That Was Close

Wednesday, 20 July 2011
From Real Simple

Once when I was wedding dress shopping with my friend Casey at Vera Wang in Chicago (so just name-dropped right there) she looked at me in horror and said, "What the hell? You're skinnier than I am!" It was one of the proudest moments of my life. A bit of background...

Casey is the tiniest woman on the face of the earth. She is petite and skinny and has small bones. It isn't easy to be the best friend of a skeleton but that's just how God made her. My friend Angelica and I had a running joke in college about Casey's diet. We'd say, "How about some niiiiiiice saltine crackers and a tasty glass of water...?" The thing is, Casey did eat. She is just thin.

So, when I starved myself for my wedding and got down to a size 0 (in Ann Taylor clothes, mind you) Casey was mortified. I'm afraid she'd be just as mortified if she saw me now. I was in a swimsuit last week and looked down at myself. My gosh - what the heck happens to your body in your 30s? I've been completely wrapped up in applying for the doctoral program and getting my vintage clothing store opened and gained a bazillion pounds. I know what you're going to say. "Denae, you're not fat." Thank you for that but I'm not fishing for compliments here.

I'm just glad I noticed in time to make a change instead of changing to a new clothing size. If you've been reading my blog at all, despite the recent 5K run, you know I'm allergic to exercise. I love to garden, swim, work in the yard, build things, go for long walks but I think going to a large concrete space to run on a stationary machine and pick up ambient objects is strange. Weight gain has everything to do with diet and a little bit to do with activity level.

Summer is the perfect time to add more fruits and veggies to our diets. My neighbors must be feeding their tomato and cucumber plants liquid crack because they are producing like crazy. I owe them some major dough for keeping me fed. I've eaten tomatoes and cucumbers everyday for lunch for a week. Delicious! I'm back to coffee for breakfast (2 sugars, a lot of fat free milk) and fat free popcorn for a snack. I've already dropped a few. The only problem? (Ladies, does this happen to you??) The fat seems to melt away from the areas you'd rather keep first. Such a drag.


Lorelei Potter said...

I completely agree that diet is the most important puzzle piece. I do always lose in my upper body first. lately, tho, I cannot get consistent healthy, low caloric, lean food intake into my life. I splurge way too often and enjoy an ice cold beverage too often. Hang in there Danae and you really do look great. You are such a food lover that I am sure you will shave off a few pounds in no time with a lttle modification of your wonderful diet.

Annie said...
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Annie said...

I think you are gorgeous no matter what size you feel happy in. Size 0 is very little for some, but appropriate for others. I just want to show you my support in anything you feel you need to do. I just want you to be healthy. And I always thought you were the hottest one in the room. ALWAYS! :) Wish I could have a veggie garden also.