240 lbs...condolance cards accepted

240 lbs? What the heck happened?


Well, I have an inkling. It involved a fork and a couch at one point.

I realize more and more that an exciting major change in my life like getting healthy and losing weight can't go off duty just because it's the weekend and holidays. I do well Monday through Thursday while I'm at my day job and sticking to the tupperware container that controls my portions, but Friday through Sunday (and this last Monday) it was every man and fat cell for himself, no tupperware, no control.

Funny though, I hardly had any birthday cake on Saturday. Usually, I'd be way all over it, eating it like it's going out of style, trying to even squirrel away the candles to lick later when I go back to my cave. But, no, I enjoyed it. Well, them! There were two cakes. It was a great time, but then again, calories can be liquid so I've been told and I had plenty of fluids to fill in the cake gap thanks to special birthday drinks and a gal behind the bar that patrons dream of - very generous.

So, here I am again, I'm back to 240 lbs, waiting to get the letter in the mail, saying I've been drafted to the NFL and realizing that positive life changes can't go off duty.

It makes me think of cops. Even police officers don't REALLY go off duty. They may pretend they're just sitting enjoying a cup of coffee at a cafe, or just getting groceries at Fred Meyer, but they really not. They put in their time on the beat, then step out of their uniform, but are still on, like when I get going on stage, singing and then step off - still on, having a blast with the audience, enjoying myself. These men in blue may not be on the clock physically, but mentally, they're there. They walk around in their plain clothes and you would never know that they are ready at a moment's notice to step in and lend a hand and help take control of an out of control situation. Because they're on duty in their hearts.

My brother is a reserve command officer on the side and more and more I see how he is always on and as much as I hate as the little sister (it's my birthright you know...), to give my big tease-me-to-no-end-growing-up, "why can't you be like Chad" bro a major kudos, I have to say that's it's pretty darn cool. And yes, I think I need to be like Chad.

For my sake, my health, my life, I have to be on-duty all the time....

...or hire a cop to follow me around and arrest my appetite.