The Lighter Side of Weight Loss: Chapter Nineteen

The Lighter Side of Weight Loss
By Sandra Warholic Seeley                         

Chapter Nineteen

WW just challenged me to eat the rainbow. My first thought was that’s great, I love rainbow sherbet! My second thought was this challenge is better than the ice bucket challenge! In third place came the thought that I can’t remember the sentence that helped me remember the colors of the rainbow in order.

So I’ve created my own sentence that I’m hoping will rainbow-lize your future meals: Rush out yonder, go buy interesting vegetables!

Once you’ve purchased the rainbow, I suggest you set a beautiful table and ask Duke Ellington to set a “Mood Indigo” for you while you eat some indigo and violet. My personal favorites are black cherries, plums, prunes, raisins and purple eggplant. I lied. These are not my personal favorites. In fact, I’ve never even tried eggplant, which I hope to change when I rush out yonder!

I’m calling on my 1984 self to channel Rainbow Brite back into existence. We all need this brave young girl to make our world, hearts and bodies lighter by infusing our darkness with color. In the meantime, I suggest we all eat more colorful foods.

When temptation comes calling, think of him as a leprechaun or Hawaiian menehune playing tricks on you.These mischievous imps do not want you to find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But we have the tools to outsmart Mr. Temptation. Eat that United Dairy rainbow sherbert, track the half cup serving for 7 smart points and stay within your point range for the day.

We are all searching for that elusive pot of gold, otherwise known as GOAL-ED! It’s there waiting for us. We all have to believe in our dreams and work hard enough to achieve them. And remember that “Somewhere over the rainbow, dreams that you dream of really do come true.”

Until next week. Keep dreaming, choose color and be happier!

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.

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The Lighter Side of Weight Loss: Chapter Eighteen

The Lighter Side of Weight Loss                   

 By Sandra Warholic Seeley                                                         

Chapter Eighteen

I feel fairly certain that all of us have experienced the frustration of yo-yo weight loss. A recent WW Weekly reminded us to rewind in order to move forward. No matter how hard we wish that Duncan Windrunner, Roadrunner, Big Fun or Pulse toy would work again, it becomes stagnant unless we rewind that string!

I prefer to think of my weight loss journey as a carousel ride. Yes, I’m riding the up and down horse, but I’m moving forward in a counter clockwise direction (unless I’m a Brit, then my horse is cantering clockwise) at the same time. And guess what? I’m having a blast and I’m that little girl again who loves horses (note to Santa: I still want one for Christmas).

Close your eyes (after you read this) and come with me to Kennywood Park on a nostalgic trip to this Pittsburgh amusement park which also happens to be a National Historic Landmark. We head straight to the Merry-Go-Round to claim one of the 50 jumping horses, by-passing the 14 stationary ones and the lion and tiger and benches for old people. The ride start/stop bell clangs with urgency. We are mounted and ready to trot as the Wurlitzer Military Band Organ plays some of the happiest calliope style music in the world. Our eyes and hearts are shining as brightly as the 1500 lights accompanying us on this ride. We can still see Mr. Kennywood, Anthony Sacramento, the Merry-Go-Round operator for close to sixty years, weaving around our stallions to collect our tickets. And then we are merrily on our way, up and down in a rolling forward motion. I’m crying as I write this because I can still see Mom and Dad waving at me each time my horse takes me around to them. A few more tears because now I hear the calliope version of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, a song my Dad always sang to me. Stop the world, I DON’T want to get off, I’m having way too much fun!

Moving forward on my weight loss journey, I want my life to be a carousel ride. Yes, my weight fluctuates, but that makes the ride more interesting. It also makes me want to stay on my horse longer, like for a LIFETIME. I want to hear the music and see the kaleidoscopic colors of days gone by.

Let’s meet next year at Kennywood Park. We’ll sit on the bench that Cowboy Joe has been occupying for decades and swap weight loss “yarns” with each other. Of course, we’ll ride the Merry-Go-Round together and realize just how successful our carousel horseback ride has been. So reserve the date: May 2, 2020. See you soon.

Until next week: Climb on your horses, enjoy the ride and be happier!

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.

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The Lighter Side of Weight Loss: Chapter Seventeen

The Lighter Side of Weight Loss
By Sandra Warholic Seeley

Chapter Seventeen

My computer operating system becomes obsolete and incompatible with everything on a regular basis. My iPhone apps need updated daily it seems. Therefore, I’ve decided to update me. WW has me contemplating my Why. But I’m taking it a step further and asking Why Not?

Why not add a few purple highlights to my winter white hair? So on a gorgeous October 1st in Pittsburgh, PA, I packed up some courage and entered La Beaute Hair Salon and Day Spa. I emerged several hours later with hair exactly as I envisioned it. Thank you, Renee!

My husband loves it. So on Day One, I suggested we go out to lunch to “test drive” my hair. Our young waitress remarked on it immediately. It felt so good to have a young person admire my 73 year old hair.

Such a simple change has lightened my mood as I struggle to lighten my body. And the best part? These are 100% human hair extensions that are supposed to stay taped in thru many hair washings. I plan to get my hair trimmed every 8 weeks and replace the previous color with something new. Perhaps red for Christmas, green for spring, etc.

So now I am contemplating other Why Nots such as Why not go ziplining even though I’m afraid of heights, but always thought it would be fun? If I were in the Divergent movie, I would want to be in the Dauntless faction! Why not take dancing lessons and learn to tango? So sexy, but husband doesn't want to take lessons. Hmmm, have to think about this one. So many Why Nots to think about. Life truly is too short to wear boring earrings or miss out on new experiences.

Which brings me full circle back to my “Why?” Along with Dylan Thomas, the poet, I honestly do not want to go gentle into that dark good night. I can no longer wait until I’m at goal weight to have fun, for “tomorrow is never promised” to anyone. And just maybe I’ll reach my goal faster if I’m enjoying myself along the way.

Until next week, I’m sprinkling all of you with sparkly, purple, fairy dust to lighten your spirits. Be chic and trendy to climb outside any boxes that have trapped you for years. Let your personality be a vibrant hue. Enjoy your ride and be happier!

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.

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The Lighter Side of Weight Loss: Chapter Sixteen

The Lighter Side of Weight Loss
By Sandra Warholic Seeley

Chapter Sixteen

Did you ever have one of those days, weeks, months, years where everything takes a turn for the worst? I call these “There’s a Bone in My Jello” days. What are the odds that I would find a bone in my zero point, sugar free, black cherry jello? Trust me, it was not a cherry pit; life tossed in a humongous bone along with Adipic Acid (for Tartness), Maltodextrin (from Corn), Disodium Phosphate (Controls Acidity), Fumaric Acid (for Tartness), Aspartame (Sweetener) (Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine), Contains Less than 2% of Artificial Flavor, Acesulfame Potassium Sweetener), Salt, Red 40, Blue 1.

After reading these ingredients, I’m beginning to think the bone was healthier for me. It seems like acid was added to the jello for tartness, then something else was added to control acidity, then something else was added for more tartness, then a bunch of chemicals were added for who knows what purpose. Ingredients in bone: bone.

The point of this rant is that there will always be something in life that can derail our weight loss journey. I’m going to try to turn these “bones” into wishbones. I’m going to visualize always getting the bigger half of the wishbone. I’m not going to eat more junk when I want to weigh less. It’s not been scientifically proven that Red 40 is 40 times more potent than Blue 1, but I’m not taking any chances. I have a feeling that the more single ingredient foods I eat, the better off I will be.

My wish for you: Choose healthier and be happier.

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.

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