During the weight loss process, it's easy to notice the difference in my body when it comes to my pants because they move around when I walk if they're too big. I can start to pull them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them and they bag out in certain areas.
When it comes to my shirts, though, I never feel like I'm making progress in the belly because my shirts just seem to keep fitting. That is until this past week. I'm starting to pull out the shirts I haven't worn since the fall and I'm seeing and feeling the differences.
The first instance was with a shirt I bought a few years ago for $1 when Steve & Barry's were going out of business. I was a men's medium that said "It's not my fault I'm Awesome!" on it. I LOVE the shirt for the wacky motto and bought it as a "goal" shirt. Even though I couldn't wear it at the time I bought it (it was super tight and looked disgusting!), I held onto it thinking that maybe someday I'd wear it. That someday happened May 14th. I pulled it out of the drawer it's been hiding in and tried it on. It fit...with a long-sleeved tshirt under it! I got SO many compliments on the shirt because of it's saying. Plus, everyone can see it when you're singing karaoke!
The next occurrence was on Thursday, May 19th. I pulled out another shirt that I hadn't worn because it was too tight when I ordered it out of a catalog, but thought it would work. This one was TOO big to not wear something under it. So, out came the long-sleeved tshirt again. After wearing it all day, though, it became clear that I won't be wearing it again because it even looks too big.
Lastly was today. I'm wearing one of my favorite polo shirts and that was a big snug when I ordered it from a catalog. After I lost some weight last year, I was able to wear it without it being too tight. It was still snug, but looked fine. I put it on today after going about eight months without wearing it and it's loose! Thankfully it isn't too loose, but it no longer grazes my belly when I'm standing. I can tell from this shirt that I've lost inches in my chest, even.
Even though I've been going through my clothes and giving stuff away as I've gotten too small to wear it, it's becoming obvious I need to go through my things a little more thoroughly and get rid of more items! It's time to go shopping!
I think my mind is finally fully catching up with my body in terms of seeing myself as I truly look. I've never hated myself or how I looked, but the changes are finally becoming obvious to me as much as they are to others around me. Yipee!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Minnesota Running Events
Below is the list of websites I use to find running events in Minnesota. I've also purchases the MDRA (Minnesota Distance Running Association) book that I purchased at Runner's Gate in Lakeville. Here's their website: www.runmdra.org/
www.getsetmn.com/running-calendar
www.active.com/directory/Running/5K/MN/
www.northlandrunner.com/run?page=Races
www.raceberryjam.com
www.andersonraces.com/events
www.runningintheusa.com/Race/List.aspx?State=MN
Can’t decide what to wear for an outdoor run? Use this site for guidance!
www.runnersworld.com/cda/whattowear
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal – Book Review
By sheer luck, I happened across the book The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel, on a table at Barnes & Noble. I’ve been focusing on reading fitness, running and nonfiction books lately, so when I read the back of this book and saw the premise, I was excited.
The book begins with author Lily Koppel digging through a dumpster full of vintage steamer trunks located outside her apartment building. Along with vintage designer clothing, she is also led to a small red leather diary.
Upon reading the book, Lily discovers that Florence Wolfson, owner of the diary, had an extraordinary life full of the arts and self-discovery. Florence is interesting and mature beyond her years.
In the years immediately following the reemergence of the diary, Lily Koppel finds and meets Florence Wolfson. They form a friendship and learn that they are kindred spirits.
The Red Leather Diary was a fantastic book. The author does a beautiful job in recreating scenes of old New York. It is easy to picture the city the way it was for young Florence. I felt as though I were experiencing Florence’s life right along side of her. Well-written and beautiful, I recommend The Red Leather Diary to readers hoping simply to experience a bygone era or feel the hope of a young woman in an exciting city. Readers with a respect for history will also appreciate this book.
Note that this book does discuss homosexuality, so some may find this book offensive or controversial.
For more information about The Red Leather Diary, please go to http://www.redleatherdiary.com
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Spring Fever
On the morning of my fourth running even for 2011, it became obvious that I worry a little too much about my races. I woke up early, got dressed and left the house, figuring I would be about 30 minutes early to the race sight in order to get my registration packet. It didn’t take long to figure out I would actually be an hour early and would have time to pick up breakfast from Panera. The French toast breakfast sandwich is becoming a pre-race tradition for me, having eaten on before the Get Lucky 7k as well.
Registration went much more quickly than anticipated, so I had a lot of time to update my Facebook status and get nervous. I never know what to expect, especially since the proceeds from the Spring Fever 5k were going to the high school track team. I figured it would be a fast field.
