Monthly Archives: February 2013

by

Tuesday Update: Two Plus.

Remember last week, when I said I was only going to buy one top and one pair of pants for working out? Well, if you’ve been reading this blog, you know how well I do with sanctioned shopping. It was planned, I had “permission” to spend, and I had justification. I just didn’t have the willpower to stick to only two pieces. I now have four tops and three bottoms, in addition to my somewhat loose and unflattering existing fitness wardrobe. I know how I justified it — I’m working out almost every day and sweat too much to reuse without washing. I just don’t know why I justified it. Have I really not gone very far in my unshopping? Have I just distracted myself enough that it’s not in the foreground, but when given the opportunity, I go back to my old ways? Even when it’s unexciting like a workout tank and yoga pants?

I’m still holding strong about buying regular clothing, accessories, and shoes, though! Nothing new this month for sure, and I think last month I only bought a necklace. That feels pretty good. Very good!

Wait a sec, that’s TWO MONTHS! I’ve been wearing the same jeans, same shirts, same sweaters, and the same shoes. I didn’t spontaneously combust! I don’t think I repeated any outfits, either. Every combo has felt fresh and new, especially since I can now button some things that I couldn’t two months ago.

To sum up today’s update: failure, and success! I was feeling pretty down about the failure part, but putting the success part into writing jazzed me right up. I can do this! Even when I reach my fitness goals and can shop again, I don’t want to continuously add to my wardrobe. It just seems so… boring. In a single shopping trip, I might buy more than I intended to (see workout clothes update above), but right now I can’t imagine shopping every week or even multiple times a week. I now have better and more interesting things to do!

I also don’t want to go back to an overstuffed closet where I don’t even get to wear everything in it. It’s been fun these past few weeks seeing my jeans/pants hangers all empty. That’s never happened before! I also have favorite tops and sweaters that just work every time I pair them with anything else. It’s much easier to get dressed in the morning when I have fewer choices.

This is serious progress!

I do have a confession, though. I finally bought that gel polish kit I’ve wanted since last summer. I got a paycheck last week, and, well, it’s been on my list forever. I resisted for nearly eight months! Not bad, right?

by

Tuesday Update: One Size Fits Most (of Me).

It’s Tuesday! I bet you thought I’d skip an update again? Yeah, I thought I would, too. But only because the kids are on vacation and my days are off-schedule!

I’m still working on one of my important goals, and probably will be forever. Replacing a bad habit with a good one, and in this case, I’m working on fitness and health. Today was not a good day in that department and I’m disappointed, but I know I’ll feel much better in the morning. I already told the kids we’re going to the gym tomorrow so I can get back on track, so now they’ll hold me to it. And by back on track, I mean take a step back. I’m on week 6 of a couch-to-5K-like program on the iPad, and it’s kicking my behind. I can’t keep it up, so I’m going back a week. Or two. Back to when I thought I couldn’t handle it but knew I only had 2 minutes left. This week, I thought I couldn’t handle it and I had almost 20 minutes left. I knew I had to call it a day.

A bad day for fitness, but still a good day for health and calories. I have control over what I eat and don’t want to cave in even when I’m feeling down. Come to think of it, “caving in” didn’t even occur to me. There was no temptation, no need for resistance. Yay, me! But I still can’t shake the treadmill failure this morning. I can’t wait to go to bed so I can just forget it and move on!

Now for some shop talk. I need new fitness clothes but am trying to put it off for as long as possible. I haven’t lost that much weight, but it’s enough to make my stuff look baggy and I can’t stand it. I’m one of those weirdos who, despite being overweight, prefer body-hugging styles. Extra fabric just makes me look (and feel) even bigger. All of my fitness pants are from when I was pregnant, so they are all quite baggy. I have fitness leggings that I never thought I’d wear in public, but right now, they’re the best fitness pants I have. I’d feel better if I had a slightly less skin-tight pair of yoga-type pants. In the mirror, baggy clothing makes me want to cry; fitted clothing motivates me! (Probably motivates anyone who sees me, too. Not a pretty sight!)

I will have to buy something soon, because I don’t want to have a breakdown in the middle of Zumba. One pair of pants and one top. That’s it! Keep me accountable!

Oh, and that made me think of the ubiquitous size “one size fits most.” Yes, when I’ve reached my goal I will be able to fit into items that are labeled as such. But for now, those items fit most. Of me. As in, maybe 2/3 of my thigh.