As anyone that has read my blog knows, in the summer of 2013 I had a major surgery. What I don’t write about is how difficult it has been to bounce back from that surgery. The challenge was initially physical, but in time my body healed, and the challenge to get back into shape became an emotional challenge. Rather than face the fact that I could not run a ten mile, I would sit down on the couch with a glass of wine. Rather than enjoy my once loved routine of going to the YMCA on Saturday morning for my two hour- look ridiculous at Pilates and Yoga adventures, I went brunches. I threw my own pity party, with brownies, cookies, whatever I wanted. I no longer considered myself a runner. I even considered changing my tag on my blog.
In eighteen months time, I went from a size 0 to a size 10. My friends continued to tell me that I looked fabulous…all but one. Honestly, a size 10 isn’t bad. Yankee Boy may be a pain in the ass, and at times just down right a bully, but he is one of my closest friends. He was on the Whole 30 diet one day when we met for lunch. He ate healthy while I killed two beers, a basket of chips, bowl of salsa, and a plate of enchiladas. Could I possibly sound any less attractive right now?
I shared with him a recent experience at a charity event where I got a ton of compliments on my shoes. He told me that is because people are used to paying me compliments. He went on to say, everyone sees that you are not taking care of yourself. You were given a lot more than most people, and it is pathetic to see you throw it away. He finished with, “People are just complimenting you out of habit these days, and you are taking away everything that they once had compliments about. It is good that you still have your great taste in shoes”
OUCH! He was right.
Run Forest Run.
Today, I put on my size 2, size 2!!! pants and a pair of hideous old black shoes for good measure. I hoped to run into Jac, no such luck. I did get compliments on how nice I looked.
Realistically, I don’t think a size 0 is in the cards for me again, but I feel great. I am hoping to get back to an eight minute running pace. I am at 8:45 right now. To repay the favor, over lunch the other day where he ate dessert without me, I told Yankee Boy that his idea for a start up that he is launching was a bad concept. I look forward to his picture on the cover of Forbes as the latest smart phone application millionaire.