The Cold North

It was cold in Canada. Let me rephrase that – I was COLD in Canada. Of course, I am cold in Atlanta, so there was reasonable assurance I would be even colder in Canada. I spent my days and nights completely bundled up – and was so thankful that a dear friend bought me long underwear! That really helped. One night, I slept in my socks, long johns, with my flannel pajamas over top, and I was under a sheet, a blanket, a comforter, and a heavy cotton bedspread - doubled over – I had so many layers on top of me that it was difficult to move. And I was still so cold that I just ached. I finally got up in the middle of the night and put my hat on, and then I was able to drift off to sleep. When Dave woke up and saw me the next morning, he just laughed! But I did what I had to do to get (or stay) warm.

It amazes me how easily I take action when I am cold, but how often I have neglected to take action about my weight. When I am cold, I will do WHATEVER is necessary to get warm: snuggle under a blanket, put extra layers on, turn on a heating pad…realistically, the problems and distress caused by being overweight are far more serious than being cold, but again and again and again, I just ignored it. And the health problems that were connected to obesity – forget about that! However, I am really looking at life differently, now. I see my obesity as a serious thing – and every minute of every day I am aware that I do have choices, and slowly but surely I am learning to make the right choices.

People often ask me if I think being cold is a phase that will eventually pass. Honestly, I don’t know – I HOPE so, but if it doesn’t, I will continue to bundle up, take blankets and sweaters with me everywhere I go, and do what I need to do to get or stay warm. I do know, however, that making good choices about the things I put in my mouth is never going to be something that I can relax on – if I want to continue losing down to my goal weight, and if I want to stay as healthy as possible. So again, I will do what I have to do. So, keep praying for me!