Getting smaller but weighing more...

[Lise]

I henceforth swear off women's mags. Unless they start putting out Mode again... Regarding stone vs. pounds, the stones in my yard vary from massive boulders down to the lemon-sized tiller-breakers, so I can claim any number from 180 to 1/18th. Throw in the variations from the phases of the moon and appearance of crop circles and .....

LLB-you cracked me up. See the advantage of picking your own stones, though? "My weight? 1/18th of a stone. You gotta problem with that?"

I loved Mode mag, too. I also loved Lane Bryant clothes. Now that I'm a size 8-10, they got nothin' for me. I do enjoy Oprah, the mag. I devour Triathlete when it comes in the mail. My problem is remembering, as a mentor said to me, that "accessorizing is not actually training." Night all, L.

[CorsairMac]

so if we weighed an uneven amount would it be something like:

I weigh 9 stone, 6 pebbles??

[latelatebloomer]

I went to a flamenco show last night. One of the many things I love about flamenco is that the women have earthier, mature bodies and express a kind of womanhood that I don't think American women know much about. And sure as shootin', there was a dancer last night that was a bigger woman. She had a beautiful rounded shape, strong arms and shoulders, a touch of plumpness in the best sense of the word. And she was the best dancer. She moved with more power from her core, and I felt that she danced with the best thought in regard to the music. (ug, it's like trying to describe wine.)

And then I had a thought as we were driving back home - how hard that woman (there weren't photos of the troupe with the names, so I cannot call her by name) trains. Every day, almost every night. She is respected in the dance community, enough to be part of a troupe that travels internationally. And she is not thin.

If the Jose Porcel troupe comes to your town, give yourself a treat - and keep an eye out for the blonde dancer. (Oh, and the men are a tasty treat, too.)

[RoadRaven]

LOL ladies, I do like being stones and pebbles, rather than stones, pounds and ounces... most excellent...

LateLate... I know what you mean about size having nothing to do with sexyness and skill in dance - if the dancer knows she has it, she has it...

I went with my ma and daughter recently to see a local production of "Gypsy Rose Lee" and the best thing about it was the five minute slot of various strippers dancing saying stripping wasn't such a bad job. The woman in the viking outfit who was firmly round and abbundantly comfortable with her body was so sexy I was ready to take her home with me.
I finally knew what Freddy was singing about when he sang "...fat bottomed girls you make my rocking world go round..."

[crazycanuck]

The best thing about FBG by queen is the line "get on yer bikes n ride"...Í think i've memorized that song for long hills...

c

[RTP1031]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

[RoadRaven]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes... I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

I judge myself by my clothes... I knew I was changing shape, beacuse my jeans started slipping down when I walked/ran, and I didn't need the "extra" bit in my bra you can buy so your bra does up across your back.

But the weight was such a surprise because I hadn't weighed myself since February, and to hop on some scales and find I had gained weight despite getting smaller was a bit of a suprise/shock.

The only reason it is bugging me is because I have extra to drag up the hills... GRRR

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Most men don't want skinny waifs... they want healthy looking women, they want women who feel soft and comfortable to "snuggle" with (thanks Marge Simpson for your word) - men as a rule do not want hard and bony women...

To quote the late great Frank Zappa "Who wants to ride on an ironing board..."

Size is not a determination of sexy - attitude is
Size is not a determination of healthy - fitness is

More power to us, perfect women in all shapes and sizes...

[susiej]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Hah! Another one to say I weigh 15 pounds more than HS (20 year reunion this Thanksgiving), 20 pounds more than my all-time skinniest, and I'm wearing sizes I have never worn in my life. OK, maybe it's the extra 1/2" Anne Taylor Loft adds to their sizes is part of the cause, but still!

I use the scale to keep me honest. After gestational diabetes and now insulin resistance, I weigh weekly to keep my eating habits good. And I also test my blood sugar after any meal I think will push it high. Ugh, Thai food! My love! My nemesis!

SFBeachdog, why be a perfect 0 when you can be a perfect 10? Or better yet, a perfect 12!

--SJ

[Tuckervill]

Im with LateLate - we should always find time to think over what we have accomplished and not just fixate on what we haven't. Im pretty slow on my bike and sometimes I have a bit of a whine about it to my husband and he just says hey I dont know too many other 41 year old women that are out there cycling and giving it their best shot. Six months ago you knew nothing about cycling look how far you have come. Thank goodness for a husband who keeps things in perspective. I say to the ladies of TE WE ROCK.

I picked up a book at Sam's Club the other day that I thought was just great. "Change the way you see everything through asset-based thinking."

And the quote above is exactly what the book is about. Thinking about the things you have instead of the things you haven't; the things you have done instead of the things that you haven't done. The book is a visual treat, as well.

I'm a sucker for motivational books--any time I can get the message in a new way, I'm psyched.

http://www.assetbasedthinking.com/

Karen

[CR400]

What is worse these days is sometimes because the standard is so thin even people who we used to think were tiny start to look fat. I mean this one young lady I know is a 6 but they even make her look fat.

My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April, it should be noted that this is when my serious outdoor training started, hill, headwinds and all. Is I have to peel my normal sizes off my thighs. The jeans I tried on Friday were worse then taking off my cycling shorts ever are. Mind you I've never been known as a thick thighed woman.

However, whenever I do a race that has lots of climbing I get my butt kicked and likely always will. Never mind I have the strength to get up some of those short steep hills in a 52/15-13.

[Quillfred]

[QUOTE=CR400] My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April, it should be noted that this is when my serious outdoor training started, hill, headwinds and all. Is I have to peel my normal sizes off my thighs. The jeans I tried on Friday were worse then taking off my cycling shorts ever are. Mind you I've never been known as a thick thighed woman. QUOTE]

I have notice about a 10 lb. weight gain in the last 4-5 months. Although I commute about 2-3X a week, I am "careful" to have carbs before and after rides. I have hard, expanded muscle but still have the fat over it.

I had a false sense of security in regards to eating. I though I'd burn it all off and realized I have been much more liberal in portions too. Live and learn I guess.

[RoadRaven]

My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April

I have notice about a 10 lb. weight gain in the last 4-5 months.

I don't know if I gained weight in the first year of cycling, cause I weighed myself one summer, and didn't hop in scales again til the following summer.
But as I said earlier, it was over a year before I actually started losing weight, although my body shape was changing.

So good to hear not all of us live by what scales say, but by what our bodies can do and how our clothes fit.
I certainly understand the use of scales to help manage a condition (like diabetes) but we must be so careful not to let scales rule our thoughts.

[KnottedYet]

Tuckervill-

I am absolutely psyched about that book you posted! It talked directly about a problem co-worker (calls me at home to scream at me about how I've ruined her life, and then cries about her ex husband, her kids, and her debts.... for an hour). I've got to go get this book! Fabulous!