A Brand New Copybook

Ok so this is special. It’s a Monday, and it’s the first day of a brand new year…that happens only once every seven years, right? Unless leap years bugger up that sequence once in a while, but whatever. The stars are aligned and I’m actually feeling more than a bit giddy as I write this. It’s a sign, kind of a double whammy if you like.

I’m trying to frame this in my head as though everything I’ve done, and everything I’ve learned in the two years, four months and sixteen days since I decided to wrestle my life back from the brink of obesity-related immobility has led me right to this point. And this point is where my dummy run ends, and I step out for real. I know. I feel like I should be speaking in hushed tones, so significant is this moment…

Okay okay so I know I’m being a bit over the top, but come on, if ever there was a new start that was worthy of being called a new start, this is it. I’ve opened a brand new shiny book, and I’m ready to start filling the pages with my 2018 story. I’m going to make it a good one.

Last year…well. Let’s just say that 2017 failed to impress me on a number of levels. That’s an understatement actually, it was probably the most difficult year I’ve ever had. Losing my Godmum was a sucker punch even though we knew it was coming, and watching my mum become increasingly frail in both mind and body has been excruciating.

On the other hand, I have so much to be grateful for. I’m surrounded by some amazing friends. My boy makes my heart swell with pride every single day. I have a job that I love and I feel really established in my life, you know? I get to travel to some amazing places and I’m healthy enough to really enjoy all of it in a way that I couldn’t before this all started.

And lets not forget these pages…having this creative outlet where I can let all my thoughts and feelings loose and hang out with you guys is awesome. I can be completely honest, safe in the knowledge that you understand me without judging because you’ve walked a mile in my shoes, and you’re always ready to join me in laughing at the utter tragedy of living my life on a fucking diet. All of that is the reason I’m still hanging in here as determined as ever to reach my goals.

I’m still trying to get a grip of it all but to be fair that’s one of the things I’m most thankful for, you know? There’s been no quick fix, no instant results and most of all no cure for the surplus curves I stuff into my pants every day but by some miracle I’m still here almost two and a half years into my journey.

I’ve fallen down a lot and I’ve taken so many wrong turns I’ve lost count but it doesn’t matter does it? All that matters is that I learned over and over how to get up again and keep on pushing forward. Perfection isn’t the secret...tenacity is where it’s at.

Let’s try to take more steps forwards than backwards this year eh? I’m looking at my weight loss across 2017 and accounting for the genius relocation of the shitbird scale into the bath which bumped the number upwards, I’ve netted out the year with a 2lb loss. Yes boys and girls, in the whole of 2017 that’s all I lost.

Now, I could hurl myself at the floor and have a big fat tony bear tantrum and the sheer injustice of that, or I could suck it up and pat myself on the back for at least ending the year smaller than when it started. I choose that one, because I don’t want any negativity colouring the pages of my brand new copybook. Only good things are getting included in my 2018 story.

How about yours? Come on, let’s make this year count…we deserve skinny after all this effort, right? We have so much support in these pages, because we’re all on the same journey and we’re all here to prop each other up. See that little map at the top of the page? That’s where you’re all at…it’s the geolocation footprint of everybody who reads along. The orange bits are where we have the highest number of friends, but there are readers, and lurkers, and regular corresponders everywhere that’s coloured in…that pretty much blows my mind.

Wherever you’re celebrating New Year, I’m sending big love to each and every one of you in the hope that 2018 will be your best year yet. I’m excited to continue sharing this journey…Skinny Town here we come 🙂

Like it..? Tell your friends!
 

20 thoughts on “A Brand New Copybook

  1. Happy new year Dee and so glad to hear that you are still fighting the fight. Tenacity and consistency are the way to go.
    Re your map – I need a little orange dot all the way down here in South Africa please
    best regards
    Moira

    1. Wow, is that where you are..? It’s green so I knew we had some friends there but we’ll need to recruit some new SA recruits into the posse if we want to turn it orange!! 🙂

  2. Happy New Year, Dee. One thing I’ve learned from watching your 2017 is to not take mini-breaks that undo months of great work. You also forgot to credit yourself for your hours with the God of Pain and your swimming. Fitness may not make us lose weight, but it is very important for quality of life. Thumbs up to you! xom

    1. Thanks Margaret 😘 my problem is, travel is as necessary to me as breathing. It’s what I work for…well, that and handbags! I need to learn how to travel in a way that doesn’t make the rest of it unravel…I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again! 😊

  3. Great post Dee! And ahhh – TENACITY is the word of the year for me in 2018. Thanks you for that! Hugs and best wishes for love and healthy successes all year long…

  4. What an uplifting post for this New Year. I’ve been with you and cheering you on from day one along with the rest of the tribe. I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. This is the year we are” gonna git it done”. And it’s a Monday too!

  5. Happy New Years Dee! Can’t wait to read all about your successes this coming year!
    I hope 2018 is a great year for all of us.

  6. I’ve been losing and regaining the same 2 damn kilos for the whole of 2017, but at least I haven’t gained overall. I’m the same weight as this time last year. I know what I’ve been doing wrong and I’m going to try and put it right this year. I’m going to keep getting up, brushing myself off and putting my game face on. Keep up the good work, I really look forward to that email telling me there’s a new post! Feliz año nuevo from your lurker in Spain 😀 (Arismum on MFP)

  7. I lost 3.8 kg in 2017. Actually I gained some then lost more. I call that a win, on average! And I love starting on a Monday. New week, new month, new year. Awesome.

    1. I think I’d rather forget how much I lost and found again Natalie! You had a great result last year, onwards my friend let’s get after 2018 😎

Leave a Reply to Dee Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *