Semele's Riches

Milepost #3: I don’t want to LOOK strong, I want to BE STRONG.

Meghan — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:58:52 +0000

Man, is it easy to lose sight of what’s important when setting goals for yourself, or what? There are so many subtle and unsubtle ways that we are pressured to LOOK good that it’s easy to forget that looking good and actually BEING good are not the same thing. For instance, I saw an episode of Project Runway where they were designing outfits for Olympic athletes. The designers were cautioned to remember that these were muscular women and to be careful not to make them look too wide. REALLY? Really. Olympic athletes, people. Supposedly the definition of physical perfection. Strength, agility, stamina… but we wouldn’t want to LOOK WIDE, now would we ladies?

I have firmly grasped the tail of this. I have placed firmly before me that the physical shape I want to get back into is NOT the one that could wear size 5 jeans, but instead the one that could one-arm a 50 lb bag of dog food without getting out of breath. And if I happen to “look wide” while doing it, I Will Not Care. Because anyone who doesn’t like it will be challenged to arm wrestle. YEAH.

Oh, sorry, were you looking for some progress on that to make it qualify as a “milepost?” I have successfully implemented a total body freeweight routine. As my hero, Chris Freytag, so often says, “muscle burns more than fat!” And then, because she’s awesome, she smiles and says, “Yes, you can!”

Yes. Yes, I can.

3.54 miles

Overheard

Meghan — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:41:33 +0000

Keeghan: (opens mouth as though to bite my finger)
Me: no. No bite. Mommy is not a food.
Keeghan: (tries again, with dimples)
Me: no, no. No bite.
Keeghan: (laughs, tries again)
Me: (straight faced, with more emphasis) NO. No bite. Do I look like I am laughing?
Keeghan: Yes.

Milepost #2

Meghan — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:05:44 +0000

I am keeping a diet and exercise journal. This is helping me with the “mommy meal skip,” where you feed everyone else, change a diaper, do a task, look up at the clock and realize it’s 2:30 and you last ate at breakfast.

Here, at my house, this is the setup for eating everything in sight from that moment until bedtime. Okay, not quite everything. The kids are safe.

1.6 miles

Milepost #1

Meghan — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:17:41 +0000

I walked 57 miles in the month of April.

Mother's Day with my Boys

We celebrated with a family walk.

1.2 miles

Mile Posts to my Healthiest Self

Meghan — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:52:09 +0000

I’m guest blogging over at Modded Momma today about my weight loss journey after baby. Body issues before kids were simpler. I’m not saying I didn’t have any. I don’t think you can be female and alive in this society and not have SOME. But they were simpler. More like, “does my butt look good in these?” and, “what should my next tat be?”

Then I had kids. And I Got Big. Really, really Big. Twice. After Ian was born, I said, you know, if this chubby gig was just buying bigger pants and eating ice cream, I’d be just fine, but, gosh, my health. And I lost the weight. No problem.

This time, it’s been harder. Possibly because I was much fitter when I had Ian than this time. Maybe because my doctor unwittingly raised the stakes by stressing my risk factors for Type II diabetes. Whatever the reason, I’m struggling this time.

I Held The Line over the winter holidays. Which is something to be proud of, but then I KEPT HOLDING IT. I’ve been very hard on myself about all of it, which is, not surprisingly, not making me any healthier. Starting today, I’ll be celebrating the mile posts as I come upon them along the way.

Day’s Begun

Meghan — Sun, 13 May 2012 10:20:13 +0000

007 on his phone and Ian on his Leap Frog. Be still my heart. (Keeghan, sweet baby, is sleeping in.)

Happy Mother’s Day

Meghan — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:57:42 +0000

My darling boy and his classmates have been busy making Mother’s Day gifts. As if that smile is not enough!

Send in the impressionists

Meghan — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:06:44 +0000

No wonder the impressionists liked them so much. I don’t grow irises myself, but sometimes I think a bank of the little ones would be nice. Then I remember that I haven’t caught up with what I’ve already got growing out there since I had Keeghan and became a capable person again, and I put that idea on the furthest back burner I’ve got.

It is time to face the fact that the flower bed out front has gotten completely out of hand, and needs an overhaul. It’s mostly shady except for a sliver that gets lots of afternoon sun. (So much, in fact, that I need to move the hostas planted there by the previous owner.) Deer drop by to snack on it regularly. (yes, here in the suburbs.) So I need to find a shade loving, sun tolerant, flowering, deer resistant perennial. Oh, and I have to like it and it needs to be easy to grow… Gee, nothing springs to mind.

2.41 miles, with a delighted Keeghan along for the ride.

What do you mean

Meghan — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:21:21 +0000

You aren’t having roast beef and goldfish crackers for your birthday dinner?

Oh we’re gonna have a party party

Meghan — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:42 +0000

One year ago right at this moment, I was at the hospital getting ready to report for my c-section. I was so very excited to finally meet you, bitty man! I thought I hadn’t formed any expectations about you, but you still came as a complete surprise. They lifted you out of me, and I said, “is that my baby?” (no, ma’am, it’s bring your naked baby to work day. Yours will be here soon.)

You took my breath away. You still do. Happy birthday, sweetie!