in the end i feel alive in 2013-2014

When we were at the beach two weeks ago, I wore my sundress and my bikini and a denim mini skirt flattering enough that a ten-year-old leaned out of his parents' minivan and hollered at me (and Aaron nearly cried laughing while congratulating me on triggering puberty in a child). I still wasn't super happy with myself, and felt too squishy and self-conscious although it's the beach; everyone's letting it all hang out. Given that we have a week-long beach vacation at the end of June for his family reunion, it kind of lit a fire under me: get yo' shit together and don't end up hating the fuck out of the inevitable pictures; Aaron's getting all cut and buff at work, keep up.

So this week and last week I've upped to five workouts a week (lunch walks, runs, yoga, circuit training). I've been slightly more careful with my diet, and enlisted Jessica to fat-shame me daily with things like "GO FIT INTO YOUR WEDDING DRESS" and "french fries don't help you not look like a whale in wedding dresses." Jessica is trying to get back into shape before she starts trying for a baby this fall, so it goes both ways.

I have also bitched and moaned commensurately because the scale hasn't tipped since February and I think I'm reaching set point, and not sure I have the will-power to wage total body fat war. I like butter and grease.

I finished my yoga tonight, stretching out my legs and back after circuit training yesterday. I realized this week that yoga the night before a run must do some magic, along with bags of frozen veggies on my shins afterward, because I felt like warm floaty happiness on my last run. I had a 30-minute 5K again, including a SPRINT, a full loping run, for the last... 100 meters or whatever, I'm not sure (it was pretty twisty). It's a nice pattern, I think: run, yoga, circuits (which are high impact), yoga, run. Hopefully, that helps keep the shins and calves happy. My shoulders, however, are a tangled knot of sore. I'm taking two days off after tomorrow's run and refusing to lift anything heavier than my smallish housecat, basically.

I also made those oatmeal-and-banana cookies/bar things, and the fiber has done great things toward clearing me out. Totally worth the price of bananas.

That all said, I weighed myself and went to log my measurements tonight. 34.5-30-36 in inches, and widest belly circumference is 34. Weight 141 (again).

For reference, when I started logging these numbers in January 2013, I was 35-32-37, ranging up to 36.5-31.5-37, and weighed about 150, give or take a few pounds. I went all over the scale during the Great Kidney Stone Adventures, but last fall buckled in and started a slow drop.

January 2014: 143 lbs, 35-30.5-37
February 2014: 141 lbs, 35-30.5-37 (and started tracking belly, which was 35)
March 2014: 141 lbs, 35-30.5-37-35
April 2014: 141 lbs, 35-30-36.5-35
May 2014: 141 lbs, 35.5-30.5-36.5-34.5 (this was right after my period, so my boobs were a bit swollen)
One week ago: 142 lbs, 34.5-30-36.5-34.5
Today: 141 lbs, 34.5-30-36-34

Okay, so I'm not technically losing weight, BUT THIS IS AWESOME. I squeed via Facebook while Aaron was trying to play D&D with the guys. I should probably stop distracting him like this. (Never.)

Me: Why can't I just eat cheeseburgers and think every body shape is beautiful!?
Aaron: Because you are vain and you want to look sexy for me while you're naked?
...
Me: Redact all bitching! I've lost an inch off my boobs, half an inch off my hips, and half an inch off my belly in the last two weeks! :D I AM NEWLY MOTIVATED.
Me: prance prance prance. :)
Aaron: Wait! Your boobs got smaller? O.O x_x
Me: Yeah. It happens. :/ They're at 34.5 inches now. They were about 36 when we met.
Aaron: I has a sad face. :( BUT, Yay smaller hips and belly. :D

I consoled him with news of new-found flexibility/strength in my hip abductors.