Walking and Contemplation

I haven't been doing a great job of blogging (obviously), but I have been trying to get a little activity in as my back has been healing.  Gettting in a few squats here and there, burning calories cleaning up the house after my time stuck in bed and taking short walks have helped me to feel less like a bump on a log.

During the clean sweep of the house, I managed to find a very old roll of film that has been floating around the house for years, and after many reminders from my mom I was able to finally remember to drop it off to get it developed.  After another week, I finally remembered to pick UP said pictures from Walgreens and Mr. Kawaii and I sat down to go through them last night.

The photos ended up being from waaay back during the first Christmas Mr. Kawaii and I spent together (4 years ago).  It was fun to look back to the beginning of our relationship together, but inevitably the thing that I paid the most attention to was how thin I was 4 years ago.  I've gained a solid 50 pounds from that Christmas, and at first I got a little down on myself for my "failure" but on my walk this morning I re-thought my stance.

Back when those photos were taken, Mr. Kawaii and I had only been together a few months.  Just a year before, I had gone through a terrible divorce.  I spent months walking between 3 and 6 miles a day in addition to going to the gym and doing an hour of yoga every morning... I worked out constantly because I was miserable and quite honestly couldn't afford to do anything else.  I was in great shape, but I was unhappy.  I had no friends, no money, was at risk of losing my apartment and was very unsure of whether or not I'd get another paycheck.  Life sucked, and although I fit into some really cute size 8 jeans back then, there is no way I'd want to go back.

I reminded myself again that I haven't gained any more weight in 12 months - which is a huge improvement to where I was, gaining 15 to 20 pounds a year.  All I have to do is keep focusing on finding time in my schedule to get exercise in and continue eating appropriate portions and I'll be able to watch that waistline start to shrink.  I can do it!

Chasing the 4:35 Train

Adding some oompf to an otherwise computer-keying day, I decided to take a walk through the neighborhood to the local grocery store this afternoon.  On my way back as I crossed over the train tracks I noticed the afternoon train coming down the line.  I decided to try to beat the train through the neighborhood (the tracks run parallel to the road that I walk to get to my house) and held my giant bundle of toilet paper and brownie mix tight against my chest as I hoofed it across the concrete.

The train probably moves at 4 or 5 miles an hour, which is still slightly faster than I can walk and so I really had to push myself which is surprisingly difficult with 12 rolls of toilet paper filling both arms and a sack of boxed goodness pounding against your outer thigh.  The people in the neighborhood all looked at me in confusion as I peeked between the houses to see how I was progressing and trying to stay in front of the nose of the train.

Sadly the train beat me to the end of the street, but only by a nose.  I was even with the conductor's window at the end of the "race".  I take a proud second place though, realizing that the conductor has thousands of tons of steel, fuel and momentum keeping him moving and all I've got are a pair of New Balance shoes and the promise of frosted brownies in my future.

Tightening My Belt

Before I went walking with K last night, I realized something pretty cool.  A few months ago, I bought this amazing zebra-stripe belt that I absolutely loved at the store.  I was between belt sizes when I bought it, barely able to force my way into the first notch on the belt.  Of course I bought it anyway.

Yesterday, after a couple of months of not wearing it because let's be honest; nobody likes to wear clothes that don't fit, I put it on and was able to pull it down to the fourth notch.  That's progress!  I'm beginning to see the results of working out and eating right more frequently, and there's nothing better than that for the self-esteem.

There have been several moments in this workout journey when I've been ready to give up, and I'm glad I've stuck with it anyway.  It isn't always easy, but it's always good for me.

Tiptoe Through the Tuilps

What a beautiful day for a Farmer's Market!  This afternoon K, M and I all set out to discover the local Sunday Market and spent some time roving in the summer air gawking at strange pets (some kind of rabbit/kangaroo/cat thing on a leash really caught us off guard), beautiful bouquets of flowers and vegetables the size of rabbit/kangaroo/cat things.  Unfortunately, a faulty re-set on the pedometer erased our walking progress, but we still had a great time enjoying being outside on such a lovely summer day.

This evening, once dinner had settled and the heat moved started being pushed out by a nice breeze, we all reconvened at the track for 2.5 miles of (mostly) uninterrupted walking.  This was a nice addition to the leisurely stroll around the Farmers Market, and was an encouraging test of our endurance.  It's nice to be able to move around more than once in a day!

While making it around our 6th, 7th or 8th lap, K and I discussed our weight/size goals and made a pact to have a celebration dinner at the end of summer in honor of meeting them since we are both going to hold one another accountable for continuing our progress on and off the track  I must admit that it is great to have people to plot and scheme against fat with!!  Finding other people who are working towards their own smaller bottoms has been essential for me to sticking with it this time.

I'm halfway through my 5th week of consistent exercise (and probably 2 years into my quest for healthy eating) and am proud to say that this is the longest I've stuck with any workout routine in years.  Today I actually was able to wear an outfit that I took with me on my honeymoon, which hasn't fit since; and although it was still a little tight in places I was able to get it on and off without using any special contortionist moves or magical incantations.  I was even able to wear it to church and not get kicked out for indecency or unladylike exposure, and was comfortable the whole time with no pinching or bunching up of the skirt or top.  Very exciting, I tell you.

And now, the sun is setting on this mostly-perfect day and I am off to crawl into my most comfortable pajamas and eat a low-calorie all fruit Popsicle.  How was your day?