Friday, October 21, 2011

Shop Til You Drop

It's funny how I've been "congratulating" myself almost everyday this week for NOT eating crap at Sbux, or working out, or whatever. Earlier in the week, I was at the mall, I bought some new workout clothes. Great! Good motivation! Then I got some new eyeshadow! Yay! I like to look pretty! I bought a book one day after going to the gym. Then I went to Buffalo Exchange and got the find of the century, a brand new pair of Dansko clogs in a beautiful cherry brown color, absolutely brand new, AND IN MY SIZE. I had to get them. How could I not? I've wanted these shoes for years. It was a sign that I deserved to be congratulated. ;-)

I guess what I'm realizing is that if I'm not self-medicating with food, I'm self-medicating with shopping? Retail therapy is a girl's best friend. I can't say I was "stress shopping" though. I had a good week. Maybe it's a good thing? I mean, sure, the spending of the money isn't a great idea...BUT it could be a sign that I'm feeling better about myself, if I want to buy clothes. i've been feeling kinda blah about my body and about what I've done/haven't done. And in the last 2 weeks, I've absolutely gotten back on the Motivation Train, lost 5+ lbs, have really been good about working out, making good choices, and maybe this is a sign that I'm starting to feel good again. I was pleasantly surprised by a photo or two that popped up on the website for my show. I look(ed) "thin" or normal, at least. ;-) I can't get over that because I still feel huge. My brain can't get over the fact that I am NOT what I used to be. I think I'll probably always feel that way, and that's tough.

I also spent more money today...but I KNOW that these are great reasons for spending money. I signed up for 3 more races. Superhero 5K on Oct 30th in Kendall Square, The Gobble 3x on Thanksgiving morning, and the Jingle Bell Run in Davis Square on Dec 18th. I am excited to do these races and will do my best to train and get ready for them. :-) Plus, more free tshirts is ALWAYS a great idea. GI Jane and I talked about how last year's Thanksgiving race was so awesome. We felt so free and easy, we ran 4 miles, got showered, dressed, and went and ate our Thanksgiving dinners with a happy conscience. (Maybe I ran easier because I had just gotten engaged the night before and I was so excited and couldn't stop talking about it? But who cares. it was fun!) I wish all races felt like that.

I need to figure out a way to just run for fun and not put pressure on myself to beat a previous time or try to attain some goal or something. I need to focus on crossing the finish line. I know that at the end, I'll probably cry. I usually do. It's a reminder of how far I've come...and also of how far I still have to go. Life is a journey. My journey will never end. I just have to focus on the good parts of that journey, choose the paths that make it an easy ride. And sure, rough patches will come, but I have the tools to get over them. And so do you.

No comments:

Post a Comment