Summer has finally arrived 'round these parts, so I dug out some summer clothes stored from last year. It's not pretty, folks. I have to face an undeniable reality that my loose and stretchy winter sweaters let me ignore: I have gained weight.
I have been about the same weight my whole adult life. I might edge up a little over winter and then slim down a smidge in summer, but I until recently I could still fit some clothes from high school. Lately, however, I've been feeling like my good jeans are uncomfortable and my loose jeans have become good jeans. Ugh.
Last January, I had this idea that I would do video Pilates workouts every day. I wanted to observe if it impacted my physique, so like a good scientist I took my measurements as a baseline (the Pilates didn't produce measurable changes in four months' time). The other day I found the paper where I recorded those measurements, so I busted out the measuring tape to do a comparison. Whoa. I increased more than 2 inches everywhere but my bust (why isn't it ever in the bust first?).
I don't own a scale, so I have no idea how much I've gained. But the extra needs to go. I have had enough warning from observing the weight gain and subsequent dieting of a mom and four sisters to know what can happen if I blow it off. Not healthy.
I feel conflicted writing this post on this blog. It feels very anti-feminist to be fretting about a little weight gain. I don't think women need to be super slim to be successful or worthwhile. Also, I kinda feel like an ass for complaining about a few pounds after years of stable weight when so many people I know, probably including some readers, have fought their weight forever. So why do I care about a few extra pounds? Partly, I don't want to have to buy new clothes in a bigger size. Partly, I feel uncomfortable in a body that somehow feels less limber and lithe. Partly, I don't want my weight to get out of control so I develop knee problems like my mom. Partly, I feel like if my body was the same weight for so long, it was probably a healthy weight. And partly, I'm a little vain.
So, I'm going to start getting more exercise each day. The weather is good now so I can walk or jog outside. And I'll be more observant of WW points. EGM has been doing Weight Watchers for almost a year now but doesn't really count points. I think we should get back into that habit. I think what I'm noticing is the decreasing metabolism with age, because I don't feel like there has been a big change in my habits. Although clever readers may note that it is odd that this is coincident with adding chicken back into my diet in January.
Showing posts with label pants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pants. Show all posts
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Mmmm, w(h)ine.
Ecogeoman took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday. We had a coupon (coo-pon, q-pon?) for one of our favorite restuarants, which included a bottle of wine. That wine will explain any misspellings or irrational thoughts in this post (ha-ha, EGF wrote a drunk post!). Here's what's on my mind:
EGM and I went on a big long walk before dinner and I dominated our conversation with my anxiety over paper revisions. I'm feeling a little depressed about work, mainly because rethinking everything I wrote seems hard. Here's an insight into me: I tell horrible, long boring stories with anticlimactic endings. Every group of friends I have ever made has come to the same conclusion. So while EGM tells me every details of his work, I end up not talking about work stuff so much because I'm worried about being boring. But tonight I let loose and it helped me work out some ideas. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for rewriting. Also, I hate admitting that the revisions feel hard because I feel annoyed when other people whine (too much) about this sort of thing.
Why, oh why, do I feel like I'm getting bigger yet I continue to wear the same size pants? I've gained a few pounds, probably less than 10, since college. Yet, I periodically feel like my jeans get too tight and I phase them out. I buy new pairs, but they are the same size in the same brands! WTF? Do they shrink over time with multiple washings? Do the sizes vary pair-to-pair? Does the fashionable cut change over time such that what seems tight is actually just a little out of style? It's possible that the sizes are increasing (i.e, today's 6 is tomorrow's 8), but it seems unlikely over the 2-3 year period that I'm making observations. On the other hand, I don't think I used to have this muffin top. :(
It feels like spring is never going to arrive. There is still snow on the ground and more is forecast for Thursday. Jenny F., maybe you should reconsider the Midwest, because it really sucks this year, even though I was one of those people who said it was just great and winter is no big deal and you get to wear fun hats.
We learned this weekend that S4 is pregnant with her third kid. yay! But it means that my parent's house is going to be even more jam packed with people at holidays. I love our fun and chaotic gatherings, but boy are there a lot of people.
EGM and I went on a big long walk before dinner and I dominated our conversation with my anxiety over paper revisions. I'm feeling a little depressed about work, mainly because rethinking everything I wrote seems hard. Here's an insight into me: I tell horrible, long boring stories with anticlimactic endings. Every group of friends I have ever made has come to the same conclusion. So while EGM tells me every details of his work, I end up not talking about work stuff so much because I'm worried about being boring. But tonight I let loose and it helped me work out some ideas. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for rewriting. Also, I hate admitting that the revisions feel hard because I feel annoyed when other people whine (too much) about this sort of thing.
Why, oh why, do I feel like I'm getting bigger yet I continue to wear the same size pants? I've gained a few pounds, probably less than 10, since college. Yet, I periodically feel like my jeans get too tight and I phase them out. I buy new pairs, but they are the same size in the same brands! WTF? Do they shrink over time with multiple washings? Do the sizes vary pair-to-pair? Does the fashionable cut change over time such that what seems tight is actually just a little out of style? It's possible that the sizes are increasing (i.e, today's 6 is tomorrow's 8), but it seems unlikely over the 2-3 year period that I'm making observations. On the other hand, I don't think I used to have this muffin top. :(
It feels like spring is never going to arrive. There is still snow on the ground and more is forecast for Thursday. Jenny F., maybe you should reconsider the Midwest, because it really sucks this year, even though I was one of those people who said it was just great and winter is no big deal and you get to wear fun hats.
We learned this weekend that S4 is pregnant with her third kid. yay! But it means that my parent's house is going to be even more jam packed with people at holidays. I love our fun and chaotic gatherings, but boy are there a lot of people.
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