Aspire to Inspire

The Cellulite Bridesmaid has almost 1,000 views!  Granted, some of them are mine; I didn’t realize I had to change the settings, so when I started the blog and continually admired my handiwork, I was unknowingly increasing my stats.  I’ve since changed my profile, so now I need YOU to get TCB over its first statistical milestone!

And while you’re at it, why don’t you leave a comment or a question or a suggestion?  You can do that right at the blog entry or on facebook (TCB has its own page…thin (haha) but created).  In fact, I’m going to make it a requirement; you’re here reading and hopefully laughing and maybe even getting something out of these posts.  If so, PLEASE leave comments!  Certainly not for my edification, but so TCB can start becoming a community.  Eventually , The Cellulite Bridesmaid will be its own domain, but in the meantime, I’m still working on how all these blogspot parts work together, and soon, there should be an actual discussion forum page.  And more links, pictures, and fun stuff are on the horizon!

Now for confession Friday….

For those of you that know me pretty well…you know that I am NOT a Mary Poppins fan.  UGH.  So WHY am I putting this in my coffee every morning?!?!

 

 I feel like I have hit a plateau…funny, because I haven’t even been losing any poundage, but I was getting back to eating healthy, treadmilling on lunch, walking around the office, doing clips & claps (raise your hand if you still know The Christie!!) and resistance band training in the office bathroom, making (and eating!) quinoa, drinking green tea….so WHAT HAPPENED?  I just .  STOPPED.   And I think I know the culprit (see above picture).

So I went to refill my coffee mug…sans SUGAR.  Bye bye pure white granulated sugar.  My taste buds may miss you for a little while, but mentally, I AM OVER YOU.

Harsh Victories (Did the Melon Finally Win?)

First email to my sisters yesterday: MY FAT PANTS FINALLY FIT!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY!!!

While that is a victory for this post partum full time working mom, its a little bittersweet.  I mean, even reading it....yay for fat pants?

I haven't seen the scale move downwards in several weeks...so disheartening.  So I finally "hid" it; actually, I just put it next to the toilet, not in front.  But that action did help me stop obsessively stepping on it.  So all I really have to go on now is how my clothes fit.  Scary.  I feel like I gain weight just by not stepping on the scale.  But, as one wise sister said, trust in what you are doing.  And one day, your pants won't fit.

Or in my case, the pants DID fit!  After I went back to work from E's maternity leave, I got by with maternity clothes for a few weeks, but they clearly weren't working for me one very frustrating afternoon.  I ventured into my first plus size store; I maybe didn't need to, but I can't stand a tight fitting waist, and my babyless belly was still round, so plus size it was.  I optimistically pulled those pants out a few weeks ago, and, horror, I couldn't button them.  Well, I could, but then here we go with the tight fitting waist.  I mean TIGHT.  I threw them back into the closet with disgust, sadness, and a sense of hopelessness.

Yesterday morning I was struggling to find an outfit to wear for casual Friday.  I had a new shirt to wear, but I wore it on Thursday because the other new shirt I got didn't fit (don't you hate that when you buy a shirt that you think might be just a little too big and then it turns out to be snug?  yeah, I hate that, too).  The wise saying of my sister came to mind (I had been eating a lot of quinoa and a lot less sugar), so I pulled out those pants, took a deep breath, pulled them on, and VIOLA!!!  They fit exactly the way they were supposed to!!!

So that melon that I didn't cut up this week...I'll do it this weekend.  And those banana oat cookies - they've been baked.  And the treadmill?  Walked it.  Taxes?  DONE.  And Thursday's shirt that didn't get worn?   I'll try it again next week.  I am STILL in the land of the DOER.

Running!

I'm going to be a runner again!!!  Anyone want to join me?

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/BeckyLane/KIDrunningteam

http://naperville26.com/pages/charities.htm

The Good, The Bad, and The Uglier

So I missed Measurement Monday....sort of, really, on purpose.

I had my first bridesmaid appointment last week, and it was super super fun!  My co-attendants are amazing and bright women, and it will be so fun to represent my brother and his fiance with them.  I am so honored!

