Editor’s Note: Susan McCreath has been selected to participate in the Year of You, a fitness challenge hosted by The Manteca Bulletin and CORE Athletic Performance. McCreath is keeping a weekly journal, highlighting the strides and struggles of her fitness journey. These are her thoughts and feelings shared with you.
Day 265
Just when you start to feel good about yourself … BAM! Today my mother-in-law was ironing a pair of jeans (she loves to iron). When she finished, she held them up and said, “Look at these things. He (referring to my husband) wears the biggest pants I’ve ever seen. Look at these things. How am I supposed to even hang them on a hanger they’re so big!?” I look up at her and quickly realize that she is holding a pair of my jeans! I don’t have the heart or the guts to tell her that those are my jeans and not my husband’s even as she is hanging them saying, “These things are going to break the hanger there’s so much material in them.” For the record they were a pair of size 14 boot-cut jeans.
Day 266
After yesterday’s jean incident I decided I wanted to see how my jeans compared to my husband’s. His are bigger, not by a lot, but they are bigger. Thank goodness.
Day 267
My son is coming home in a few weeks for a quick visit. I have not seen him since I started this journey and one of my goals was to surprise him with some weight loss. Time is ticking away, but like most people I encounter on a daily basis, time is the enemy.
Day 268
The question I grapple with on an almost daily basis is “Should I watch my child play in their game or workout?” I think most moms would agree that they wouldn’t miss a game, but some would question why I don’t work out in the morning. It’s pretty simple. I stay up until about midnight every night completing paperwork, responding to emails and reading for my job. I get about six hours of sleep which allows me to at least function for the day. I can’t imagine going down to five hours of sleep! So, to answer the question: I go to my child’s game.
Day 269
I left for Oregon today and those car drives just make you ponder life. Some good, some bad … just life. Am I where I want to be? What do I want or need to change? Why is dieting and exercising so hard? Why do I work so hard? How much further to the hotel? Are my jeans really that big?
Day 270
Oregon football games are amazing and entertaining, but also be prepared to burn some calories. The hike to the game, the walk up the ramp to the top of the stadium, going down more than 100 stairs to your seat, standing up throughout the game, walking up 100 stairs to use the restroom or get a water. It’s just nice to know that the majority of the fans have to stop at the top of the stairwell to catch their breath as well.
Day 271
The long drive home and the conclusion of another week on this journey. Time is flying and I’m really starting to stress about whether or not I will reach my goals. One goal I know I need to meet is dropping another jean size. I can’t stand to go through that conversation again.
Connect with Susan McCreath and CORE Athletic Performance trainer Robert Iniguez on the Year of You Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/theyearofyouchallenge.
