Megan Navarro
I gained at least 20 pounds after I got married more than four years ago, but, honestly, that number is probably higher.
I never realized that the pounds were tacking on until, one day, I noticed that my clothes that I had for years started to get tighter. I had to pack multiple trash bags of clothes that once fit to give them away to people who would actually be able to use them. I had to figure out my “new” size in jeans — probably one of the hardest things to shop for, when you are used to getting hand-me-downs from your cousin or sister-in-law and they would magically fit. Not to mention that I wholeheartedly believe that fitting rooms are warmer than the rest of the store.
When my husband and I got married, we never discussed our roles. We did not have a sit-down conversation of who was going to do what. It just naturally fit that I was going to be doing the things around the house — cooking, cleaning, etc. — because I work from home. I wouldn’t expect him to come home from work and cook dinner when I’ve been here all day long.
I dove headfirst into finding all of these recipes to cook for us, though they weren’t always the healthiest. Not to mention that the majority of places that we could eat out at — which happened at least weekly — in Fort Stockton, where we lived for the first three years of our marriage, were fast food.
I also didn’t join a gym there for a while. And I want to say that, even though I was paying for a membership, there were some weeks where I would just not go.
Losing weight has been on my mind for years, but I feel like it just now hit that I should be taking it seriously.
Maybe it’s my age. Maybe it’s because there are special events and other things coming up, where I actually want to feel comfortable in my body. Maybe it’s the jealousy I feel and comparison I do when I look at photos of other people or even ones of my younger self in my size four jeans. You name it.
I think when it ultimately comes down to it, when you get married, you get really comfortable around your spouse because you are truly happy. I think my comfortability just got the best of me and I wish that I looked in the mirror sooner.
I have been tracking my food. I am no expert — nor would I ever claim to be — but so far, that seems to be the most helpful thing. I have tried different variations of diets before, though this is the first time I have ever sat down and logged what I am actually eating.
I have always been a big snacker. When I watch something on TV, I want to have a snack. When I am bored, I want to have a snack. Once I started tracking my food, eating in a calorie deficit and consuming a higher protein diet, I’ve noticed that I don’t reach for the snacks as much, but when I do, I don’t bring the entire bag of popcorn over to the couch. I take the extra time to weigh it out in a separate container.
I’ve also been trying to go to the gym two to three days per week, but also getting some kind of movement every single day, like taking our dog on a walk at least every night after dinner. When you work from home and have a more sedentary lifestyle, it can be really easy to tack on extra pounds because you aren’t moving your body.
So, here I am: 24 days in. Twenty-four days of weighing food, tracking the calories, getting frustrated that it’s definitely not easy, going to the gym when I am tired to the point that I forget to charge my headphones and walking my dog, even when it’s Saturday morning and I’m already wondering when naptime is.
Though I have a goal weight in mind, I think, ultimately, I just want to be living a healthier lifestyle. I want to feel better. I want those “cheat days” to actually be worth it. I want my future self to look back, be proud and grateful that I made these changes.
Navarro is the executive editor for the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached by emailing [email protected].
