This is the time of year every one of us usually reflect on our weight. The holidays have passed, we look back on just how much we decided to eat, drink and be merry, ignoring those scales in the bathroom every single day…but only to pay a high price. After the last glass of wine has been drank on New Year’s Day, we come to step on the scale and see how much damage we’ve really done and make those oh-so-looming Resolutions. Now it is back to reality. Now you actually have to deal with what you see in the mirror, and stop ignoring the fact that your jeans are way too tight.

Well, *sigh* I’m no different. Weight has been something I’ve struggled with for years. UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN on the scales. Although I have to say that when I’ve put my mind to losing weight, I am very successful and tend to keep the majority of it off for at least a couple of years or so.

Exactly one year ago today I moved to the Jonesborough area and started the day spa, Grace Healing Therapies. Before that I worked at Grove Park Inn in Asheville, and had a very active lifestyle. I did between 4 and 5 massages a day and either went on lovely hikes or went down town to walk around and shop a lot on my days off. Add all that up in a week’s time, and you’ve burned a lot of calories without really even TRYING to. The only bad thing was that I got burned out working so much and desperately needed a change. So I moved here to be closer to my boyfriend, David.

Re-modeling the space for the day spa was no easy task, and that took quite a bit of energy too. But as soon as that was finished and I opened up for business, I found myself doing anywhere from 4 massage to NO massages a week. Business has picked up some, yes. But rarely is there a day when I do more then I did at GPI. I just won’t burn myself out again.

David is not very active because he works 60-70 hours per week, is not in good shape himself and is always exhausted. So, we rarely do any activities such as hiking or walking long distances. Mostly we watch movies or go out to dinner and occasionally some shopping. Over the past year, my lifestyle has significantly changed, and, as a result I’ve gained more then 20 lbs!! The worst part is, I was at least 30 lbs overweight to begin with, so you can imagine the desperation I feel now. It has been agony.

I finally began a diet after my sad, long, difficult birthday of 30 years this month. Since February 12 I have lost 3.6 lbs. Not exactly as much as I had hoped, but then again there have been many fast food days in there when I was busy or too tired to cook, along with some chocolate indulgences. All in all, I have to say I am pleased.

David and I are going on a cruise late this fall, 2007. I am looking so forward to it, as it will indeed be my first cruise. So now I have a definite goal and a winning plan.

More updates later on!

Beth