You Don't See That Every Day

I'm getting a crown this month. Unfortunately it isn't gold, it doesn't have diamonds, and there is no title associated with it. No, I got to wade into the swamp of dental work this week. Not something many people look forward to, except for maybe the dentist. My back tooth needs a crown, so earlier this week my first appointment included a number of drills and numbing material and 2 hours in the dentist's chair. And then a week (or maybe more, who knows?) of not being able to chew on one side of my mouth. And not eat hard, crunchy food. (So long beloved cashews.) But there is a positive side to this! I've been much more aware of what I'm eating. I haven't been prone to mindless snacking, -- which has played right into the journey I have been on since summer ... Back in August I went clothes shopping with my teen girls. It was depressing. Nothing fit right, everything looked dumpy on me. And I was not used to this! I was the kid who could eat anything an...

It must have been a good holiday season! I stepped on the scales at my parents' house and saw that I have an extra 20 pounds hanging on. I saw the fudge in one spot, the nightly ice cream all around and the cookies in another area. Good thing I am running, or it might be an extra 40 overstaying their welcome. I went home and wrote down my weight on several sticky notes and stuck them in the snack cupboard, on the refrigerator, and on the top of my secret stash (banana chips covered in chocolate.) I went to reach for some chips just a few minutes later, and thought about that not-so-little number there. And I realized I just wanted a new taste in my mouth. I wasn't really hungry. So I brushed my teeth. Now, I'm not going on a 'diet'. I'm not going to starve -hahahaha, no way, not how I like food! But I am going to try and make better choices this winter, and especially as I train for a super upcoming race in April. I'll probably be brushing my teeth a lot...

The gauntlet has been thrown. The challenge has been issued. My niece has dared me to a half-marathon! Me, the one who hasn't run more than 2 miles in over a year; who ran 10 miles over 20 years ago; who hasn't ever run 13 miles. She thinks I'm fat. I just know it. She states it so clearly in her challenge, and I'll show you -- she writes: "I just signed up for a half marathon on April 10th in Corvallis. Check out [the link] if you want to do it too!" So there it is.  A blatant duel for all to see. She must have known I can pinch an inch. Do you recall the Special K cereal ad about pinching an inch? Last night I sat on the couch feeding the baby and realized that, yes indeed, I can pinch an inch. But then, if I stand up, oh it's not quite so bad. Oh and then if I reach my hands up in the air, I can't pinch an inch at all! So if I just go around with my hands up in the air all the time, I won't have a muffin top; I might be mistaken for a semaph...