I have a friend that retired this year. Well, she retired from my company to pursue her passion, the creation of her art, on a full-time basis. She doesn't call this retirement, but in my mind, she retired from something she didn't want to do anymore (that paid her money), to something she really wanted to do (that doesn't pay her much money). I call that retired, but I digress . . .
The remarkable thing (and the path I hope to follow) is that since she left her desk job, she has lost 14 pounds WITHOUT EVEN TRYING! In fact, she called me a couple months ago to ask me if I thought something might be wrong with her and should she go to the doctor!
Please, God, let this happen to me (well, not the 14 pounds part, but three would be good, five would be better). Without even trying!
If you're like me, you may think that the only thing standing between you and the body of your dreams is full-time work. I mean, after all, we're sitting at a desk all day long (and in my office, precariously close to a kitchen full of pastries, candy, chips, sodas, junk, junk, junk.) If only I remove myself from this sedentary environment with easy access to junk food, and have all that time available for working out, THEN the pounds will just melt off of me exposing the muscles just waiting to be revealed.
The problem is, reality is proving otherwise. Presumably the weekend is a good indication of the time available during retirement, right? Well today (Sunday), after waking up late, going out to a huge, fattening breakfast with friends and FULLY intending to exercise at some point, I have instead, sat in front of this computer all day long, reading blogs, writing my own, and otherwise surfing the Internet. I have managed to tear myself away only to walk to the kitchen (not quite as close as the one at my office) to eat handfuls of leftover chips and dip from last night's party.
Who am I kidding? I am much more religious about working out the days I actually go to work. When I have less time available, I can't say that I'll do it later, I have to squeeze it in when I can. We are having dinner with friends in 30 minutes and I just plain ran out of time today, I didn't get that workout in and I have done nothing other than eat and blog.
I guess I might as well throw those skinny jeans away right now . . .
I enjoyed reading your posts RetiredSyd. You have wit and humor, which is one very important thing we all need when we get ready to retire.
I plan to read your post regularly. Thanks. retirementhunter
Posted by: retirementhunter | December 19, 2007 at 07:51 AM
Thanks for reading--I guess I better get writing!
Posted by: Retired Syd | December 19, 2007 at 02:09 PM