How Stupid I Could Be

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     My maternal grandmother Azniv Frankian Merian was simply known to her grandchildren as Grannie.  As I have written before, there was no doubt in any of minds that she loved us.  That love was manifested as one would expect from a grandmother, but she also used tough love when the occasion called for it. When we did something boneheaded we might hear one of two well deserved scoldings.  She might refer to us “tutum kulookh” (pumpkin head) or make the blunt observation“how stupid you could be.”  

      Even today, when I do something particularly boneheaded, I find myself muttering, “how stupid you could be” or as she would say when she did something worthy of the same, “how stupid I could be.”  

      So, what did I do to make me say this recently and, as a result, write about it? Well... it really is a big duh, actually a huge ginormous Duh.  It is a recurring, lifelong, boneheadedness.  It is about weight, my weight, and the endless inability to control it at a healthy level.  Five years ago, I put myself on a program and got to my ideal weight class.  That was great.  In the next three years, as per past cycles, I gained it all back.  How stupid I could be.  

     I knew it was happening but lacked the resolve or whatever you want to call it to do anything about it.  I got back into the habit of starting anew to be healthy each and every Monday and each and every first of the month:  all to no avail.  How stupid I could be.

     I know what to do.  I also know quite well that “knowing never equals doing.”  I know the positive effects of weight loss and management. Duh.  Weight loss and management reduces the risk of many conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.  Being at the right weight takes my self-esteem up several notches.  It is easier and cheaper to buy clothes in normal sizes that are well stocked in normal stores.  How stupid I could be.  

     A health fact I learned five years ago was the impact being overweight has on one’s knees.  

 Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. So, a person who is 10 pounds overweight has 40 pounds of extra pressure on his knees; if a person is 100 pounds overweight, that is 400 pounds of extra pressure on his knees.  ~ Obesity-Arthritis Foundation

It is not a 1:1 relationship but rather a 4:1 relationship.  How stupid I could be.

     We were in Washington, DC over the 4^thof July.  Going to and from the Smithsonian in the 95 degree heat with 90% humidity had me realizing just how stupid I was.  I was a hot sweaty out of breath mess with a limp, sore knees, and achy feet.  Ugh… that really reminded me of just how stupid I was.

     Since then, I have shed some pounds and guess what.  The limp, sore knees, and achy feet are much less.  Where, I had been popping Advil or Tylenol a few to several days a week, I have taken non the past two weeks.  I am even sleeping better.  Wow… just reminds me of how stupid I could be.

     So… let’s see “How smart I could be” moving forward.