Looking good

We went into Southampton today, purely because it kept raining and meant our planned trip to the beach was off.  I told hubby that I would really like a red dress ready for next year’s special cruise (our 25th wedding anniversary) and maybe for a ball we’re going to in November.

After searching through Debenhams and finding nothing really wow (except for one that was £220 – no thanks), we came out opposite Tiffany’s.  Now Tiffany’s is a posh frock shop.  Think ball gowns, wedding dresses, prom dresses and the like.  When I saw the sale signs in the window it was a no brainer.  In we went.

Look what I found.

Absolutely gorgeous.  AND down from £125 to £50.  Plus it’s a size 12.  Squeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need to overhaul the wardrobe again

Two weeks ago tomorrow I tried on a pair of size 14 jeans.  They fit nicely and I wore them for several days before putting into wash.  Now normally if you wash jeans they shrink a little.  Not for me this time.  They seem to have grown a little.  So today I tried on some size 12 jeans – AND THEY FIT!!!!!!  Admittedly they’re a little snug – and will no doubt shrink a little in the wash – but THEY FIT.

Once we get into September I’ll be blitzing the wardrobe.  I kept some nice trousers (size 16) because, well, I never expected to go down this many sizes.  I’ve gone down from a size 18 to a size 12 (3 sizes, as we size in even numbers here in the UK).

This week just gets better and better.

The silver lining to the last run’s cloud

I did the same route today as in the last post.  Today was windy with some spots of rain in it – not enough to soak the ground after 10 minutes but enough to make spot marks on your glasses.  I did it 90 seconds faster!!  Go me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also did it earlier in the day, about an hour after breakfast, so maybe that’s why.  Or maybe I am improving.  I didn’t fancy going out in those conditions (being a pussy cat when it comes to getting wet) but the Great South Run happens at the end of October and the final couple of miles are into the cold wind (which often has wet bits in it) so gotta get used to it.

Some say that “runners high” is a myth.  I’m not sure.  I certainly feel good while I’m out, and that settles into a smugly satisfied “I did it” for the next couple of hours after I get back.  Plus, I’m mellower for the rest of the day.

Weigh in

Another half pound gain.  Yet I’m not unhappy about it.  Why?  Because other areas are seeing the benefits of this new lifestyle.  Take a look at what my SW consultant posted on FB the other day:

I can tick all of those.  I run further, the red jeans that I bought that were very tight are now loose enough not to irritate when I sit down, the inches are going (slowly), it won’t be long before I’ll have to have my wedding ring resized, and I have way more oomph than at almost any time in the past 10 years.  And as an added bonus my body fat percentage has fallen 2% in the past 6 weeks or so.  I’m just all round happier.

I’m doing longer run periods without stopping and, when I have to walk for a while I’m walking less.  Muscle is being built, which is denser than fat.  A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat.  To put it another way a litre of muscle weighs more than a litre of fat.  So, because my fat is going and being replaced by fat my inches are going down but my weight is maintaining/increasing slightly.  Yes I am looking forward to the scales moving downwards again BUT it’s not the only thing.