For several years I knew I needed to stop the upward swing of the scale, but also realized this would necessarily involve that most terrible of activities, exercise.  Arrgh-how I hated the thought of it!  ”Walk around the property”, my husband would say.  ”Yes, sure, that would be fun,” I would think to myself.  On a pretty spring day a walk around the pastures and through the woods is pleasant.  But on a blistery hot day?  Or a blustery cold one?  No thanks!

Besides, I was burdened with children of all sizes, chained to the kitchen, tied to the laundry, obligated to reading lessons and math instruction; how could I ever find the time for something so despised?

Many times I had walked the 8/10ths of a mile round trip of our country lane-boring! And many times I had said I would do this daily in spite of my great disdain, only to give up as soon as the weather turned hot, the rains came, the wind blew or the clouds covered the sun.  Obviously, this was not working!

A gym membership was a nice thought, but totally impractical for our situation.  Bike riding is great, but our road is too dangerous.  I tried T-Tapp, but found it difficult to remember to hold this, line up that, while moving the other.  I love rowing machines, but they are expensive and you have to put them somewhere.

Can you see where I am going with this?  Excuses, plain and simple.  At each possibility my husband would present, there was always a reason why it would not work.  I did not like being over weight.  I did not want to be over weight.  But I did not seem to have what it took to change what was happening to my body, and I grew more discouraged by the pound.

When we married, I was actually under weight.  At six feet tall, I was a slim and trim, statuesque young woman of-gasp-150 pounds!  Now, that may sound like a lot to you, but I can guarantee you it was not enough for my tall frame.  Slowly over the years I gained a little here and there, but once I was well into having and raising babies, the pounds really started to pile on.

It was consoling for awhile that my husband would tell me he preferred my extra softness to the skin and bones I was when we met.  But as the scale continued up, I felt his disproval in spite of his reassuring words and kindness.  This came to a climax when one morning last winter he looked especially down.  Now, my husband carries the weight of the world on his shoulders as he bears the burden of providing for our large brood, and so  I assumed his long face and drooping shoulders related to the cares of the day.  But I was quite shocked and dismayed when he tearfully admitted his great concern and disappointment in me, his bride, who was becoming so overweight that he was no longer finding me very attractive, and he worried for my health.

Wow-what a wake-up call!  I love my husband very much and only want to bring him joy, not be a source of pain.  And certainly I want him to enjoy me in every way.  I knew something needed to be done.

So I started running up and down the stairs to fetch things, rather than sending the children.  I put my lap top on a raised surface so that when using it I would be standing, rather than sitting.  I danced and played a little more with the children. As spring time broke, I began walking that long country lane once again.  And remarkably, I started to actually enjoy the trip!

By the time I heard Kevin Brown speak at our annual spring Weston A Price Foundation local gathering, my mind was set:  one way or another, I was going to lose some weight!  And after hearing his motivating and encouraging words, I really felt that I could do this thing!

Our diet was already quite excellent, so I only needed to do some tweaking to my personal dietary and eating habits. Things like fasting every day from late afternoon until into the next morning, consuming more cream, butter & coconut oil, and realizing just how many carbohydrates I was really taking in, when I thought my intake was rather low.  Also, we gave up the occasional late night, “Date Night”, Ben & Jerry’s or Scharffen Berger Chocolate Bars. George can handle those things (he could stand to gain a few pounds); I can’t.  Now we just stick to good movies and Josh Groban-we don’t need the edible treats!

The thing that is really making a difference for me now is this exercise thing; I have found it to be so enjoyable I actually look forward to it every day!  Before the weather became really frigid, I was thoroughly enjoying my daily run.  That’s right, run!  Where only a few short months ago that driveway was tiring just to walk, I am now running it, zig-zagging back and forth to add more distance, and even running up hill for a piece on our road!  Also, I found that I can toss my bike into our van early in the morning, before the Wee Ones rise, to ride at a nearby park which has wonderful trails.  In line skates are next on my list, and an IPod to propel me forward.

Now that winter has set in I have purchased hand weights (5#) and an exercise ball so that I can use the Liberation Fitness on-line program (www.liberationfitness.com), customized to my needs.  I have also discovered that it is easy, and fun!, to exercise to up-beat, happy music.  My kids tease me, but I don’t care; techno-music gets me moving, and with the addition of hand and ankle weights I can get a super workout in 30-40 minutes each day!

So here I am now, 45# lighter than this time last year, and loving life.  I am excited, motivated, encouraged, and happy!  And you know what, my husband shares in my excitement, and is taking more pleasure than ever in his wife!  Can you believe it?  What a change from just a year ago, and I am not done yet!  Now I know that I can look great again.  My youthfulness and zest for life have returned!  I feel like a million bucks, and I look forward to a bright future!  All because of that dreaded “E” word, and a little motivation from a new friend with a great program; I am truly liberated!!!