Standing in line for the race was interesting. It quickly became apparent which participants were runners and which weren’t, based on the conversation around me and the wide variation in running apparel. You’re really going to run dressed in a parka? I understand that it is Minnesota in spring; however, it was 40 degrees with the forecast calling for upper 50s in the afternoon. Oh, and kudos to the guy dressed in the banana costume!
At the sound of the gun, the crowd took off fast and furious. Even parka lady. And the lady whose dog would have rather been anywhere but there. Banana man was just a yellow blur on the horizon.
Interestingly enough, many of those who took off in a hurry from the start were already dwindling in speed by the second block. My favorite participants of the day had to be the woman and teenage daughter who started very fast, but were among those who were walking by block three. When the rounded the corner near what I learned was their house, they sped up again to pass a crowd of their friends and neighbors cheering them on….once we rounded a corner out of sight of their friends, they were right back at a walk.
Then, of course, were the runners that you pass. Then they surge past you, only to slow down and you pass them again. Repeat. Does anyone else find this annoying as I do? The only reason this is frustrating is because I don’t change my speed!
Soon, I caught up with Banana Man, who looked warm and deflated. How many dirty comments would come to your mind?
On the last leg of the race, which finished on the high school track (did you know they’re bouncy?), I could have passed the two women ahead of me but I didn’t feel like I could do that to them. Why? One was very overweight and the other seemed to have a disability affecting her leg, which caused her to have a very abnormal gait. I have to give them lots of respect for not only running the entire race, but for finishing with a good time (by my book!). Way to go, ladies!
My finishing time was 34:55, which is a new record for me and was quite impressive considering this was my first 5k that had hills. The trail took us through a hilly, winding path through Bunker Hills park. It was beautiful! So far, it has been the prettiest race I’ve run.
My finishing time didn’t win me any awards, but try being the old lady in your division! The winners in my division were all 18-22 years old. Yikes! Next year, I’ll be the youngest in a new division and I’m looking forward to it.
It was a fun race and one I’d be willing to do again in the future. I’m definitely looking forward to my next flat 5k course!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Disappointed with Self Magazine
I am a huge fan of fitness magazines and subscribe to several. Even though the topics are often recycled and the same exercises are used over and over, every once in a while there will be a good story.
This month, Self Magazine has disappointed me. They feature an article that is several pages long giving all of the favorable details about cosmetic procedures. "Your Guide to Cutting-Edge Skin Treatments" gives the cost, down time and benefits of Botox, fillers, cortisone shots and peels, among other treatments.
While I realize that many people may be interested in reading about these procedures, I find it disappointing that a magazine that claims to be all about making women look and feel better through exercise and healthier eating would feature an article that says "If you begin using Botox or other freezers as soon as you notice subtle expression lines and continue as you age, you can absolutely prevent certain wrinkles from forming," says Dennis Gross, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City.
"Even in your 30s, you usually end up with 100 percent smoothing," says Patricia Wexler, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Oh, lucky me, even when I'm as old as my 30s, I can get results. Um, do they prefer people to get this done in their teens or early 20s? Should we all be doing this as prevention? It sure sounds that way. By the way, did you see you must continue these procedures as maintenance once you start them?
I'm 29 years old and I have very fine smile lines around my eyes. Am I old? I don't think so. But I do think that these subtle expression lines are what creates and enhances facial expression. I pride myself on being able to tell whether a smile is fake or genuine based on whether it travels to the eyes. I've noticed that when some celebrities smile, it never looks genuine because their face shows little expression from Botox, fillers and other procedures.
Sure, we all want to look good as we age, but do we want to be seen as fake because no one can ever read our emotions? I think it changes the way we "read" each other and communicate. If nonverbal language accounts for 70-90% of our communication, aren't we harming our relationships with others by taking some of the nonverbal communication out?
I can see both sides of the coin on this issue, but I guess the most disturbing part of the article was that it was surrounded by advertisements. I'm guessing the staff at the magazine wasn't just doing the readers a favor by writing about the procedures to satisfy curious minds. Given the overly favorable nature of the article and the extensive advertisements, I'm sure there was a LOT of money involved.
It makes me sad that we are constantly bombarded with things to make us feel worse about ourselves, followed by the products and procedures that promise to fix it all fast and easy...for a price. I know too many girls and women with low self-esteem and confidence that they are affected by these things that try to make them feel worse.
I encourage you to give at least one random compliment to a woman today. It can be a friend, family member or complete stranger but just maybe we can counteract the negativity from the media just a little bit, without Botox. It's sure worth a try!
