A Typical Story

My story started on a routine visit to the doctor for my annual checkup. Hop on the scale, yada yada yada, what!? I weigh what?! She let me take my jacket off, my belt too. The scale lied! I was distracted for the rest of my appointment. Yes, I was still in an acceptable weight range, my numbers were fine, clean bill of health. Yeah, and fat, I muttered to myself. Next day I secretly weighed myself in the company locker room. That scale lied too! I secretly checked other scales here and there. Bad news.

Suddenly, magically, surprisingly, I was ten pounds over my normal weight. To my credit, I immediately got my first scale and put it in the bedroom. I didn't use it. Time passed. Summer came.

I put on my favorite summer skirt which just happened to have a non-stretch waistband. I couldn't button it. The skirt hiked up over my butt a little, making it too short. I was horrified. I tried on some slim-fitting pants, which were now tight. These pants would definitely be uncomfortable at work where my job consisted mostly of sitting at a computer. I finally took a hard look at my naked self in the mirror. My waist was gone! I had a belly. My modest saddlebags had grown. I was chubbier around the face, not much bone structure evident. My upper arms were plump. I was out of shape and heavier by10 pounds, now 11. What happened?

In my particular case, here's what happened:

• I got older.
  My metabolism changed and I didn't realize it.
• I stopped dancing.
  After an injury, I laid off for a while and never reestablished my dance nights.
• The good TV season coincided with my recuperation---and extended well beyond.
• I lost my walking buddy.
  He had a family crisis and didn't return to our walks.
• My kid grew up.
  I had fewer regular meals, more snacky foods, more late eating, and more eating to soothe upsetness.
• My company was struggling.
  I was worried about layoff, extra work hours, lost comrades and lost income.
• Eating out (and takeout) had become the main event for socializing with friends.

When I thought about it, I realized that there were many sedentary activities in my life: watching, talking, eating, looking at a computer screen, resting. Make your own list, but be sure to do it. You'll want to have an idea of what situations and behaviors might have contributed to your weight gain so it doesn't sneak up on you again.