Something I love: Freecycle

I've given away a ton of stuff through freecycle and the Craigslist free board.

I've also scored some great things.

So, once in a while, I go to Craigslist, just to see what's available.

Last night, a post jumped out at me: "Women's pants/jeans 8L" in a section of town right by me.

I just so happen to be an 8L in pants right now. The "L" part was particularly exciting, as the odds of finding someone giving away my exact size are pretty long.

Some of them still had tags on. And all of them fit. So I lucked out.

An easy three miles

I've been slacking more than a little -- with no real excuses other than the busy-ness of family stuff.

This morning, I did three miles, without a timer. But with wonderful, overcast weather.

My medium-size skort is beginning to fall down off my butt a bit -- which makes it more modest, as it covers more leg that way.

Injury update: Two of my messed-up toenails appear pretty much healed. The remaining one still looks awful but feels OK. The doc, oh-so-helpfully, said -- "Oh, it looks like you've got Runner's Toe."

Thanks.

Rescue!

My 5-year-old is afraid of heights. That didn't stop him, however, from climbing up into a tree house today.

It did keep him from climbing down.

He was so terrified he was shaking. It reminded me of the last time we'd flown. None of my other three children have had any trouble with airplanes; they totally freak the little guy out.

But, when we flew and he didn't want to get on the plane, I was able to talk him into it eventually. My magic usually works with my boys (my girls are another story).

This time, however, I had to go up in the tree house. And then pick him up after a while, as I could tell there was no way he was going to become willing to back down the stairs during this presidential administration. I got him down a few stairs and then handed him to a dad.

It was another time I felt so glad I've gotten thinner. I'm a lot more agile than I used to be, but I'm still on the klutzy side. It would've been that much more of a challenge while carrying more pounds.

BTW, I've had a few people who have read my writings before lament that I don't write more about my kids -- because I have pretty extensively in the past. This blog is different; the focus is really narrow (much narrower than my actual life focus is), and that's intentional.

What's with the employees at running stores?

OK, I tried another running shoe store the other day, as I'm about due for a new pair.

I prefer going to the mom-and-pop places rather than Big Box Athletic Store, partially because I'm supposed to get better service, partially because I want to help out a small business.

So, I went to a new one -- where I had to greet the two male employees (probable owners), who had that lean look of serious runners.

Did they ask me if I needed help?

No.

Did they smile?

No.

What they did do is appraise me and, correctly, determine that I am nowhere near as serious as they are.

It almost makes me feel sort of nostalgic. I used to get that kind of treatment almost everywhere when I was obese.

I thought it was just L.A. I never thought it was my fault. I didn't even fully realize how much "attitude" I was getting until I was thinner and people suddenly got so much friendlier.

Now, I think that the attitude is just bad business.

Other notes for today:

1) I ran for an hour today. What happened to my June gloom? Oh, I guess it's July now. I got out there 7:30, which I thought was early enough, but it was pretty sunny, so I stayed on my happily unmeasured asphalt route.

2) Tiffany measured me yesterday, and I ended up losing 1/2 inch off my waist and 1.75 inches off my belly. The best part was nothing off my hips; I'm so done with losing my butt.

Kicking up the metabolism

I probably ran a little less last month than I did the month before.

But I lost more weight this month. What was up with that?

I think this is what happened. I started eating more.

Paul (my husband) doesn't believe it, but it's true. This month, Tiffany and I increased my portion sizes -- just because my weight-loss was beginning to stall again.

I had probably kicked myself into a bit of starvation mode, what with running four-to-six hours per week and eating like I do.

So, this month, I just ran about four hours weekly. And ate more. Which seems to have given my metabolism the kick-start it needed.

Eating vicariously

Lately I've been bouncing back and forth between two extremes.

1) I won't eat that garbage -- how can I let my family?

and

2) Mmmmm -- toasted English muffin bread with butter -- Eat up, kids!

The latest music I've been into

1) The new Elvis Costello: Secret, Profane and Sugarcane

The angry British guy sings Americana (!) on this one, and it's wonderful.

(Full disclosure: Paul says, "Do you like this? You're one sick woman.")

2) Beautiful Criminal: In the Absence of Clarity

The husband of a friend of mind is in it. I finally made it to see them last week -- after a number of attempts. I had heard a few songs and knew they were good -- but Paul doesn't trust my taste because -- after all -- I like Elvis Costello, Jay-Z and silly pop-punk songs. So, I had to drag him to the show, but now he's even more into them than I am.

Under 160! And a doctor's visit

The last time I weighed less than 160, Bill Clinton was president -- and it was early in his term.

Today, on Tiffany's scale, my "official" weight was 159.8, down 2.4 pounds from last month. We didn't do all the little measuring yet. So now I'm not exaggerating when I say I've lost 90 pounds.

At the doctor's office, my weight was 157. 

I enjoyed the doctor's visit (how often does one get to say that?).

Here's why:

1) I had to tell the nurse weighing me that I'd be over 150. She couldn't tell. I'm used to people being surprised at my weight, but when someone who weighs people all day thinks I weigh less than I do, it's more of a kick.

2) The most invasive procedure was bloodwork.

3) The doc was highly complimentary -- he asked, "How did you lose so much weight?" It was 50 pounds and 13 months since my last physical. 

Last year, I had lost 40 pounds in about six months, but it wasn't as impressive to him. I was still fat.

He was raving about the exercise, which didn't surprise me. Last year, he suggested I start running, which I had to let percolate for a while before I did it. He told me, which I'd heard, that what people who keep weight off have in common is their level of exercise.

Even the doc had to go to appearance issues, though. (He doesn't know that appearance issues are probably a contributing factor to my weight gain -- looking good can make me uncomfortable.) He said I look significantly younger.

He didn't pull out his BMI chart, though. According to that, I'm only three pounds overweight by his scale. 

He told me I might have to be careful with ab work because of my hernia -- but that fixing it isn't absolutely necessary. 

Time improvement

Oh, the blog is helping me at something, for once -- rather than just scaring the heck out of my friends and acquaintances.

I realized yesterday that I can use some of the data recorded to measure actual progress.

On March 21, I ran 5 miles in 73 minutes. (At the time, I thought it was 7 miles, but I know now it was 5.) The last couple of times I've gotten out there, I've run 5 miles in 62 minutes. That's a pretty nice improvement in three months.

I know, though, that improving fitness is like losing weight. The first pounds come off relatively easily. When you get to the end, it's more of a challenge. I'm definitely at the early stage of running, so it makes sense that I'm going to get pretty dramatic improvements right now.

Another 5 miles

... in 62 minutes. With a bathroom break and waits for the traffic lights.

I can't run tomorrow morning because I have a doctor's appointment with blood work and fasting.

I'm anticipating a good one -- at least no lecture -- but I should be careful about my expectations ....