When quick fixes just don’t cut it

It all started with the Dinah. I’d been thinking about what I was going to wear to what you might think of as a lesbian spring break. I wasn’t relishing buying new bathing suits, and then I went for my mammogram and the young lady had to push part of my stomach out of the way to get a good shot. That was the last straw.

I did what my friend Jody B always does — I reached out to my village. I called on two women that I knew had just what I needed, expertise and open hearts — Susan Swern of Get Healthy the Gay Weigh, and Stacey Lei Krauss of Will Power Fitness.

I am a challenging kind of health and fitness client. I was a nutrition and fitness counselor at one time. I’ve run marathons. I could lecture for hours on fitness and nutrition. I’m a predominantly non-GMO, no to low gluten, little refined sugar, no preservatives, low dairy, kombucha-drinking vegetarian. I know stuff, but as they say, knowing and doing are two
different things.

All I’m saying is ignorance isn’t the reason I’ve let things slide. My career, my relationship, my nonprofit and everything else became my focus. Add to that, I began traveling, a lot, and I am a newlywed so a bit more prone to snuggling and indulgence. My body became something to cover and carry luggage. I stopped honoring the vessel that houses my soul. This was difficult to admit to myself, let alone anyone else.

I asked each lady for a quick fix to get ready for the Dinah. I was in the “get skinny for wedding/prom/[your event goes here] mode. I know that this doesn’t really work in the long-term, but figured I needed kind of a jump start. They each balked at the idea of a quick fix. I got stressed out — the last thing I need — so I went a little deeper into my why. Why do I really want to do this?

I had a nutrition coach ask me once: if you were on a desert island and no one could see your body, would you be trying to lose weight? Hell no! At the time, I was only unhappy with my size based on the limits I had set according to my peer group. I didn’t feel bad in my body. I just felt bad about my body.

This time, the way I feel is also a factor. My body doesn’t feel as good as it used to. Previously I could ask my body to do anything and it would just do it. Now, either it can’t do it, or if it does, I pay for it later. My mind and my body need to live in better harmony. Just like the song says — if I can see it, then I can do it. If I can believe it, there’s nothing to it.

When I asked Stacey and Susan why they teach, I got a simple and succinct answer from Stacey. “I am a teacher because I enjoy guiding people to make changes in their lives.” It really is that simple, I teach because I can and I enjoy it. Then I’ll be able to enjoy it too.

Susan had this to say, “First, my language of what I do is coach people to discover and follow their healthy instincts…the wisdom and information…already there is uncovered…over time so healthy habits become “second nature”. Yes there is “teaching” but I see myself help most with…change from the inside/out so people follow their own, not my, path per se.” I love it. She’s really just there to help me find my own nutritional rhythms. In harmony with my body, this definitely sounds doable.

I realized that my being honest with others about my journey allows me to be honest with myself. I have to be willing to acknowledge and honor my body and my journey. I’ll spend some time on this in future columns, and on my blog at thelesbiansocialite.com. Any all support and encouragement is appreciated — follow along and let me know what you think!