Age: 42
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Weight: 182 pounds
Yep, that's me today. Ten years and thirty pounds ago a male coworker told me, "You are not petite." I have also been called athletic, big-boned and sturdy. All true.
Which brings me to a conversation that came up yesterday at Boot Camp. You see, I am not thin but I am strong. I have been doing a rigorous fitness boot camp 3 days a week for over a year. The women in my 6am class come in all shapes and sizes. Some come in full hair and make up and others, like me, roll out of bed and show up. You would think I would be mistaken for Cindy Crawford by now, but I am living proof that weight loss is more diet than exercise.
Anyway, I had finished my push-ups, planks, stair runs, squats and sit-ups. We were doing our final stretches when the new girl started talking. She is beautiful and young with a great body. Sometimes we get those girls who just want to "firm up" for a swimsuit shoot and they are gone after a month. Whatever.
Turns out she just had a baby 4 months ago. No way! I was rocking a size 22 from Lane Bryant when my baby was 4 months old! I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers who hasn't seen my goal weight for 10 years! I have been going to Boot Camp for a year and have gained weight!
The moral of this story is: Who cares? With age comes wisdom and with weight gain comes filled-in wrinkles and bigger boobs. That being said, I couldn't resist announcing to the new girl, "I just had a baby, too."
. . . "Twelve years ago."
-Lela
Posts
Comments
- Just A Normal Mom
- My best friend and I have always said we are the normal ones - it's everyone else with the problems! At least it makes us feel better, even if it might not be true. I'm the forty-something mother of a teenage boy and a black lab mix, married and living in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up. Hubs and I lived on Maui when we met and we often dream of moving back some day. In the meantime, I write about life. A little of this, a little of that. I love humor and probably complain too much. But that's just because the world around me isn't 'normal', like me!
Contact Me
Search This Blog
5 comments:
I am right there with you. I am 5'8" and am big boned as well. My weight (I usually hover around 150-155) is always fluctuating and I have a thyroid problem which doesn't help. I go to Jazzercise 4-5 times a week and Pilates once a week. I, too, am proof that exercise doesn't always = thin & svelte.
I am tired of the unattainable. I am tired of Hollywood girls. I am tired of NOT reality. Why can't women just be real everywhere?
I have curves and I am trying to love them, but it's hard.
Thank you for posting this. I get tired of working out so much, but I fear what would happen if I stopped. I am glad that I'm strong & healthy, but at the same time, it would be nice if I weighed in around 130ish instead.
I have always
Lela, I'm about the same age and stats (minus 1 inch, plus 10 pounds), and I still refer to it as "postpartum weight" (the Baby is almost 2!).
Just remember - when the famine hits, we'll be picking our teeth with the skinny girls' bones!
Good post. So true. It can be frustrating to see those who don't do much with wonderful bodies but like you said, it never lasts - it will catch-up with them someday. I'm having a hard time since I've turned 30. I'm pretty active and watch what I eat, but things just don't look as good anymore. Your boot camp sounds very interesting. Maybe I'll look into something like that to help me feel stronger and give me that boost of confidence too. Good job, you got me thinking...
lol, thats too funny! and man, after 3 kids my boobs shrunk! oh well...maybe i just need to wait a couple more years!
I've lost weight since high school, but I remember my mom always telling me I had "child bearing hips" lol!
Post a Comment