Traverse City Record-Eagle

Kathy Gibbons: Northern Living

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March 27, 2010

Kathy Gibbons: Middle-aged metabolism

Since I was a teenager, weight has always been an issue -- sometimes for real, other times in my mind, but as with many women, always there.

Then I had the glorious experience last year of not having to worry about it. I'd started a restaurant, and with the combination of being on my feet 24/7 plus basically running a little maze all day, I lost the pounds that make the difference between thin and slightly chunky.

For the only time in my life, I got to experience how the other half -- or whatever the percent is of the population that thin people represent -- lives. Yes, I was one of those annoying people who could honestly say I couldn't put on weight even if I tried. Even around all that good food, I was too busy and nervous to eat a whole lot.

In Florida for a few days during that time, I could wear a two-piece without feeling I had to throw a blanket over myself just to stand up and lower the lounge to roll over. I walked in the waves instead of staying on shore with a towel wrapped around the worst of it as I have for years. Maybe it was a permanent shift in metabolism, I hoped.

It wasn't. After I sold the business, I got a new job and was back at a desk again. Then I started working out of town, also in an office, and stay during the week in a small apartment. It's all of 12 steps from the kitchen to the living room to the bedroom.

I didn't weigh myself, but knew it was too coincidental for all of my clothes to get tight at the same time and blame it on the dry cleaners, especially when some hadn't been there. Ever notice how slacks get shorter the wider you get? I have.

In recent years, each time it gets like this, I think maybe it's time to give in to going matronly. Then I think, no, not yet.

The first step now was to bring a scale to the apartment. I walk by it, eyeing it like a cat might eyeball a caged dog. I don't want to get on it yet because I want to lose weight first, so it won't be such a shock.

Then I started a diet. And with more daylight, vowed to get out and walk daily.

After two days of this, I am feeling quite virtuous. I imagine getting on the scale and having it say I'm 10 pounds lighter than I expect. But I know better. It is going to take longer than two days of good behavior to get to where I need to be.

After all, Rome wasn't built in two days. And neither was I.

Kathy Gibbons can be reached at gibbonskath@

yahoo.com.

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