My Measurements…from 2004…

I ran across a slip of paper in the drawer of my vanity table the other day. Scribbled on it was my measurements from a bridesmaid dress alteration in 2004. At the time, I was pre-kid and post-Weight Watchers, and skinnier than I had ever been in my entire adult life…and pretty proud of it.

Yep, I am a proud Lifetime member at Weight Watchers. When I started to attend, I was a little skeptical about the whole thing, especially because I had never really gone on any sort of diet before. But, I had gained some “newlywed pounds”, and I knew that I had to do something before I started having kids. So…I lost 30 pounds, and after Madi and Parker were born, I got back down to my goal weight during the three months grace period they give you after having a baby so you can keep your Lifetime membership.

For some reason, keeping the Lifetime status was kind of a big deal for me. Maybe because I worked so hard to get it in the first place…maybe because I felt like if I stopped doing my monthly weigh-in, I would lose control over my weight again…I don’t know for sure.

What I do know is that Fiona turned three months old last week, and I am about 20 pounds away from my goal weight, so my five year streak of Lifetime membership is officially over. I guess that is what happens when you gain 50 pounds with each kid, starting at a higher starting weight each time.

I thought about starting to attend WW meetings again, but instead I have officially jumped on the running bandwagon. I am absolutely not a runner, but I am definitely a goal-oriented person, so training for a race seemed like a good fit. It sort of reminds of me when I took piano lessons in high school – I always focused more when I was gearing up for a competition.

So…I ordered up my “Couch Potato to 5K” iPhone application and hit the pavement. (Yep, they have an app for that too…) So far, it has gone okay, even though I can’t imagine myself running for 30 minutes straight at this point. We’ll see if I can hack it out until the race I am planning on running the end of October.

But you know, I have no visions of returning to my pre-pre-pre kid weight. Maybe that means I need to throw away my measurements from 2004 and stop obsessing about reaching my goal weight again. Honestly, I just want to get in some sort of shape that doesn’t resemble a blob, so I won’t be winded when I run around the yard with the kids. I want to be able to accept myself and my body as a Mom with toddlers that doesn’t have a whole lot of extra time, and be okay with what I can do.

Just one request…if you come across me running around my neighborhood? Refrain yourself from asking me if I need a ride…I’m really not going to pass out…I just look like it…