September 23, 2012

Reader Questions and Answers #25


On Sundays, I will answer some readers' questions in a post. If you have a question that you would like me to answer here on the blog, just send me an e-mail with the subject "Q&A", and I may include them in a future Q&A post. They don't have to be about weight loss or running--anything is game!  (Remember, I'm not a doctor or dietician, or any sort of medical professional--I can only answer questions from my own experience).

Q. Since you look so beautiful now (the reader's words, not mine, haha), do you ever find yourself wanting to overspend money on clothes or jewelry or makeup because you feel "you deserve it?" I lost over 70 pounds and I find myself wanting to spend a lot on clothes and stuff that I could never wear before because I was so big. It's taking a toll on my budget and my marriage.

A. First off, congrats on your weight loss! I can completely understand wanting to treat yourself to new things. Fortunately, (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), I have always been very thrifty, and a bit of a tightwad when it comes to money. Even in high school, I bought my clothes at thrift stores, and losing the weight didn't really change that. When I first got to my "goal size" (I knew I didn't want to get smaller than a size 4, so when I was able to comfortably wear size 4, I felt I was at my goal size), I did go buy quite a bit of new clothes.

A fashionista, I am not.

However, I did my shopping at thrift stores and garage sales. I just can't imagine myself spending $50 on a pair of jeans that I could buy for a $1 at a garage sale! It takes some hunting--sometimes I find all kinds of great deals and sometimes none at all. But, with all of that said, I am not a big fashionista. I really couldn't care less if I wear trendy clothes or not.

I think if you really enjoy clothes and accessories, and you are excited to show off your new body, then go for it! But you said it's taking a toll on your budget and marriage, so you definitely need to be careful. I would talk with your husband, let him know how much it means to you, and maybe you both can work some new clothes into your budget.



Q. When you were overweight, did you ever worry that your kids would grow up to be too? Do you still worry about that now? My long time boyfriend and I have always been overweight, and I feel like our chance of raising non-overweight children are so small!

A. This was a huge fear of mine, even long before I had kids. I was teased really badly in elementary school, and because of that, I had zero self-confidence all the way into adulthood. I knew I didn't want my future kids to feel that way, but I also didn't want them to grow up with disordered eating habits (namely binge eating, like me). 

The last thing I wanted to do was make my kids worry about their weight, so I don't talk about dieting or calories or anything like that with them. I generally let my kids make their own decisions about what they eat; but I hold a lot of control in that I don't buy lots of junk. We never have soda in our house, or even juice (water and milk are their options); we don't buy chips or cookies or anything like that unless it's for a specific purpose (I might buy a bag of chips if we're cooking hamburgers on the grill, for example); we don't eat at restaurants very often (maybe once a month, and it's never fast food); and I only let them buy the school lunch once a week.

My boys run for cookies too ;)
 My kids certainly get their share of junk, however--when they spend the night at my parents' house, they drink soda, and my parents sometimes take them to Wendy's for lunch after church. My dad has a jar of candy and he lets them have a piece or two when they come over. When I go grocery shopping, I usually buy them a treat (a single serving). On the occasion that we do go out to eat, I let them order what they want.

My system certainly isn't perfect, but it works for my family; and my kids aren't overweight. I'm not sure yet how I would handle it if they become overweight in the future, but hopefully that won't be a problem. The best I can do is set a good example for them, which I strive to do every day!



Q. You've mentioned listening to podcasts when you run.  What kind of podcasts do you listen to?  Are they fitness related? 

A. On my shorter runs, I don't bring my iPod, but on really long runs, I do take it to listen to podcasts. My favorite podcast is The Jillian Michaels Podcast, which is funny because I really disliked Jillian the whole time she was on The Biggest Loser. Since I've started listening to her show, however, I've totally changed my mind about her. She's entertaining to listen to, and I've gotten some great info from her.

