On Muffin Tops and Camel Toes...
I need to start saving money. I think the two biggest areas to save money are on food and clothing, however, to save on money most effectively, it helps to have discretionary time and this is something I have very little of now with two kids and two part-time jobs. So, I can't be scratch baking or making my own clothes. I have to be reasonable here.
I'm aggravated that I've gained weight over the winter, and just when I want to rev up my spring running, I'm reigned in by my plantar fasciitis. Thank God I can run a little to keep me sane, but I can't unleash the beast and go tackling 5k's just yet. So, be it. I just cleaned out my closet. I've been putting off the dreaded trying on of last year's capris--those cute little size sixes were a little tight last year. I wondered if this year I could pull them past my knees. I took a deep breath, bravely removed them from the hanger and commenced to discover the truth. Had my weight gain moved down to my legs and butt? I knew the running tops were tight but I was hoping my ass has resisted. I sucked in my gut, buttoned my capris and wiggled my body into place. I had a camel toe and a blob of muffin-topped flesh spilled over the top. Sigh... There is no hope for non-exercising America if I can run 20 plus miles a week all winter and still I have gained 6-8 pounds. I'm going to have to buy a size 8or look ridiculous. I wanted to save money by sticking with last year's wardrobe, but now I'm forced to make a few supplemental purchases. Camel toes, besides unflattering, are uncomfortable and the perfect medium to acquire yeast infections. Very bad stuff. I was horrified when my teenaged niece first used this expression, but you have to admit--it's a very apt visual representation of what too tight pants reap on the female anatomy.
I've never been one for crash dieting; my mood would turn so foul that no one could stand me. I can't do that to my family, so I've gone to eating sensibly while I try to lose the weight slowly. I try not to get bent out of shape because I still look pretty darned good. I just need to go the local K-Mart and look around at muffin tops that have baked over the pan all together, spilled to the bottom of the oven, for a tough to clean up mess. And the camel toes? A whole herd of camel toes graze at the local K-Mart oasis. I wish they could know fitness, but I think many know how hard it will be to attain, so they just don't start. Too bad most underestimate the power of small baby steps of progress if they make the decision to start an exercise regime. Do nothing and in a years time you'll be in exactly the same place you are now--only fatter--with bigger muffin tops and camel toes. I know so many people in the running club that have totally transformed their bodies; nothing is impossible with the right attitude.
I'm going to use that strategy, as well, to save on money and lose my little muffin top. First, I'm giving up my post Sean workout sushi because with what I've spent on that place, I could have paid for another ten weeks of workouts. At least, when I do give in to the sushi temptation it's high quality post workout protein and not junk I'm putting into my body, but it's killing the pocket-book. I've also accepted another installment of Kelly's closet; she's my tall same sized stay-at-home mom friend that likes to shop and has impeccable tastes. I thought I'd hit the mother lode when she brought over a big bag of clothes otherwise destined for the Goodwill. After going through the clothes, I found out why she was giving away a few of the pieces--like the black and white cute print that was cut precisely to accentuate muffin tops--that one went back in the bag which I will personally escort to the Goodwill. Still, many of the things were perfect and I love them, so this helps. And I didn't have to go shopping!! Another friend likes to shop consignment shops and we've tentatively scheduled a date, but I never have a few hours of free time when she does too. Our kids are getting a little older, but I think as they get older we get a little more isolated since life gets crazier.
The nice thing about having very little discretionary time, is that I'm not wandering the malls because it's very easy to justify need for crap when it's just sitting there looking irresistible. Now, my shopping forays are hyper-focused missions. Today I will go out and buy some much needed shirts for my son who's going through a rapid growth spurt fueled by daily peanut butter banana smoothies and a couple pairs of capri's that don't give me a camel toe. It's a start.
I need to start saving money. I think the two biggest areas to save money are on food and clothing, however, to save on money most effectively, it helps to have discretionary time and this is something I have very little of now with two kids and two part-time jobs. So, I can't be scratch baking or making my own clothes. I have to be reasonable here.
I'm aggravated that I've gained weight over the winter, and just when I want to rev up my spring running, I'm reigned in by my plantar fasciitis. Thank God I can run a little to keep me sane, but I can't unleash the beast and go tackling 5k's just yet. So, be it. I just cleaned out my closet. I've been putting off the dreaded trying on of last year's capris--those cute little size sixes were a little tight last year. I wondered if this year I could pull them past my knees. I took a deep breath, bravely removed them from the hanger and commenced to discover the truth. Had my weight gain moved down to my legs and butt? I knew the running tops were tight but I was hoping my ass has resisted. I sucked in my gut, buttoned my capris and wiggled my body into place. I had a camel toe and a blob of muffin-topped flesh spilled over the top. Sigh... There is no hope for non-exercising America if I can run 20 plus miles a week all winter and still I have gained 6-8 pounds. I'm going to have to buy a size 8or look ridiculous. I wanted to save money by sticking with last year's wardrobe, but now I'm forced to make a few supplemental purchases. Camel toes, besides unflattering, are uncomfortable and the perfect medium to acquire yeast infections. Very bad stuff. I was horrified when my teenaged niece first used this expression, but you have to admit--it's a very apt visual representation of what too tight pants reap on the female anatomy.
I've never been one for crash dieting; my mood would turn so foul that no one could stand me. I can't do that to my family, so I've gone to eating sensibly while I try to lose the weight slowly. I try not to get bent out of shape because I still look pretty darned good. I just need to go the local K-Mart and look around at muffin tops that have baked over the pan all together, spilled to the bottom of the oven, for a tough to clean up mess. And the camel toes? A whole herd of camel toes graze at the local K-Mart oasis. I wish they could know fitness, but I think many know how hard it will be to attain, so they just don't start. Too bad most underestimate the power of small baby steps of progress if they make the decision to start an exercise regime. Do nothing and in a years time you'll be in exactly the same place you are now--only fatter--with bigger muffin tops and camel toes. I know so many people in the running club that have totally transformed their bodies; nothing is impossible with the right attitude.
I'm going to use that strategy, as well, to save on money and lose my little muffin top. First, I'm giving up my post Sean workout sushi because with what I've spent on that place, I could have paid for another ten weeks of workouts. At least, when I do give in to the sushi temptation it's high quality post workout protein and not junk I'm putting into my body, but it's killing the pocket-book. I've also accepted another installment of Kelly's closet; she's my tall same sized stay-at-home mom friend that likes to shop and has impeccable tastes. I thought I'd hit the mother lode when she brought over a big bag of clothes otherwise destined for the Goodwill. After going through the clothes, I found out why she was giving away a few of the pieces--like the black and white cute print that was cut precisely to accentuate muffin tops--that one went back in the bag which I will personally escort to the Goodwill. Still, many of the things were perfect and I love them, so this helps. And I didn't have to go shopping!! Another friend likes to shop consignment shops and we've tentatively scheduled a date, but I never have a few hours of free time when she does too. Our kids are getting a little older, but I think as they get older we get a little more isolated since life gets crazier.
The nice thing about having very little discretionary time, is that I'm not wandering the malls because it's very easy to justify need for crap when it's just sitting there looking irresistible. Now, my shopping forays are hyper-focused missions. Today I will go out and buy some much needed shirts for my son who's going through a rapid growth spurt fueled by daily peanut butter banana smoothies and a couple pairs of capri's that don't give me a camel toe. It's a start.