For two days in a row, the last two days of August mind you, I've been forced by the low temperatures to reconsider my standard summer footwear. Flip-flops. Not "thongs" - that would be an entirely different article of apparel. This sudden change in weather pattern, including 50 degree weather, hail that covered my grass, looking too much like an early snow, really messes up my mojo. Even more so then it already was......
You see...for much of the Fall/Winter/Spring of 2009-2010, my "give-a-damn" has been broken. If I think long enough about it, I can probably trace the exact moment that my GAD expired. I'm pretty sure it was at 3:29 into my first olympic triathlon....when I crossed the finish line. I'd done it! At 39 (one month before turning 40), I completed my year-long goal of completing a triathlon. Notice I used the term "complete" in lieu of "compete". If you don't know, they are entirely different words. I earned and deserved a self-inflicted rest period of exactly 6 months, give or take (mostly give) 3 additional months. In about March or April, I had temporarily found my GAD, after the cloudy, over-cast, inversion-filled skies of the Wasatch Front had made their way to depress people in a different geographic location. And then I remembered......not only do I suffer from a broken GAD, but I apparently temporarily forgot I also suffer from SAD. Seriously.....it's a real thing. "Season Affective Disorder". It basically gives me a medical excuse to hate winter and be a bitch during any of the seasonally cold months, particularly at home to the people who I love most. It makes me want to cry at the silliest little things, makes me yell (almost) like a Real Housewife of New Jersey (which is funny only to those of you know I am FROM New Jersey), and I'm not even going to go into how it seriously messes with my libido (sorry, honey.....now the world knows - well, at least all 4 people who actually read this blog anyway).
Interestingly enough, the GAD and SAD have both been helped by a social experiment powered thru FaceBook. In an effort to be accountable to more than the growing numerical size of my pants, I decided to send out a call for people who wanted to make a physical change to their bodies and to help me, in turn, fix mine. Let's face it, gaining weight can't be treated with a broken GAD, and I need to put a stop to both the GAD and the SAD. I remember all too clearly what 220 lbs of Stacy looks like - it ain't pretty - and I definitely don't want to go back to a Size 20. So, a group of 27 of my FB peeps and some of their peeps have banned together and formed a group called Tru Body Challenge. We share the same goal of wanting to change the status quo that we've each been experiencing, be accountable to one another, and help each other along the way. We range from just under 280 lbs to 124 lbs. Our goals include running a 5K (which some of us are doing together in October), decreasing body fat percentages, losing the "baby" tummy (even though some of the "babies" are in junior high), setting up a regular exercise regime, establishing a nutritional diet, being able to tie one's own shoes.....you get it. We represent Utah, Idaho, Alaska, Nebraska, Colorado, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Alberta, Canada (without me looking at our info).
Well, I can't even begin to tell you how, after less than one week, this "little" group of mine has accomplished "big" things. No, we haven't gone from a combined 4,700 lbs to 2,000. We haven't lost 8 dress sizes. Probably, no one has lost more than a pound or 2 (not that they'd know, because I'm certain none have gotten on the scale after me telling them to shove it in the closet). But, most everyone has stepped out of their comfort zone, offered advice or encouragement, posted a tip that has worked for them, shared a link of helpful information, and put themselves out there to be accountable to someone else. This group of people, both the men and the women, have inspired me and helped me to see the potential in not only each one of them, but myself too. We can do this! And we are experiencing it together.
Thank you, Team Tru, for helping to fix my GAD. My SAD isn't fixed yet, but I know it will be by the time I'm trying to dig out of my garage with 12+inches of snow behind me. Well....you and my beautiful HONDA Pilot with 4WD. You have been like the magic pill I've been waiting for and EVERYONE wants to get their hands on! I am so lucky to have each one of you and am so proud that you are taking this journey with me!
Now....to focus on finding just the right "magic" pill for my SAD!
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