Another podcast that I recently discovered is called Half Size Me. It's by a woman named Heather, who has lost 170 pounds. She talks about her maintenance, and she is a self-proclaimed success story junkie (so am I)--so she interviews a lot of people who have lost a large amount of weight. That's actually how I first heard about the podcast--she invited me to take part in an interview! We've already recorded it, and she said it will probably go up on the podcast in November. (I was terrified to do a talk-interview! I'm much better at writing than I am talking).

I've also recently discovered Vinnie Tortorich (Angriest Trainer); he's a personal trainer who talks about different fitness topics. I find the stories he tells very amusing, and I like that he's so honest about his thoughts. (Just FYI, he uses explicit language).

I like listening to fitness/weight loss podcasts because those topics interest me in everyday life. But there are podcasts for just about every topic you can imagine, so I would just search for a topic that interests you.



And now a question for all of you...
How did you spend the first day of fall (yesterday)?  It was cold and raining all day, so I truly enjoyed wearing sweats and curling up under a blanket in front of a Lifetime movie :)

25 comments:

  1. I spent the first day of Fall running a 5K at the zoo!

    I love the first question. I feel like when I get to goal (or an average size) I will feel so overwhelmed with all the choices! I may have the urge to buy everything! lol

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  2. We spent yesterday outlet shopping and I ate Thanksgiving dinner. (I just finished tomorrow's blog about it) I am SOOOO ready for temps in the 60's and colorful leaves!!

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  3. We spent yesterday raking leaves and letting the kids jump in them! Then we put out our Halloween decorations - I'm a Halloween and Christmas junkie. Then today I ran in a really nice 5k - the weather was PERFECT and fallish! It wound through a local state college campus and at one point the leaves were kind of falling to the ground in a lazy and twisty manner - it was SO perfect! I even PR'd by 3 minutes! GREAT start to my FAVORITE season of the year!

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  4. The first day of fall here in FL was absolutely gorgeous!! I think it was a cool 84 lol!! We spent most of the day with my parents! We cooked out and just hung out with them and then came home and took a nice long nap!

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  5. I was packing all day, and it was such a beautiful day that I was really bummed to be inside packing. But, with a move coming in less than a week, it was necessary!

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  6. I'm in running club at my college, and yesterday morning we all rode in cars to a state park to go for a long run. I LOVED it! I moved to Philadelphia from a small town about a month ago and I've seriously been missing nature. The nice long trail run was exactly what I needed.

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  7. I am brand new to your blog but when I saw your description of how you spent your first day of Autumn, I just had to comment! Your first day of Fall was my exact dream day! Unfortunately, I live in the Phoenix, Arizona area so our first day of Autumn came in at about 106 degrees. Yes, it was as awful as it sounds! Please continue to add snippets of the four seasons for me! I look forward to catching up on your blog.

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  8. The boys and I spent the day at the pool. The weather was so nice, not too hot. Perfect day in GA. :)

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  9. Your first question is an issue for me. I lost 50 lbs. two years ago and now wear a size 4. I love to go to the department stores and try on clothes. EVERYTHING looks good, and I want to buy it all! I try to find a balance between dressing fashionably, and not overspending. Of course, I had to buy all new clothes at first because none of the old ones fit me. That was great fun! Now I take a list with me (specific items and colors to go with closet) so I can build up my wardrobe, and not just buy random items that appeal to me.

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  10. I ran a 5k yesterday, and got a new PR.

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  11. Yesterday I was lazy as hell because today I wogged my first half marathon...and now Im spent. So Im being lazy today too. Im not sure how I feel about running right now...pretty much over it. Sad!

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  12. I spent the first day of fall picking apples to can homemade applesauce!

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  13. I went to the TCU football game. It did not feel like fall at all. It was 97 degrees here in Texas! I can't wait for it to get cooler so I can bust out the sweatshirts! Your day sounds fabulous!

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  14. I found this great idea on Pinterest (I'm a new fan--can't stay away from that site), to decorate for Fall. I went to the craft store and bought a bunch of fall flowers, fake pumpkins, then to the grocery store and got some real gourds and Indian corn (is that politically correct?) and put it all in this old silver wash bucket we have and set it on the front porch.
    I love it. I'm going to put a picture of it on my blog--so be sure to check me out later today, on Spark: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=5067871

    I identify with writer one about wanting and thinking I deserve lots of new clothes. I can't quit buying pretty new things--even though I'm now less than three months from retirement and do NOT need any more clothes, especially since I will no longer be going to work every day (HOORAY!)

