Friend of Julie: Numbers and Photos

Recently I wrote about measuring your success with a measuring tape. It's also a good idea to measure your calves. Who notices you're calves are smaller? Not me. That was until a few days ago when I slid my blue jeans into my boots, zipped them up, and then stood still for a moment when I realized: wow, I could not have done a year ago.

Left: Dec. 2012 in Punta Gorda, Florida
Right: Dec. 2011 in Washington, DC

It was a cold and rainy December day when I bought those boots; my first new pair since 1972. I was on vacation in Washington, DC and my feet were tired, which I find is the best time to buy shoes, and I was determined that was the day to buy myself new boots. I tried on boot after boot, but I couldn't get my foot in any of them. I had trouble keeping my balance, but I would not let the salesman help me put on the boots. After all, if I bought them I would have to do this by myself at home.

The salesman brought out a bigger size boot and that was the trick for me. Like Cinderella, my foot slipped into the boot and was a perfect fit. I remember being nervous about catching my skin in the zipper, but they zipped all the way up without a scratch. I was elated. They were beautiful, comfortable, expensive, and they were mine. I wore them out of the store and walked the half hour back to the bed and breakfast in Vernon Square.

Linda boots by Mephisto

In addition to measuring your body, calves, and arms, have someone take front and side photos every month, so you can see your weight loss more clearly. Put aside your "I don't like my photo taken" issues; you don't have to show anyone the photos. In the months ahead, you can view the photos and see the undeniable difference. 

I was looking through this blog for photos from that DC trip, to put photos from Dec. 2011 next to Dec. 2012, but I was disappointed to discover I hadn't written anything about my DC trip nor had I posted photos. I went into my photo files this morning and found the photos I added to the top of this page.

Sometimes life gets too busy to stop and write about it and this was one of those times. I blogged about my trip to Florida and the hot chocolate run that happened between the two trips. But there was a lot of changes going on for me physically and spiritually during that trip in DC, so I'm going to reflect back now.

It was Dec. 2011. I was so proud about how much walking and running I did all over DC. Eleven months earlier I did not have the stamina to walk and run as I did all day for a week. Six months earlier I was in Alaska and I wish I had the energy in Alaska that I had when I was in DC. Heck, I wish I had the energy I have today when I was in Alaska, but I can only change today. Besides, this is all relative. The year before, I could not have done the amount of walking I did in Alaska.

I was full of energy because I had dropped a lot of sizes. Today, as I look back through my blog, I see how my sizes were all over the place during these past two years. How is it that I was in a size 18 pants last year, but recently was excited about fit into size 18's? Not all size 18's are created equal. My recent purchases were 18's from JC Penney and my old 18's were from Lane Bryant. This all goes back to my point from a few days ago: successful weight loss is best measured with a measuring tape...and photographs!

The two friends I traveled with in DC, rented scooters (for completely different medical reasons). They weren't bound to the scooters, but without them, getting around town would have been a challenge for all of us. Most of the time I jogged along side and sometimes ahead of them, as we made our way from the bed and breakfast to museum after museum. I felt like a little school girl who had been indoors all day and was finally allowed outside to run and play. Rain, snow, or bitter cold, could not dampen my excitement one bit. One of my friends said to me, from her scooter, "sometimes I feel like your running coach."

Michelle (left) and Mary (right)

One beautiful crisp winter morning, I visited a friend another friend in DC, who was staying at her daughter's in Eastern Market. I chose to walk to the 3 miles to the restaurant instead of taking the metro or bus. After we ate, we spent most of our time walking at the Farmer's Market and then I walked her half way home, so I could get a sense of the neighborhood, which was full of beautiful homes.

Easter Market, Washington, DC

After we went our own ways, I took a side trip and met Mary at a museum about ten minutes away. Due to major construction, I got terribly lost. Every ten minutes I checked Map Quest and it told me I was 7 minutes from my destination. For an hour, I walked in circles and I was always 7 minutes away from the museum. I was exhausted by the time I saw Mary.

Mary traveled without her scooter that day and she was determined to cover a lot more distance on foot that afternoon. I knew when to stop and take care of myself and that's just what I did. After walking really fast and not being able to keep up with her, I finally said she should go on without me and that I'd catch up with her later.

A few minutes later, I stopped for a late lunch. I remember that was the first time I'd had spare ribs in decades, they were incredible. Ribs became a favorite item for me when I ate out after that. After lunch, I phoned Michelle and learned she was just a few blocks away, so we met up.

Walking home with Michelle and her scooter, my feet were killing me. Along the way, we passed a Mephisto store with beautiful boots in the window. I asked Michelle to go in with me and teach me what she knows about buying boots; she lives in Vermont and knows a lot about boots. I didn't try any on that day, but she showed me what to look for and what to avoid. A day or two later, I went back and bought my new boots.

Me and my traveling buddies departing Washington, DC, Dec. 2011