Baby Steps Still Count (Even When Your Jeans Disagree)

I’m going to share something a little vulnerable today. Not polished. Definitely not inspirational-poster perfect. Just honest.

I need to lose about 20 pounds for my overall health. There. I said it out loud.

And if you’re anything like me, you already know how complicated that sentence can feel. Because this isn’t about vanity; it’s about energy, comfort, longevity, and feeling strong in my own body. 

And yes, being able to button my jeans without performing what I now call the denim negotiation dance. Let’s say recently my jeans started feeling less like clothing and more like they had been painted on me. So something had to change.

The Wake-Up Call I Couldn’t Ignore

Last year I had a big wake-up call.

Some slight cardiac issues showed up on my radar, and suddenly this wasn’t theoretical anymore. It wasn’t something I could gently promise myself I’d “get to eventually.”

It became very clear that losing weight and lowering my cholesterol could quite literally add years to my life.

And since I’m not getting any younger, the choice became obvious. 

I want healthy years.

Not years spent sitting in doctors’ waiting rooms, managing preventable problems.

And certainly not years spent in a hospital bed if I can help it.

Adding strong, vibrant years to my life became my first choice—100%.

Clarity has a funny way of arriving. Quietly. With a nudge. Or like a very polite but unmistakable tap on the shoulder saying: It’s time.

The Truth About the Scale Creeping Up

My scale didn’t jump overnight. It crept up:

Quietly. 

Politely. 

Persistently.

I’ve done what many of us do when that happens. I tried fasting longer. I tried liquid resets. I tried those “lose 6 pounds in a week” approaches that do work … temporarily.

And then my weight would boomerang! Right back. Not because I failed. Because those approaches weren’t sustainable for my life.

Meanwhile, I’ve been faithfully doing my workouts every morning. Strength training. Balance work. Cardio. Moving my body in ways that genuinely make me feel better.

My workouts are absolutely helping my strength, balance, and happy endorphins.

But the scale? It wasn’t budging. That was my clue.

The Realization I Didn’t Expect

It finally became crystal clear to me: I needed to start eating breakfast.

Now this is funny because I have never been much of a breakfast person. Don’t get me wrong, I adore a late Sunday morning plate of bacon and Belgian waffles. And now that Twinkletown (homemade ice cream) is open again for the season? Well. Let’s say I’m spiritually committed. 

But everyday breakfast? Not really my thing.

Or so I thought.

What I hadn’t noticed at first was what working from home had quietly introduced into my routine:

Grazing.

Healthy grazing.

But grazing all day nonetheless.

A handful of this. A nibble of that. Something small between tasks, while answering email, before a Zoom…

You know how that story goes.

So I finally did something brave. I counted the calories.

The Moment I Was Floored

When I added up how many calories I was actually consuming during the day, I was stunned.

Not because I was eating junk. Because I was eating “healthy foods.” Just too many of them.

My morning workouts, wonderful as they are, weren’t enough to offset what I was unconsciously nibbling throughout the day.

That realization wasn’t discouraging. It was empowering. Because suddenly the path forward became clearer.

Enter the Breakfast Plate

I started doing something new. Each morning I now begin my day with a plate of simple goodness: berries, banana, plum, cucumber slices, and a bit of cottage cheese afterward for protein.

Nothing fancy. Not extreme. Just nourishment.

Sometimes I sprinkle chia seeds on top, or add almonds or walnuts. Sometimes a spoonful of Greek yogurt joins the party.

And something surprising happened. I stopped grazing as much. My energy steadied, and my body felt calmer.

It turns out breakfast wasn’t something I needed to avoid. It was something I needed to welcome back.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this because I know I’m not the only one walking this road.

It can feel vulnerable to say:

“I’m working on my health.”

Especially when from the outside it might look like everything is already fine. But baby steps are still steps.

Choosing my baby steps: 

• breakfast
• awareness instead of autopilot snacking
• kindness toward my body instead of frustration with it

And maybe the bravest step of all is choosing consistency over quick fixes.

This Isn’t About Perfection

I’m not obsessing about the scale right now. In fact, I’m mostly staying off it.

Instead, I’m watching for different signs.

More energy, strength, and better focus.

And eventually? Jeans that button without negotiation. 😄 Because the truth is, I’m not trying to become someone new.

I’m trying to support the person I already am.

If you’re making small changes for your health right now too even quiet ones no one else sees 

I hope you know this:

They count.

They matter.

And changes add up faster than you think.

Here’s to stronger mornings, steadier choices, and adding healthy years to the life we’re already blessed to be living. 

© 2026 Musing by Judy Gallauresi