Really only of interest to the gals

About 5 years ago, I was within hours of a needle biopsy for a mysterious spot on my left breast. The radiologist would find the spot, then lose it again (you've heard this before, I'm sure). The final conclusion was a lump of fat that would fold over on itself.

When I started losing weight.. oh, 16 months ago?... one of my goals was to lose of that fat in my breasts. I had spent years as a 34B-34C. Growing to a 40DD was NOT something that made me happy.

I seem to finally be losing fat in my boobs. ('Bout damn time).

I bought myself a couple new bras a couple months ago; the fitter assured me I was a 34 band.. but the measurements still made me a D cup. Yeah.. it's smaller than I was, but at the same time, it wasn't.

This week, almost suddenly, there seems to be a lot of extra room in those molded cups. Maybe a cup size smaller? Now I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to "take in" these bras. I hate the idea of replacing them so soon, but I love the idea of needing to replace them.

I also blog at: A Stitch In Time throughout the week and BlogHer on Mondays and Saturdays.

Tale of the Scale, 3/26

Forgive me a little bragging, but this past week I moved (mostly) into new jeans. And I need to demonstrate why.

Evidence: Old jeans front view. These are Lee True Fit Jeans, size 12. When I started working out, I couldn't fasten the waist button on these. Oh, and although these are marked as "mid rise".. they fasten at my waist. Yeah, I'm short waisted.

Note the bag in the thighs and the sag in the butt and belly.
The good thing about these jeans? I can stuff my wallet, cellphone, MP3 player, tissue, dog poop pickup bags, and keys into the pockets.

Yeah, they are like pants with a purse!

How becoming!!

I'm keeping one pair of these for gardening and other "messy" work.

Now the new replace jeans, pair #1. Found these at Old Navy. See how they fit trimly through the waist and thighs. Just by putting these on, I look thinner!

The side view shows how nicely they highlight my "becoming" cute bottom. A little more leg work, and I will cuter than kittens at Christmas in these jeans.

(well, I do need to do a whole lot of work above that waistline!!) but from the waistline down I am becoming kitten-cute.









Report on Scale:

Still staying the same weight. I'll admit it, I haven't been eating the 5-6 times a day that I should be. I'm within my calorie range every day, but the program emphasizes that you eat small frequent meals with lots of fruits and veggies. Haven't been doing that for a couple days. I need to get back to writing my food down all day long.

It's OK.








Jeans #2 are bit tighter, but I'm intending to work my way into these. We just started doing more intensive abdominal work this past week. Within the month, these will be fitting less like second skin and more like great pair of jeans. The length is great and the cut is quite complimentary. Besides, they were on sale!!


Plan for the week:

Sunday was my personal long, easy workout. A half hour of cardio, a half hour of core/stability, a half hour of weight training. I usually enjoy this workout so much. I don't know why. Anyway, this is usually favorite day at the gym. Yesterday, not so much. I worked hard, doing what I usually do, but the endorphins just never kicked in.

Monday: Cardio and core.
Tuesday: Cardio and training with Guido.
Wednesday: see Monday.
Thursday: See Tuesday.
Friday and Saturday: rest, rest, rest.
Sunday: begin again.

Tuesday I hope to go out to lunch with a couple friends or visit an exhibit at the Oakland Museum. And either Monday or Wednesday will be 5 mile walk (including a hill) so start getting ready for the Bay To Breakers walk in May.

Tags: fitness, 24HourFitness, ThisDayInTheLife

Watery Excitement at the Gym

I had a hard and great workout today and couldn't wait to hit the showers. Hot water pounding on my shoulders then sliding down my salty skin is reward. My body cools when I strip, the skin getting goose-pimply as a walk over the slick tiled floors. The shower warms me and wipes me clean.

The work I've done in the gym that day sinks into the muscles and becomes the result that shows the rest of the day when I'm showering. Hot water as annealer.

I quickly stripped of my soaking wet t-shirt and shorts, tore off the sock and threw the entire pile of sopping clothing into my locker. The towel I packed had dried on the line, so it was scratchy and rough. A just reward for a job hard-won.

As I chose a shower stall, I turned and saw an older woman lying on the floor in the stall across from me. Everyone else ignored her; she was soapy but unable to get up. Naked and completely vulnerable. She just needed a little help but wisely insisted on management coming to help. And here's the weak point in the gym's design: there is no communication line between the locker room and the front desk.

I walked through the locker room yelling: is anybody dressed?? Anybody??

Nope.

So I pulled my sopping wet t-shirt and soggy wet shorts back on (sans undies, this was an emergency), walked up the stairs and through the gym to get her help. Fortunately, two female employees were quickly summoned to provide assistance.

Back. Clothes back in the locker; me back in the shower stall. Corporate girls talking to our fallen lady. She has no explanation for how she fell, but it's a shower room.

Do you know about the simple one minute stroke test? Neither did the employees. Frequently when someone falls down with no reasonable explanation, this test will show that the person has had a stroke. Quickly. Easily. Before they try to get up. So I guided the trainer through the 3 questions, then witnessed as she continued checking that the woman hadn't injured herself in her fall. Fortunately, all signs were negative and the woman was assisted to her locker, dressed and escorted safely and happily from the gym. Nobody asked for ID as a witness in the accident, so I hope it's history all around.

And I? I decided that the miracle of the shower was not to be part of my life today. I quickly washed the sweat away, pulled on dry clothes and put the work behind me.

Tags: fitness, 24HourFitness, GoodWorks