Part 33 - Making Hard Choices

     Hello and welcome to the latest edition of my blog, The Rendering.  This is Part 33 - Making Hard Choices.  I will get to an explanation for this week's title all in good time but I think I will start with April's weigh-in.  As you know, if you have been following my journey, have decided to change up a few things and only weigh-in at the beginning of each month.  I am doing this so that I am no longer obsessing over a number on a scale.  I found that this was a huge source of stress so I want to go back to a method that has been proven to work for me in the past.  So here is the first of my monthly weigh-ins...

      So there it is, April's weight.  I started this month 4 lbs. lighter than the last time I posted a weigh-in.  I am happy with the 4 lbs. because a loss is a loss and I am now that much closer to my goal.  I have now returned to a total weight loss of 66 lbs.  I know that I was down a good deal more but that is not a fact I will dwell on.  I am slowly gaining ground and I am keeping my eye on the prize.  
     I feel like I owe you all and explanation as to why I did not have a post for last week.  It is a rather simple explanation as to why.  I normally post my blog on Sundays as you all can see, but I start gathering ideas and mapping out the theme and structure throughout the week.  That, however, was not the case last week.  I had to work a lot and then I had mandatory overtime on Saturday.  That chewed up a lot of my time that I would normally spend on the blog.  When Sunday rolled around, if I am being totally honest, I knew that day was going to be a complete bust as far as writing was concerned.  This past Sunday I had church in the morning and I didn't want to miss that, then directly after church I hit the road to my God-children's house.  Yes indeed folks, last Sunday after  church belonged to...

      Now before you judge me for liking the male-based soap opera that is professional wrestling please take a look at what your own guilty pleasures are.  We all like something that others would judge us for so why judge?  I have been a fan of professional wrestling since 1985 and I have watched pretty much every single mania since so I am sorry that I didn't get a blog posted but  I am not going to give up a chance to hang out with some of my favorite people on the planet and enjoy the showcase of the immortals!!  I was not able to get home until later the next day and I had some dental work done which took up what remaining free time I had to write.
     There, you have my explanation and if that is not good enough for some what can I say?  C'est la vie!  
     So, that leaves us with this week's current post and why I have titled it "Making Hard Choices".  I have mentioned over the past few months that I was going through some troubling times with my employment right now.  A short while ago a large number of employees where I work, including myself, were notified that the company was going to have to implement a mass layoff.  Now, the details and actual dates of when we are to be laid off have not been set in stone and there is always talk of a possible extension to the layoff but, with that being said, as the tentative date approaches we can only sit back and wait to see what will happen.  This approaching change in my life is what has forced me to make some hard choices concerning my financial status.  I am sadly announcing that after much consideration, I have decided to cancel my Weight Watchers membership.  I want all that have followed me throughout this journey, especially all of those from Weight Watchers that have been a true support system for me, to know that I am not cancelling my membership in any way, shape, or form due to any dissatisfaction with the program or anybody involved with it.  I truly do have much love in my heart for all of the wonderful people that I have met through Weight Watchers.  I could not have found the success that I have managed so far without all of their support.  I think the program itself is wonderful and is a great tool for anybody battling with weight issues.  I would encourage anybody who needs to drop some of those bothersome pounds to check it out and give it a whirl.  I have every intention of returning to the program when I am more financially stable but for now I need to focus on, for lack of a better term, trimming some of the fat or tightening my belt a little bit.  You can feel free apply whichever term you like.
     So that only leaves one question to be asked but I need a little participation from you readers here.  When you read this next question please do so in your best 1940's radio guy voice...

     WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?!?!?!  Well, as far as my future is concerned along my weight loss journey, I don't have a crystal ball to gaze into and even if I did I must admit that I do not hold much confidence in the fortune telling abilities of some shiny doodad.  I believe more along these line...

      I will create my own path into the future and you can bet the farm that after all I have gone through on this journey so far, I will see this through to the end, Weight Watchers or not.  I have spoken with several members of my WW support group and they are still going to have my back so I will still have the support I just won't have the online tools for tracking and I won't be able to attend the meetings for now.
     I will leave it at that for this week.  Even though the path ahead may look a bit hazy, I will continue to walk my own path and I will continue to trust in God to lead me where He wants me to be.  I am surrounded by support and I have done this before so I can do this again.  Just wait and see!  Thank you all for all of the love and support and stick around, the best is yet to come.  May God bless you all in your own journeys no matter where they may lead you.  To be continued...