January 1, 2023 was the last time I drank a full-bodied, all the calories, and wonderful bubble-laced goodness of Coca-Cola. For years my doctor had told me that one Coke a day equated to five pounds added a year. That is assuming you’re not out working off the sugar in some sweaty workout session, which I was not. I made the switch to Diet Coke.

I had hit the point that many women my age hit, when metabolism retires, and weight moves in. I was tired of looking in the mirror to have no waistline reflected. Long-term hypertension was knocking on the door. I was too young not to feel sassy and good about my looks. By the way, my feelings about my body were not coming from societal messages, or from my beloved husband. Any time I groused about my weight, he would tap at my heart and remind me that he loved me from the heart.

So, I drew a line in the sand, signed up for Weight Watchers, and began the journey to better health through shedding some weight. In no way have I been militant about it. We’ve eaten well on vacations and enjoyed treats along the way. I’m not sweating to the oldies, although that should be my next step to escalate the results I’m seeing.

I began with one decision, two if you include the #WW membership. Every day, every choice I make on what to eat is now made with two things in mind, my health/weight goal, and how many points I have to spend.

Back to the Diet Coke switch. Now that it’s been over a year since I had a Coke, there are times when even Diet Coke tastes sweet. When that happens, I ask my husband to taste it. With a cringed face he hands it back to me, “Yep, that’s diet.” Funny how your taste can change. In college, my breakfast pretty much every day was a Dr. Pepper and Snickers bar on my way to barely getting to class on time. The thought of it today brings the feeling of a brick in my stomach.

I have hit one of my first weight goals (Yay me!). But my overall health isn’t what I want it to be, so there is continued work to be done. There are new choices around this change that I need to make. Going into eating and cookie season, those choices may be difficult. Goals worth achieving are worth sacrificing for.

When have you had to draw a line in the sand and say, “It’s time for a change.” Is there some way I can support or encourage you in that decision? Let me know.

All the best,

KK

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