This is POST 21 of my “fitness journey.” For backstory, see Post 1,
Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7,Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12Post 13,Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, and Post 17,Post 18, Post 19 and Post 20.]
Those of you who have been following my fitness blogging are aware that I’ve been working hard and have lost 26 pounds and a bunch of body fat during the last 10 months. I have been on this journey for several reasons, but mostly so I could have more energy to keep up with our three young sons and the demands of our adventurous lifestyle, and to be healthier and therefore, happier.
But I’ve discovered another benefit of my weight loss. Jeans. As in, now I can comfortably wear them. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there are some really hip jeans out these days. I didn’t used to get excited about jeans. Well, recently, a colleague and friend of mine, Bill Garrels, group publisher of American Cowboy and National Parks Interactive, hooked me up with some Cowgirl Tuff Jeans.
To be honest, never in a million years would I have thought I could wear these, or that I’d even like them. But now, that’s all changed. I have a pair of 28×31 Tuff Girl jeans in my possession, and frankly, I can’t wait to wear them, blingy pockets and all. At the same time we’re booking our spring break trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, where I hope to do a 1,200-foot parasail.
Problem is, there’s a weight requirement: single riders must weigh at least 130 pounds. Right now I’m at 132, but I’ve increased my workout volume in preparation for an upcoming 25k skate ski race in West Yellowstone so could be approaching that weight. The parasail company is adamant that, unless I can talk one or both of our older sons into joining me on the adventure, I will only get to fly if I weigh 130 pounds. And yet to be able to wear my Tuff Girl Jeans comfortably, given my body and frame, I probably need to weigh not much more than 130 pounds. I feel like a wrestler.
Hence my dilemma. But I’m not complaining. I never thought I’d not be heavy enough for something, or that I’d consider wearing designer jeans. Thankfully, my very smart coach and trainer, Steve Bechtel, at Elemental Gym says no problem. Just schedule the parasail at the end of the (leisure) vacation. Smart coach, that guy is.
Obviously, though, the best yet would be for our 7-year-old and 9-year-old to go with me as a triple tandemand for me to be able to wear my Tuff Girl jeans. (No, not during the parasail, silly.) Wish me luck on making this happen. : >
(I should state that my husband, Jerry, would normally be on the parasail adventure, but given his spine operation rehab, he’ll be building sandcastles with our 2-year-old while me, and hopefully our two older sons, will be 1,200 feet above them.)
Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.