5 Pants in 5 Months

If you follow my blog, you have been forced to follow the story of my pants.  Lucky you.

I pledged in April to make 5 pairs in 5 days, but the pattern proved problematic.  I did finally finish all 5 pairs, and have been wearing them gleefully this month.

The truth is, I made 6 pairs, because the very first pair had to be taken apart completely and resewn from the beginning.  I changed the pattern every time so the first/last pair fit just right, then went back to all the other pairs and updated all the changes so they all fit the same.  Here they are:

5 Pants in 5 Months

HOWEVER.....there is a curve ball:  In the last 2 weeks, Dave and I started cycling some of the trails around Chilliwack.  The setting is spectacular, but my cycling skills are not so it's pretty teetery, coasting-along style cycling.  So imagine my surprise when I put some pants on this weekend and they are all too loose - like 2" too loose!  Fortunately I somewhat anticipated my size changing and designed them to  be altered along the side seams easily.

 I'll just get right on that.

Update on the 60 Project

So the weight thing.  I joined Weight Watchers with my friend Keri so that I would have some accountability.  I want to lose the weight I gained back since the summer.  All my spring clothes will be too small if I don't do this.  It is much cheaper to lose the weight than replace the clothes.

Couple of cool things about WW: 1. they now have a cool app for my iphone to track my eating and exercise.  2. I get points credit for exercise, so I have begun walking again, even in the rain.

So the too busy thing.  I have been orthodoxly religious about taking my days off and enjoying them.  Like right now I'm sitting by the fire IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON ON A WEEKDAY writing on my blog.  This is an example of me turning over a new leaf in the life balance arena.

I promised to be even nicer to my husband this year.  We started a new marriage course with a group of other married people.  It's called Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage.  I was immediately challenged.  Wonder if I can break out of my comfort zone here.....

And finally, I am blogging!  I had major computer headaches.  For my new job we decided to use my personal laptop and make it do for both personal and professional needs.  After it was finished being reprogrammed, I couldn't get it to work properly anywhere.  Now I'm up and running again.

That's the update - I'll keep you posted.

About the weight thing....

Let's just get the weight thing out of the way.  August 2009 David and I changed our eating, and I lost 47 lbs. over 7 months.  I started exercising around December, and got a personal trainer in March.  Then in April we spent 2 weeks in Phoenix with most of our family and put on a little.  Then the summer came and we did a big backyard project, not cooking proper meals and put on a little.  Then Dave went to Africa for 3 weeks and I enjoyed myself gastronomically while he was gone, and did NOT put on a little......until he came back.  We hit the ground running for the school year which turned out to be much more work for me than I had anticipated, and I put on a lot!  Now I'm up 22 lbs from March, but still 25 lbs. less than July 2009.

So now the obvious question is: should weight loss be a part of The 60 Project?  Here's the deal:

Case A:  I'm built the same as my mother and grandmothers - sturdy and close to the sidewalk.  I'm in excellent health, take no regular medications (except for Prilosec for acid reflux - I promised to be transparent), no heart, cancer, diabetes etc. issues.  I love food. Real food, with butter and pecans and gorgonzola and fresh vegies and meat, Jamie Oliver food - you get the idea.

Case B:  I liked weighing less.  I could move easier, clothes fit better, I felt younger, my body looked better - especially my ankles - and I was more willing to exercise.  However, I think I looked older in my face, the bags under my eyes got worse, and I now have a neck like a turkey.

Dr. Oz says a good goal is to lose 1 pound a month.  Is that even measurable for me?  My weight jumps up like it is on a mission from God to restore me to my former glory.  Do I look at this like a hobby?  If I would choose a hobby, it would be getting out into the garden everyday (which, in spite of what the magazines say, is NOT an exercise program), not measuring food and measuring me.  Do I do the Oprah - go up, go down, go up, get a rack of custom made clothes, Restylane and the best lighting in the world?  (sing along:  If I had a million dollars.....)


I'm leaning towards putting a 'sensible eating and walking a lot' plan into action for the next couple of weeks to un-Christmas my body and mind, then Sure Slimming our breakfasts and lunches and most dinners, and see where that gets me.  Any other suggestions?  Truthfully, don't you like to see it when your friends slim down a little?