Neglect your blog for a while and it will come find you. Had to fix a couple things in a pinch while at work to save myself some embarrassment. I’ll fix the theme later.
If you have no clue what I’m talking about, it’s okay, move along, nothing to see here…
Most of the wonderful women I’ve met along the way on this journey to world domination a healthy life are married or in long term relationships. I only know of a few single women like myself, navigating their way through the dating world with this newfound body and confidence that comes with losing weight.
If you follow me on Twitter, you have no doubt read my frequent tweets of my misadventures in online dating and have probably unfollowed or muted me because of them at some point. No offense taken. It may seem miserable from the stories I share, but it’s not all bad. For every horrible experience, there are five other decent to great ones.
When I was at my heaviest, I would hang onto any man that would give me the time of day. If it didn’t work out, I always thought: if only I wasn’t fat… He probably likes me, but too bad I’m fat… Once I’m not fat anymore, no one will be able to resist all this sexiness… Though I’m still overweight, I am “average-sized” enough for the excess poundage to not detract from the person I am under this skin. This removes a lot of the stress, anxiety, and self-consciousness of meeting any new person, whether I’m trying to get in their pants or not.
It has also put me in the uncomfortable position of being the rejector instead of rejectee at times. I never, ever, ever want to be the reason someone is feeling upset or hurt, so I have to be careful with all this sexiness now. Can’t just keep breaking hearts left and right! (Umm no.)
You may agree that your social life takes the biggest hit when you’re minding your nutrition. Oh how easy it was to agree to happy hour with coworkers, celebratory dinners for just about anything, or not having to decide between a real dinner or movie popcorn and snacks on date night. Sometimes it feels like I am being held hostage by my Saturday morning date with the scale.
However, lately, something odd has been happening. I want to be good on dates, and find that whatever I’m eating or drinking has little bearing on whether or not I’m enjoying myself. Sometimes I’ll only eat a salad; hold the cheese and dressing. Or I’ll have one light beer. And it doesn’t bother me. This, however, is not going unnoticed. Instead of being self-conscious about my companion scrutinizing every bite I take because I’m a bottomless pit, I’m sort of beginning to look like “that girl” that orders a side salad, two crackers and sips flat water with lemon because she “really needs to lose 3 pounds.”
[HUMBLEBRAG ALERT] A few different guys have commented on this in the last week alone. “You’re so damn tiny.” “That’s all you’re gonna eat?” “There’s nothing wrong with curves, you know.” “I’m really not into ‘size 5s’” (I’m a size 4, sucker!) [/HUMBLEBRAG ALERT]
All comments were made mostly in jest and not super judgy, and I really shouldn’t care this much about how I’m perceived, but we’re all guilty of it to some degree. If I like the guy enough, I’ll help him understand by whipping out my before picture to show him what I used to look like, and quite proudly I might add. The days of being ashamed of where I came from are way behind me.
The benefits of coming clean are quad-fold: 1) It explains why I chose spin class over drinks with them earlier in the week and why I’m drinking water-beer, despite my strong urge for an old fashioned. 2) I can never get enough of watching the facial expressions of pure and utter shock and disbelief. 3) It gives us something to talk about. Not just my own personal weight loss story, but whatever fitnessy shit they’re into and what nutrition advice I can give them to get into better shape. You see, most of these men are active enough, but are hopelessly lost in the dietary department. In turn, 4) I look super duper smart spouting off about macro and micronutrients, the effects of sodium, types of foods to eat before/after workouts, and junk to avoid.
And then they fall in love with me right then and there. I mean I can practically see their pupils turn into pulsating hearts while they listen to me talk. Next thing I know they’re begging me for a second date and scribbling the names of our future children on a cocktail napkin.
But who can blame them? 
Since we last chatted, I’ve had a really good week. To my surprise, I actually went to spin class two weeks in a row. Sunday’s Beginner Spin class with the owner of my studio is great! I was really impressed with him already remembering my name, and stroking my ego by calling me out during class as a positive example to the other newcomers. That’s one way to keep my business and make newbs comfortable.
Last week, a publicist from Weight Watchers contacted me wanting to use my story for some local PR, but I would need to get her better pictures than the lame mirror selfies I have. Like a total dork, I put on full makeup, wardrobe options, and did a photo shoot in my living room.
Monday morning, I woke up feeling like I had the weight of the world on my back. Instead, it was a combined 120 pounds of dog lying right on top of me.
