It's Not
About
the Scale

By Karen Preston

Karen lives, plays, and works
in Portland. A member of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), she also founded Pounders, a weight-loss support group focusing on being fit through exercise and healthly lifestyle changes. Her story
was recently featured in Self magazine (September 2003).

I still find each
day too short for
all the thoughts
I want to think,
all the walks I want
to take, all the books
I want to read and
all the friends
I want to see. 

— John Burroughs

When Being High Maintenance Is Good

A few weeks ago I bought myself a new mattress and box spring creating one of those really high princess style beds that make a definite statement in your bedroom. After it arrived I remembered reading an article that warned men against dating high maintenance women with ultra tall beds or oodles of shoes. I laughed at the time; no one would ever accuse me of being high maintenance. Shoot, I have more walking shoes than dress shoes! But after that bed arrived my mind couldn’t stop gnawing on the phrase until I finally decided that being high maintenance ain’t necessarily a bad thing. That’s especially true when it comes to losing weight!

We usually think of a person or thing as high maintenance when they need a lot of attention. I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires considerable attention to details. I spend more time and energy planning my food and exercise, but in the end it makes my weight loss journey more pleasurable. I focus on making healthy lifestyle changes instead of going on and off diets. So my goal is to make it as much fun as possible remembering that this is for my lifetime.

When it comes to food I splurge as much as my budget allows, buying the freshest and tastiest foods. Comice pears or shrimp might be just the ticket to spicing up my meal plan instead of the usual Bartlett pears and chicken breasts. I also strive to make my meals a sensual treat for the eyes. A variety of colors and textures help make eating so much more pleasurable. Even at work I keep a nice placemat and a variety of attractive paper napkins that I use at lunchtime. At home I add cloth napkins, a crystal wineglass for my water, milk, or juice and china dishes for my food. I own several different patterns and make the table even prettier with flowers or candles. My theory is that I’m as important as a special guest and so I deserve the star treatment too.

In the movie When Harry Met Sally, Billy Crystal’s character labels Meg Ryan’s as high maintenance when she makes a lot of changes to her restaurant order. When I go out to eat at an unfamiliar restaurant I often call ahead to check my options so I’m not as tempted by choices when I get there. I’ve found the staff to be helpful, often suggesting changes to their usual fare that will make a dish lower in calories.

When I get to the restaurant I’ll order first if possible so I’m not tempted by my companions’ choices. At buffet-style restaurants I try to request a table far away from the food and I make it a cardinal rule to always walk the entire buffet first without a dish in hand.

When I’m invited to the homes of friends or family they usually go out of their way to serve food on my program. I always offer to bring a scrumptious dish that I know will also work on my food plan or even a simple tray of veggies. I bring flowers for the hosts instead of the usual bottle of wine.

When it comes to exercising, at the top of my list is a really good pair of shoes. I go to specialty shoe stores where the staff is trained to watch me walk in my shoes. If they don’t feel right later when I get them home these stores will allow me to trade them back for shoes that fit correctly. Believe me, it’s worth the extra money to keep my feet happy! The other essential is a good fanny pack with a water bottle so my hands are free during walks. I also spend extra money on workout clothing that feels good. When my budget is tight I comb the thrift stores. I’ve found several high performance shirts with the tags still attached at my local Goodwill. Cutting corners here allows me to splurge on the really comfortable shoes, socks, and walking shorts at the specialty shops.

Finally I’ve spent extra money on gym memberships, a trainer to help me set up a weight lifting routine, sports massages, and my favorite treat, pedicures. In the end it really comes down to knowing that you are number one in your life. Some of us are lucky enough to have loved ones who will treat us like princesses or a prince, but if not, remember it’s important to treat yourself like royalty!