The magic number

Today marks the 99th post on Pink Spandex. I’ve decided to celebrate because I like to be unusual and it would be far too typical to celebrate the 100th post, now wouldn’t it? Hurray Pink Spandex!

I have a goal relating to the number 100, and it isn’t one that I’ve spoken of to many people. You see, I have every intention of losing 100 pounds. I’ve said it a few times here and there, but often with a joking undertone or with an indication that it would be nice but I’m not too worried about it. The truth is, I’m really not too worried about it, but it is still a goal. Mainly it is just because I want to prove to myself that I can do it.

The reason I started trying to lose weight in the first place is partly because I realized I had 100 pounds to lose. Before it had always been 50 pounds, maybe 60, and then eventually 70 and 100. It was a scary thing for me to realize that I was 100 pounds overweight. Right now I’m only about ten pounds from a healthy BMI (maybe eight? I should look that up) and that’s a point I don’t think I’ve ever been at. If I can get myself in shape enough to have lost 75 pounds, I see no reason why I can’t lose 100.

I was listening to a Jillian Michaels podcast (the last one before I finally caught up on all of them!) and she said something that stuck with me—there’s no reason too vain or too silly for wanting to lose weight. So yes, I’m all about having a healthy body image and accepting my body for what it is, but I’m also all about taking care of my body and striving for the best. My reason for wanting to lose 100 pounds is because that will put me right in the middle of a healthy weight range for my height—somewhere I’ve never been before. I want to see what it’s like, and how hard I have to work to get there.

Who knows, maybe I’ll want to gain some weight back after losing 100 pounds. I certainly don’t know because I’ve never even been at a healthy body weight. I think I’m finally at a point with the scale where I realize that the number isn’t what matters most to me, so I have decided to voice my goal while keeping in mind that it might change. For me, paying attention to the scale hasn’t worked in the past, so I’m certainly not going to start getting obsessive with my 100 pound goal. Currently I’m noticing that focusing on my level of fitness and healthy eating (instead of the scale) has led to weight loss more than anything else—so why not strive for the 100? I only live once!

I think I have been afraid to state this particular goal in full force because there’s still a chance I could fail. What if I don’t lose 100? What if my body doesn’t want to be that size? That’s something I will figure out as I go. I see no point in fearing failure. In my experience, I kept excess weight on for so long partly because I was afraid of the work it would take to lose it. That’s not something I fear anymore. I can tell you that where my body is right now is fantastic, but I am pretty sure it has 25 more pounds to lose.

So, that’s my goal. It might take me a year to lose the final 25 pounds, but I’m going to go for it. And I’m declaring this on our 99th post mainly because if I lose 99 pounds that is okay, too.