If you want to read the full article, here's the link:
http://www.self.com/beauty/2011/04/skin-treatments-guide?currentPage=1
This month, Self Magazine has disappointed me. They feature an article that is several pages long giving all of the favorable details about cosmetic procedures. "Your Guide to Cutting-Edge Skin Treatments" gives the cost, down time and benefits of Botox, fillers, cortisone shots and peels, among other treatments.
While I realize that many people may be interested in reading about these procedures, I find it disappointing that a magazine that claims to be all about making women look and feel better through exercise and healthier eating would feature an article that says "If you begin using Botox or other freezers as soon as you notice subtle expression lines and continue as you age, you can absolutely prevent certain wrinkles from forming," says Dennis Gross, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City.
"Even in your 30s, you usually end up with 100 percent smoothing," says Patricia Wexler, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Oh, lucky me, even when I'm as old as my 30s, I can get results. Um, do they prefer people to get this done in their teens or early 20s? Should we all be doing this as prevention? It sure sounds that way. By the way, did you see you must continue these procedures as maintenance once you start them?
I'm 29 years old and I have very fine smile lines around my eyes. Am I old? I don't think so. But I do think that these subtle expression lines are what creates and enhances facial expression. I pride myself on being able to tell whether a smile is fake or genuine based on whether it travels to the eyes. I've noticed that when some celebrities smile, it never looks genuine because their face shows little expression from Botox, fillers and other procedures.
Sure, we all want to look good as we age, but do we want to be seen as fake because no one can ever read our emotions? I think it changes the way we "read" each other and communicate. If nonverbal language accounts for 70-90% of our communication, aren't we harming our relationships with others by taking some of the nonverbal communication out?
I can see both sides of the coin on this issue, but I guess the most disturbing part of the article was that it was surrounded by advertisements. I'm guessing the staff at the magazine wasn't just doing the readers a favor by writing about the procedures to satisfy curious minds. Given the overly favorable nature of the article and the extensive advertisements, I'm sure there was a LOT of money involved.
It makes me sad that we are constantly bombarded with things to make us feel worse about ourselves, followed by the products and procedures that promise to fix it all fast and easy...for a price. I know too many girls and women with low self-esteem and confidence that they are affected by these things that try to make them feel worse.
I encourage you to give at least one random compliment to a woman today. It can be a friend, family member or complete stranger but just maybe we can counteract the negativity from the media just a little bit, without Botox. It's sure worth a try!
If you want to read the full article, here's the link:
http://www.self.com/beauty/2011/04/skin-treatments-guide?currentPage=1
Monday, March 21, 2011
Get Lucky!
This weekend, I completed my first 7k, which is officially the longest distance I've ever run. It was the Get Lucky 7k in Minneapolis and it was an absolute blast!
The day started out with preparations of the green variety. I pulled my hair into a pony tail using a green hair binder with a shamrock on it and sprayed it bright green. Then, I dressed, wearing my "I'm not Irish, but...Kiss me I'm cute" shirt. Then came the green headband with green tinsel and pigtails attached and the green and gold beaded necklace. I was ready to be feisty and fast!
I'm so lucky in that I met up with a friend and her sister for the festivities. We took pictures before the race and decided we would run together. One of us slow (me!), one of us running her first race and one of us a half-marathoner.
Let me tell you, they really pushed me into running faster than I ever would have on my own and therefore helped me hit my fastest miles yet. We finished the race in 48:56, giving us an average of 11:15 miles. Woo hoo!
This race was the first time I had actually run with someone and it sure made the time fly by faster than even the best play list on my iPod would have. We chatted and laughed, which is something I never thought would be possible while running. There were a few moments where my body wanted to slow down or walk, but I was determined to keep going and keep up with my running partners.
The Get Lucky may have to be an annual tradition because I sure love any excuse I can find to dress up and act goofy. I loved it!
I'm not 1/4 done with my New Year's resolution of completing one running event per month for the year. My next event is a 5k on April 9th and the goal will be to shave time off of the last 5k. I'm still in awe that I think running is fun...I used to think of it as pure, unnecessary torture.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Guilt, Deprivation and Fear
These are the three words I heard repeated over and over in my Weight Watchers meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting topic was deprivation and what to do when you're feeling deprived. Many of the women said they try to distract themselves or eat a fruit or veggie when they're feeling deprived of their favorite foods or are having cravings.
Next, they talked about the guilt the feel after eating something they "shouldn't" or "can't".
