Friday, August 9, 2013

It's football season again!

And so I thought I'd put on this shirt one more time.  Let's discuss.

My grandmother sent me birthday money one year, and I took it straight to the Bronco store at the stadium.  I went with two friends, and was quickly embarrassed at how big I was.  Actually, let me clarify that.  I wasn't embarrassed at how big I was, as I'd been that way pretty much as long as they'd known me.  I was embarrassed by how few shirts were even close to fitting me.  How twisted is that?  I'd been shopping at Lane Bryant for so long, I really wasn't used to a store that fit average-sized people.  This was one of the few that came in not only XXL, but 3XL and 4XL.  I really should have gotten the 4XL, but I was so ashamed of how big 3XL sounded that I couldn't bring myself to buy one size bigger in front of these little friends.  I wanted a pic to send to GM in my thank you note to her, which is probably the only reason I even have a pic of that day.


In this pic, the shirt hasn't been washed so is the biggest it will ever be. It was cold in the mountains that weekend, so I was forced to wear an unplanned long-sleeve shirt with it, making it even tighter.  I am sucking in my gut like it was my job and my hands on my hips?  They're pulling the shirt forward, tight in the back, and trying to make it looser around my gut.  It was not a good day.  After that, I only washed it in cold and never dried it, but there were a few years in there where I didn't wear it at all.












This pic is from 2012's season opener.  See how happy I look that the shirt is hanging loosely on me?  Smug, ain't I?


















And this is from the 2013 (pre-)season opener last night.  I've been drying the shirt to shrink it, but it's really too big to wear any more.  When I asked The Hubs to take the pic, he asked what I wanted to highlight.  "Uh ... how much smaller I am?"  So then he played photoshoot stylist and actually used a chip clip on the back of the shirt (just call me Jessica Simpson -- anyone remember that?).  I'm not ashamed to admit that that made me really happy and I giggled.

And this is definitely the last season I'm wearing this shirt.  Which is kind of sad, because I really like it now :)


Someone on SparkPeople asked me recently, "isn't it motivating to look at pics that show your progress?"  And I had to answer with a resounding, "YES!"  Seriously, I thought I was SO SMALL last year just by virtue of seeing progress!  Progress is good.  Any progress.  Less heavy breathing, less knee or back pain, being able to walk further or faster or whatever.  Progress is progress, yo!

7 comments:

  1. I just found your blog via SP and am so inspired. I have a similar start weight to yours but I am much further behind you in my journey. I live in the Denver are so when I saw your Broncos shirt, it made me come and read, and wow! I am so motivated by you and all of your success.
    I have a question for you since walking is your exercise of choice (mine too). How do you deal with our seasonal weather and getting in your miles? I walk alone as well and am not able to walk in the mornings due to the way my son's schedule is, and walking after work in the winter it's dark! I'm a little intimidated walking alone in the dark.
    I'm just a little worried I am going to lose momentum when the time change and the snow come around, when I'm doing so well now.
    I would love to hear your training plan and whether it changes seasonally, etc.

    Again, you are such an inspiration and you look Ah-mazing!!

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  2. Progress is progress and you have shown how the faithful, consistent steps are the ones which bring change. You are awesome, friend! And that shirt, though cute, I believe just made history. It's time to go buy a smaller one, sis! Way to GOOOO! Woohoo!

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  3. Love that smile on your face, as you really are happy. I wanted to stop by and tell you that I bought a Vitamix blender this week to try and make some smoothies and get some fruit and veggies into me. I will start small, but really you are very inspiring.

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