Still With It

Today is my 5th day of Atkins. My resolve is still pretty high but I know that this is going to be a very, very, very long and concerted effort. I am also under no illusion about how quickly I can lose my way. But so far - so good.

I have been quilting a lot lately and have been thinking about the construction of quilts. Usually they are made up of very small pieces of fabric that have been sewn into "blocks" and the blocks are then sewn together to create a quilt top.

I guess that I have been looking at losing weight as deconstructing myself when in reality it is more constructing. Yes, I am deconstructing the weight and as many of the ill effects as possible, but the reality is that I am in bondage. My knees are impossibly stiff and painful and swollen. All of my joints are suffering. Those are the physical effects that I can feel - but I can image the condition of my arteries, liver, kidneys, heart, and pancreas - I doubt that they are in any better condition. My activities are becoming more and more restricted by my obesity and the ravages that it is taking. So, in my efforts to lose (especially in my success) I am constructing a new life - the ability to move, participate fully and to regain my health. I am gaining a life - my life. It's about time! And - in reality - time is passing whether or not I do anything about my obesity - so I ought to take advantage of each day and put it is a "block" of ten pounds here and ten pounds there, lower cholesterol levels a little bit at a time, less pressure on my knees one pound at a time until I whole.