Every ☀️Single☀️Summer😭

Every year, summer comes for me.

Not like a surprise, either. It’s on my calendar. It’s been on my calendar for 50+ years. My bones know it’s coming. The birds know it’s coming. The entire meteorological community knows it’s coming.

And yet — EVERY SINGLE YEAR — I walk outside into that first real blast of summer heat and think, “Oh wow, it’s warm! People are wearing bathing suits! Sleeveless shirts are a thing that exists!” Shocked. Genuinely shocked. Like I have never once experienced the month of June.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But here we are. Again.

Here’s where I stand: I’ve lost 60 pounds. SIXTY. Which sounds amazing and IS amazing, and I’m proud of every single one of those pounds. But I have 50 more to go and I’m not going to sugarcoat it — what lies ahead is hard. It’s slow. It demands sacrifice from me in ways that don’t come naturally. Just ask God.

And before anyone comes at me sideways about GLP-1 medication — let me be clear. It is not a magic wand. It is not a cheat code. It has been, quite literally, life-changing and life-saving for me. But it still requires me to show up every single day and make hard choices. Pushing the bread basket away. Choosing grilled over fried. Eating a burger with only half a bun instead of the whole thing (RIP, top bun. You were beautiful). The medication quiets the noise, yes. But I still have to do the work.

What I’m really working on isn’t just the food. It’s the way I think about my body. The way I talk to myself about it. The way I make peace with who I am right now while still reaching for something more.

This space — my body, my weight, our long and complicated relationship — has been the hardest one of my life. But I’ve learned something important: when I fight hard enough, I can make change happen. Real, lasting change. I’ve proven it to myself.

And I’m going to prove it again. Here. In this space. With you all. Ladies, Friends, Besties: We are about to shoot for another 50 pounds. Do you wanna come along for the ride? If so, say “I”. Things like this are way more fun when we do them together, so join me. Or at the very least: watch me. Because I’m ready to start the long road to a better me.

Let’s go. ❤️

Mel