Tuesday, I decided to graduate to the regular spin class offered at the studio, and taught by a different instructor. I was certain I’d flake, considering the class was RIGHT after work, when I normally want to do nothing at all. But I changed into my spin gear in my office and headed to the studio, took a really tough class, and felt great.
I wanted to take another class tonight, but I flaked on that last minute. I will go to another class tomorrow for my last chance workout instead.
…and today is Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day! I brought 11 chocolate chip cookies to the office. There were a dozen last night but I didn’t want them in my house, despite how delicious they were, so I brought them in for a Valentine’s Day treat. My coworkers also provided cupcakes, other cookies, and brownies, all of which I proudly resisted. I’m all about indulging a little bit, but I wasn’t lusting after them so I didn’t cave. The last thing I want to do is eat empty calories that aren’t even going to rock my world.
My February Declutter Giveaway also ended today and winner Megan was chosen! (If you’re reading this, I emailed you- send me your mailing address when you can.)
You may have noticed that I haven’t posted anything of much fitnessy or nutritional value lately, and there’s a reason for that. There hasn’t been anything of much fitnessy or nutritional value in my life for the last several weeks. If I’m being honest, it’s been more like a couple months. I am not worried that I’m getting too far off track or that I’ll gain all the weight back. I’ve been steady hovering around the same weight, I still see my muscle definition, and all my clothes fit fine.
I am, however, slightly worried that I’m living completely guilt free. I simply don’t care that I’m not giving it my all, but I think that’s because I know exactly how to get back there. I think I just need some time to let other things in my life settle down before jumping back into the water. It is not a great excuse, and I do not recommend following in my footsteps, but what can ya do. As much as this phrase annoys me, “it is what it is.”
In bloggy world news, last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Dawn! Probably my closest Twitter friend, who has now become one of my closest real life friends too. She also got to meet my two furry children and my parents; they all mutually won each other over. We had a low-key dinner and drinks at this cute little spot in San Diego, both of us dead tired but managing to have a great time anyway.
It was a fun and hilarious night and I can’t wait to see her again (and meet so many more of you) at Fitbloggin’ 13 this June. Are you going?? If you do, please say hi! I promise I am not nearly as obnoxious in person. Though I’m sure many of you will wish that I could send Bow & Sioux in my place.
So yeah, I need to make fitness fun and shiny and new and exciting again. I’m planning on attending a Weight Watchers meeting, my first one ever, at some point this weekend, and I also want to try some kind of class next week. Zumba, Cardio Barre, Pilates, I don’t know. One of those things. At my age, and at this point in my career I rarely meet new people, so this will hopefully kill two birds with one stone. 1) Shaking up my usual fitness routine and 2) breaking out of my little hermit shell.
And before I go, a quick congratulations should out to Ang who hit ONEDERLAND today! I vividly remember how happy I was the day I saw that 2 change to a 1, and I am feeling it all over again for her. Go over there and give her a hand, will ya?
Last month’s Super RFG Giveaway was more successful than I imagined it would be, and I had stories to read for days. Turns out, everyone loves a good success story! My goal is to have a constant rotation of stories to show off on the blog. You get to show off, I get to add content, and the reader gets a break from the monotony. Win-win-win situation.
Fill out the form below for a chance to be admired by millions! Or thousands…okay more like 400 unique users per day. On a good day.
Congratulations to Brooke of Brooke: Not On A Diet! Honorable mentions to Kim and Jill for coming in at a not-so-distant second and third. And last but not least, a big YOU KICK ASS shout out to everyone else who entered. There was so much awesomeness on my page that my server crashed a few times, so I apologize to anyone who couldn’t get through.
My $5 Gift Card gals should have already received them by email (let me know if you didn’t get it), and the top 3 gals should be getting their prizes by the end of this week. CamelBaks will be shipping out via USPS tomorrow (hopefully) as well, but bear with me as I can barely find a few minutes to spare lately.
Working many, many hours since we got back from holiday break, a lot of late night BBH, and looking after two very hyper Boxers has completely wiped me out. I am T-I-R-E-D! It isn’t even 8pm yet and I can barely stay awake to finish typing this, but I had to write something.
Oh yeah, have you checked out my new Success Stories section yet? Well, what are you waiting for? If you’d like to be featured on this page of badassery, I’ll be putting up a fancy form to submit there soon. For now, I must drink my KTFO tea, and sleep for about 50 hours…but I’ll settle for a solid eight. Nighty night my dears.