Last, the fear came. Fear they would fall of the diet, fear they would gain back some weight, and fear of what others would say about their food choices. Fear that someone might say, "I thought you were on a diet. Should you be eating that?"
Then, the cyle begins again.
If you ask me, guilt, deprivation and fear don't belong in a healthy lifestyle change. If the Biggest Loser and other weight loss shows have taught me anything, it's that you have to change your mental health along the way in order to change your physical health. Beating yourself up over and over again doesn't do any good.
The way I see it, if you're feeling deprived or having a really strong craving, it's best to eat what you really want...in moderation. I've found that the craving goes away, but even better, once I start eating it I realize it usually isn't as good as I remembered.
If we stop beating ourselves up over being human, the guilt will subside. Do something about a choice you aren't fond of, such as going for a walk. Not to "erase the damage" but to do something to make your mind and body feel better. Make no apologies, just acknowledge that it was something you needed and move on without further thought.
Truly, what is there to fear? We all fluctuate a few pounds here and there and it's natural. Every day is it's own adventure and by not fully living life and enjoying the things around us be cause of fear, we aren't experiencing things the way we should. Those snide comments from others? Who cares?! Dismiss their comments because deep down they are either saying it to make themselves feel better by belitting you OR because they think these comments are helpful. Sometimes, it's because they want your advice on getting healthy and losing weight but they're scared to ask for it. See the vicious cyle popping up again?
Sure, by getting rid of the guilt, deprivation and fear, I haven't lost weight as quickly as I'd like to. After all, we'd all like that magic pill that takes care of it for us. But, I can say I've experienced what my day has to offer and enjoyed it. I'm happier and FEEL lighter because of the freedom of not being a slave to these negative feelings.
If I want ice cream, I eat it. Just less than what I would have eaten before my lifestyle change. Do I fear that I'll gain weight again? Nope, but I acknowledge there might be a temporary fluctuation. Am I having fun? Absolutely! Am I healthy? Yes!
These things go hand-in-hand with my previous post about playing like a kid. Do what feels right for you and your body. As long as you're healthy (by this I mean good numbers where the doctors are concerned: blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, etc.), then you're doing something right!
The meeting topic was deprivation and what to do when you're feeling deprived. Many of the women said they try to distract themselves or eat a fruit or veggie when they're feeling deprived of their favorite foods or are having cravings.
Next, they talked about the guilt the feel after eating something they "shouldn't" or "can't".
Last, the fear came. Fear they would fall of the diet, fear they would gain back some weight, and fear of what others would say about their food choices. Fear that someone might say, "I thought you were on a diet. Should you be eating that?"
Then, the cyle begins again.
If you ask me, guilt, deprivation and fear don't belong in a healthy lifestyle change. If the Biggest Loser and other weight loss shows have taught me anything, it's that you have to change your mental health along the way in order to change your physical health. Beating yourself up over and over again doesn't do any good.
The way I see it, if you're feeling deprived or having a really strong craving, it's best to eat what you really want...in moderation. I've found that the craving goes away, but even better, once I start eating it I realize it usually isn't as good as I remembered.
If we stop beating ourselves up over being human, the guilt will subside. Do something about a choice you aren't fond of, such as going for a walk. Not to "erase the damage" but to do something to make your mind and body feel better. Make no apologies, just acknowledge that it was something you needed and move on without further thought.
Truly, what is there to fear? We all fluctuate a few pounds here and there and it's natural. Every day is it's own adventure and by not fully living life and enjoying the things around us be cause of fear, we aren't experiencing things the way we should. Those snide comments from others? Who cares?! Dismiss their comments because deep down they are either saying it to make themselves feel better by belitting you OR because they think these comments are helpful. Sometimes, it's because they want your advice on getting healthy and losing weight but they're scared to ask for it. See the vicious cyle popping up again?
Sure, by getting rid of the guilt, deprivation and fear, I haven't lost weight as quickly as I'd like to. After all, we'd all like that magic pill that takes care of it for us. But, I can say I've experienced what my day has to offer and enjoyed it. I'm happier and FEEL lighter because of the freedom of not being a slave to these negative feelings.
If I want ice cream, I eat it. Just less than what I would have eaten before my lifestyle change. Do I fear that I'll gain weight again? Nope, but I acknowledge there might be a temporary fluctuation. Am I having fun? Absolutely! Am I healthy? Yes!
These things go hand-in-hand with my previous post about playing like a kid. Do what feels right for you and your body. As long as you're healthy (by this I mean good numbers where the doctors are concerned: blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, etc.), then you're doing something right!
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