MY NEW DRESS

Well, I bought a new dress the other day and it is to wear for when Tony & I renew our wedding vows.  But guess what?  I bought it a size smaller.  Yes, I did.  Oh, you should see the dress, it is absolutely gorgeous!  And guess what else?  I can't take it back - it is a final sale.  I did not know that when I bought it, nor did the sales lady let me know that.  Funny thing is that I was considering taking it back.  Not because I don't think that I can lose enough weight to get into it, but rather it is a very sexy dress and I am not so sure that I can pull off "sexy."  I used to be able to pull off "sexy" - no problem.  But that was before I had 34 extra pounds on my body.  Well actually, it's 33 now.  I did lose 1 pound already.  It's just that I thought that I might look around and see what else is out there.  After all, this was the first dress that I tried on for this occasion and I bought it.  My mom was with me and she really liked it.  I did wonder, however, if I bought because I really liked it, or did I buy it because she really liked it?  Or, do I want to look around for something else because deep down inside I am afraid that I won't be able to lose enough weight to fit into the dress and then I will be stuck with it and I will have to go out and buy another one?  Maybe it is a little bit of all of these reasons.  I don't know.

I have 38 weeks to be 33 pounds lighter.  Very doable.  If I lose a pound a week - which by the way, is very reasonable & achievable -  that brings me to the first week of October.  That's about 4 weeks before our vow renewals.  It is also possible for me to lose all the weight that I want to by the beginning to the mid-part of July.  Also very doable.  So what is my problem?  I do like the dress, as a matter of fact, I like it very much.  I was surprised at how good it looked on me.  Yes, even with me having to lose 33 more pounds.  I guess I still got it.  :o)  Also, I think that there may be a small part of me that wants my Mom's approval.  But you know what?  I can't, and nor do I want to live that way anymore.  I don't need her approval, nor anyone else's for that matter.  And I am not trying to be either mean or rebellious.  But I do know that looking for others approval is no way to live.  The only opinion that matters is my husband's & God's.  And, of course, if I like it why should it matter what anyone else thinks.  It is, after all, my day right?

I just want to age as gracefully as I can.  I want to be healthy and strong; I want to look good, and I am willing to work hard for it.  I have the dress hanging up in my bedroom, in full view, and it is serving as a motivational piece for me to continue on reaching my goals.  This reminds me of the TV show, "The Last 10 Pounds Boot Camp."  Tommy Europe does the show and he always gets the girl to buy the target outfit a size or 2 smaller.  The time frame to achieve this goal is 4 weeks.  And every time, she succeeds at fitting into the outfit.  So, if these girls can do it in 4 weeks, then I certainly can do it in 38 weeks.

"Give me the last 10 pounds!"