Gardening and Weightloss - An unexpected analogy!

I wrote to a friend that I had been trimming bushes and digging up errant trees that had grown up in my yard while I had been unable to keep up due to my weight. One of the benefits of shedding 150+ pounds is that I am able to get out and do more. My friend responded that she never did any gardening as she hates dirt. As I replied to her the following analogy emerged, so I thought I would copy it here as it would be a good reminder to myself and might help someone else, too.

"I'm kind of with you on the gardening. I don't care much for dirt either! HOWEVER, I dislike cracked concrete, broken foundations, torn up fences, gutters in need of repair, rotten shingles, etc. even more than I dislike dirt. Since I own the house, if I don't make sure that it is taken care of I will have to be dealing with all of the afore mentioned disasters. So I am "gardening." I am not doing it for love of gardening, or even to make the place a "show place." It is purely SELF DEFENSE!

Kind of like the journey I am making with this weightloss! I really miss my favorite foods! I dislike having to think about what I am eating! HOWEVER, I dislike no energy, not being able to walk, not being able to sit where I want, not being able to wear seatbelts, not being able to go places, out of control blood sugar, high blood pressure, etc. even more than I dislike watching what I eat. Since I own this body, if I don't make sure that it is taken care of I will have to continue dealing with all of the afore mentioned disasers. So I am "watching what I eat!" I am not doing it for love of eating well, or even to make my body a "fashion model." It is purely SELF DEFENSE!

Missy"