That’s right. As of today, I’m one year down the road to a better and healthier way to live.
A year ago, I was faking it until I found some motivation. I’m truly glad I did. If you happen to be reading this, trying to find some courage to take that first step, let me echo what you surely know already: one day’s effort is the start of great things. Just get through today. Then, when tomorrow comes, get through tomorrow. Stop worrying about how long it’s going to take or how difficult it’s going to be; all of us can get through one day.
One day turns into a week of success, and then a month, and then suddenly you’re at where I am, today, and looking back at a year’s worth of work. That year’s worth of getting through each day on its own has improved my life.
Where I was, then: hip pain, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, water retention, heart palpitations. Size 3X tops. Size 26 jeans that were too tight. I had to wear flat granny shoes, no matter what. I needed a handicap hang tag because my knees had gotten so bad that I avoided places like Walmart or large grocery stores because the amount of walking was extremely painful. I wore a custom-fitted knee brace to align my right knee and help me walk. Generally, I felt horrible and cranky.
Today, a year later, 63 pounds down from my starting weight: Hip pain is gone. Plantar fasciitis is gone. Knee pain has gone from a regular 8/10 to 2/10, which is an awesome accomplishment, considering the likelihood that I will have total knee replacement in at least one knee, thanks to level 4 arthritis on all three surfaces of both knees. The knee brace no longer fits, but I don’t feel like I need it, either.
I regularly wear 2X tops, and most of my pants are size 22. No more water retention or heart palpitations. No more handicap hang tag; I’ve gone from experiencing knee pain even when I’m sitting, to being able to walk parking lots and large stores with no problems. I’m now taking small walks around my neighborhood twice a day. The granny shoes are history; I get to wear cute shoes, again! Just nothing that Lady Gaga ever wore.
Am I still the large person in the room? Often, yes, but I’m close now to being a more common size. I don’t feel the same level of anxiety over being in crowded rooms or worrying about if I’ll be able to make the walk from a parking space to a meeting location. I no longer worry about being a burden on my friends. When I get on a plane at the end of this month, I’m not worried about if they’re going to try to charge me double for a plane ticket.
A lot has changed in a year. I know I still have a long way to go, but not nearly as far as I did a year ago, and I’m happy to be on the road back to health.
Starting down the road took an act of faith and courage, and there have been times that I’ve been in doubt along the way. I know that will probably happen again, from time to time; I hit stages and road blocks when I have to do mental gut checks and also reassess where I am and whether something needs to change. That’s the nature of the beast: what worked for me in the past may no longer work, but I can change what I’m doing — and I can change how I think. That’s how I’ve gotten through the last 365 days, and how I will get through the rest of today.
And tomorrow.
And the day after that… and so forth, until I’m at another spot in the road that’s worth assessing where I’ve been. And when I reach that point, I intend to be proud and happy with the results. Because, when you get down to it, no matter how you choose to spend one day, it’s the accumulation of them that matters. Where will I be in a year? It’s my choice — and yours — how to best spend just one day and see where it lands you, and go on from there. In one year, I could have been no different than where I was the previous year. But I’m glad to have chosen to take an act of faith and shed 63 pounds, as well as regaining strength from exercise.
One day makes a difference.