care about the scale, I don’t care about perfection. I want to feel great and be able to keep up with my kids and be there for grandkids (if I ever have any).

Eric Prydz – Call On Me