    Also identified with writer two who asked if you worried that your kids would be obese. My middle son is very obese. I worry about him. I didn't set good examples for any of my three boys as they were growing up--we ate a lot of fast food and had junk around the house all the time. My oldest son was always skinny, although he has put on some weight over the last few years. He fights it pretty successfully though--by watching what he eats and doing lots of running! Youngest son has more of a weight problem, although nothing approaching middle son's. He is constantly working out, but like me, he loves to eat. Right now he is on a new kick to lose weight cause he wants to "get a woman." (In his words.) I support his goal and have been trying to cook lots of low cal options for him, as he is still living at home. He is 26, went with a gal for about 3 years just out of high school and into their college years, but she broke up with him about 5 years ago, and no steady girlfriends since. I think she broke his heart. So I hope he can find someone new. He is picky though, so I guess if he loses weight maybe he'll be able to find someone who fits his standards, even though I told him to look at what's inside instead of the outside so much. Hard to tell a 26-year old guy much about women though!

    No rain in my part of Nebraska yesterday, so enjoyed some shopping and Football (K.C. Chiefs won in overtime!) and as a huge TV junkie, I made sure to watch the Emmy's last night!

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  15. I live in Texas so the first day of Fall was spent outside in 95 degree heat for a soccer game. Yuck! The cooler temperatures have not hit us yet. Send some our way!

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  16. Yesterday I did a 50 mile relay run across Long Island with 7 other friends :) The weather could not have been more perfect!

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    1. The Ocean to Sound Relay! I want to do that next year with my husband and get a team together! Are you doing the Diva Half, and do I know you over on Island Running on FB, GiGi?

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  17. I spent the 1st day of fall driving all over Long Island for a wedding. It was a beautiful day, the wedding was wonderful and the food and party was great. It was very nice to be out with Charlie as adults with our kids at home, not needing a babysitter!

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  18. I spent the first day of Fall at my boot camp class, then went grocery shopping for the week, prepped some meals, made breakfast sandwiches and then headed to a bachelorette party Saturday evening in San Francisco.

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  19. I spent the first day of fall with the fiancée on the motorcycle. The leaves were goregous, but it was a windy 52 degree wide.

    Then I spent it decorating the house for Fall.

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  20. I spent part of the day getting a bit of "me time" that included a 45 minute walk and going out for lunch where I could sit and knit for a while. We then met family at one of the local farms, in theory for the corn maze, but we never made it to the maze as the kids had too much fun feeding the sheep and goats, playing on the play structure and in the corn pit. Thankfully the rain didn't thwart our plans. I'm rather disappointed about the lack of you-pick-em apples this year though.

    My second daughter was born 10 months ago and has been chubby ever since. I know it's too early to really be worried about her weight, but it's part of what made me determined to be a better example. I don't want my kids to be picked on in school like I was for being fat.

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    1. I just want to comment that when my daughter was about the same age as yours, the dr said her weight was 100th percentile at a checkup. Her height was only 70th or something. I had already been worried about her being chubby and that only intensified it. The dr said she would lose it as soon as she started walking and she did. She is 12 now and is beautiful - a very healthy size. Like Katie though, we did not do soda or fast food. We do however do dessert regularly. :)

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  21. I spent the first day of fall walking my first 5k!! I had intended on running it but an injury sidelined my training, so we walked it instead. It was the Houston area PCOS awareness walk, and we were walking for my sister, who finally got a positive pregnancy test, only to miscarry yesterday. We were supposed to be a team of 4, and instead we were a team of 2, but we walked it for her, and did not quit!

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  22. I spent the first day of Fall in the freezing cold and rain to volunteer at a local half marathon. I think the runners appreciated the LUNA bars though ;)

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  23. I ran my first 10K, with my sister (or behind my sister)...1:11 ...I may be slow but I did it.

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