I was able to try on a dress (and it even needed to be tightened with those little clips!!), and it turned out to be the chosen one (no pics yet! I'll wait for the bride to reveal!).  That felt good, although to be honest, I wasn't too thrilled with how I looked in the pictures...postpartum belly (which you've all already seen), tired tired eyes, hair in desperate need of a haircut (they caught the robber!) and saggy face.  Thankfully, little G is only getting up once a night lately, so I've been able to recoup a few of those lost sleeping hours.  One of my favorite excuses for neglecting fitness time is that I'm toooo tired.  I'm working on that one...

Along with the dress measurements, I also took my thigh measurements.  So funny, my thighs are the size of some of my co-maids' waists. Hurmph.  And no, my chest measurement is NOT a result of milk-filled boobs; rather its my muscle-less linebacker back (see above).  I don't think I'm ready to share those, although that was my intentions.  I am, however, posting some really awesome pictures of my legs.  I can't wait to post update pictures.  In the meantime, I'm continuing to drink green tea,  eat almonds, do some jumping jacks, scrubbing my legs with exfoliating gloves, wear my cellulite shorts, and work on situps (since when can I not do a sit up?!).

Sunday Confessions (Even Though Its Monday)

UPDATE (Tuesday):

I apologize if my rant yesterday was somewhat childish.  The feedback that I've gotten has only been positive, which I appreciate, but its weighing on my a little bit to share some of my ugly.  I did agree, however, with myself that I wouldn't hold back....I'd share the good, the bad, and the ugly...no matter what. I realize that NO ONE cares about my job responsibilities or paycheck (well, except Patrick but that's because we have a mortgage to pay).
What I did learn yesterday was that kindness begets kindness.  And I am satisfied with that (for now).

Happy Monday!!

I'd like to do a Sunday post every week; since starting this blog, I've become more reflective, and of course, my revelations are too good to keep to myself.  I don't have anything particular to write for this Sunday, although a topic is weighing on me.   Its been almost a year since I left a high stress, long hour, long commute, high visibility position, and what a relief it has been.  Life under the radar has become so much more manageable, enjoyable, and purposeful.  I no long LIVE to WORK.  There are a few things I believe to be true, as a result.  I don't think I would have had the absolute privilege of creating G if life had stayed the same.  I think I would be dealing with an overweight problem, not post partum weight loss.  I think I may have become an alcoholic.  I certainly wouldn't have started this blog.  There are a lot of things that are scary to think about.

I love my "new" job.  I still feel like its new even though its been nine months.  I think I'm still treated by some of my co-workers as the new person.  Confession time: some of them drive me CRAZY.  Not crazy like I was a year ago, but they irk me enough to talk about it.  No lie, its been really hard to step down in my career.  Sometimes I want to stand up and shout: DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY I USED TO HAVE?  DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY SALARY USED TO BE?? And you think I need coaching on WHAT?!  I'm not ungrateful for my new job at all, just some days seem to bring out an attitude...and not a positive one.

I committed when I started that I would be upbeat, personable, and positive.  I think I am accomplishing this mind set, although sometimes its hard to not let others bring me down.  They are responsible for their own attitudes; I am responsible for MINE.

So what I had intended to write, was that last night, I resolved to be less sedentary at work...I would go to the bathroom more, get more water, go out into the warehouse...anything to get me moving.  But this morning, one such co-worker decided to bring her bad mood with her, and I've been hiding in my cube all morning.  How horrible is that?  To let myself be controlled by her mood. CYE - control your environment.  I get to work one on one with her for a good portion of the afternoon (yay), so I need to make sure I'm secure and solid in my mood and my contentedness; she can feel however she wants; I know she will try to take it out on me, but I'm resolved.  I get to choose how I feel.  ME.  And no one else.

CB Note: disclaimer - I am not a physician and this is not intended to diagnose you, but:
PLEASE: if you feel like you have had the baby blues for a little too long, or if you are constantly staying up at night worrying about the things in your life, or if you are sad maybe a little too often...it might be post partum depression, social anxiety, or just regular old depression.  PLEASE seek help.