Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (But Sometimes Very Necessary)

The one and only Ivy Rosinski.

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January 1, 2008. This tired, middle-aged, working mom stepped on the scale. It registered a whopping 256 pounds, a high for me. So, like millions of other guys and gals, I declared myself on a diet and ran into my local WeightWatchers office. The day I registered, I was appalled to find out that the scale I had been using at home for 10 years was 10 pounds off—heavy off.

So WeightWatchers and I became an item. It was fun at first as I had friends in the meeting I had chosen. And, frankly, the point system worked for me. I lost 50 pounds in 18 months, probably a good pace. Then, I lost my job. Five months at home allowed me the privilege of gaining back 20 of those pounds. By the time I got hired someplace, I barely fit into the clothes I was wearing before.

Flash-forward to the last week of March 2010. Holding steady at 225. I got it in my head that I’m going to do bootcamp. I was just tired of WeightWatchers and the people there were crazy. Okay, I apologize to all you WW groupies out there, but any group of individuals that gets up every Saturday for a 7 a.m. meeting to talk about their weight…well, you see where this is going. WW and I got a divorce.

Problem is, I didn’t know where there was a bootcamp or exactly what a bootcamp entailed. I had spent my 20s and 30s doing aerobics and step. I ran a little. And, to tell you the truth, my personality doesn’t lend itself to being yelled at because I’ll yell right back.

Well, you know, we have this thing called the internet and within the internet is Google. Within two minutes, I had my answer and it was less than five minutes from my house. I emailed and got a response from a very nice person named Cynthia about coming to try a session before I paid.

That was the beginning of April. Now, at the end of September, I’ve lost 12 pounds. But the best part is I’ve lost five dress sizes. And my parts don’t jiggle as much. And the cellulite on my butt and hips has diminished. I’m Puerto Rican, and I’ll never have a cute little butt. But I’ll settle for one that is round and solid.

Where do I go from here? I’ve added running again to my fitness regime. And I tell you, at 50 and overweight, it was no easy feat (or feet—it was mostly walk then run for 30 seconds, repeat, repeat…), but I can now run (slowly) the 2-mile loop at my local park with thoughts of a 5K dancing in my head.

But you know what was the coolest part for me after all of this? Last Sunday on my run, two separate guys running in the opposite direction said “Good morning.” Loudly and nicely with a smile. SAH-WEEET! My husband just smiled when I told him.

Have a wonderful day and remember: Don’t get discouraged—get mad! —Ivy Rosinski

Ivy is a sassy, middle-aged, married mom of a daughter, who started college in the fall of 2010. Her  family also includes a very spoiled golden retriever named Jack. Ivy lives in a suburb of Dallas and is an executive assistant by day, and a photographer by night and weekends. She just got back to working out six months ago and is loving it. Ivy blogs regularly at www.livelovepictures.net.