I'll be the first to admit that I have a big hate-hate relationship with the Body Mass Index. I learned of it after I gained a lot of weight, and felt it was just one more way to feel absolutely terrible about myself. For the larger portion of 2009, I hovered around a BMI of 30.
Obese.
Obese was never a place I wanted to return to, especially after losing weight when I live in Japan. The stress of returning home and the inability to find a decent job for over six month, drove my weight back up, three pounds over my starting weight before departing for Japan in 2003. Every piece of clothing I had no longer fit, and I was forced to revert back to boxes of clothes that I intended on donating to charity upon returning from Japan.
After starting my job in New York, I was reminded of the extreme health consciousness and body image struggle I had when I first moved to Japan. Finally, I just told myself I to do something about it. I helped out with the school volleyball team a couple of days after school. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how out of shape I was and how frustrating it made playing sports. Playing with the girls helped me get back into being active, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted more. It wasn't enough to simply play sports anymore. I wanted to enjoy playing again, but my weight stood in the way of it.
Finding a way to workout without joining a gym or searching for others to play team sports was key. Running was an individual sport I always envied people over. I would see people running at the campus next door or along the streets, and I wistfully dreamed I could do the same. Then I realized... why not?
In the last year, I have lost 25 pounds, and lowered my BMI to 27.3. Yes, I am aware that it means I am still in the "Overweight" classification, but it's in the middle of range (25-29.9). Perhaps my take on this progress is overly optimistic, but maintaining a positive attitude is the key to keeping my momentum rolling. I promised myself that I would maintain a healthy path while focusing on fitness and nutrition, so I am satisfied with the progress I am making.
I don't have to worry about screaming Bloody Murder when I step on the scale anymore. That comfort alone puts my heart and soul at ease. I just have to keep putting my feet to the asphalt.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
[o2] Busted
Despite losing 25 pounds in the last year, I am still a large busted runner. Today, I read an article by Women's Running Magazine, and found it rather informative. I have difficulty shopping for sports bras, as the local sports shops primarily carry sizes A through D. If I am lucky, I can find a nice and unflattering in one of three color choices: black, white, or nude. I get rather uspet that athletic clothing designers, especially the larger name companies, do not make athletic bras for larger athletes.
You know, more larger ladies would be inclined to work out, if they have effective and strong support. One of the things that has hindered my playing sports and staying consistently active has been my chest. Thankfully, as a result of running, I have gone down a cup size (from 3D/F to DD), but it still isn't enough for high impact sports like running or volleyball. I love these sports as well as tennis and swimming, but the added heft and pulling makes it difficult to enjoy the sports. Many say "pain is temporary, but pride is forever," but I feel there are certain limitations to this addage.
Unfortunately, the best advice I have received about bras for larger breasted women has only been at specialty shops. Though I enjoy shopping at mall boutiques like Victoria's Secret, I have been misfitted for bras on several occasions by their 'specially trained staff'. I do not even bother talking the sales staff at large sporting good stores like Sports Authority and the like as I rarely find an individual who is knowledgable about sports bras. They can sell me shoes, camping gear, string a tennis racket, and show me how to improve my putt, but you ask about sports bras, and they will pass the buck to the one female staff member who is at most a B cup and basically tells me "just find your regular size".
One qualm I have with sports bras for larger chests is the bigger price tag that comes with them. Granted, it isn't Nike, adidas, UnderArmour, Champion or the other large name companies churning out these items, so I guess a higher price is to be paid. In the article, Moving Comfort VP Julie Baxter gives rather informative advice about sizing, fit and maintenance for sports bras. I actually learned a couple of things that I had not known before. I have kept sports bras for years and worn them into threads, but it turns out that's pretty much the worst thing one can do. The best piece of advice for full figured, sports bra wearers:
"Sports bras shouldn't have birthdays."
Looks like one of mine shall be getting the ole heave ho ASAP! I hope I can find a specialty shop in my area for a consultation. If not, I shall wait until Christmas when I am home to go to my beloved friends at The Bra Boutique in Coral Springs, Florida. They sold me a fantastic sports bra by Freya when I was home over the summer time. It was worth every penny I paid for it. I need to find a stocker of MC's line of sports bras. I love how they have color!
You know, more larger ladies would be inclined to work out, if they have effective and strong support. One of the things that has hindered my playing sports and staying consistently active has been my chest. Thankfully, as a result of running, I have gone down a cup size (from 3D/F to DD), but it still isn't enough for high impact sports like running or volleyball. I love these sports as well as tennis and swimming, but the added heft and pulling makes it difficult to enjoy the sports. Many say "pain is temporary, but pride is forever," but I feel there are certain limitations to this addage.
Unfortunately, the best advice I have received about bras for larger breasted women has only been at specialty shops. Though I enjoy shopping at mall boutiques like Victoria's Secret, I have been misfitted for bras on several occasions by their 'specially trained staff'. I do not even bother talking the sales staff at large sporting good stores like Sports Authority and the like as I rarely find an individual who is knowledgable about sports bras. They can sell me shoes, camping gear, string a tennis racket, and show me how to improve my putt, but you ask about sports bras, and they will pass the buck to the one female staff member who is at most a B cup and basically tells me "just find your regular size".
One qualm I have with sports bras for larger chests is the bigger price tag that comes with them. Granted, it isn't Nike, adidas, UnderArmour, Champion or the other large name companies churning out these items, so I guess a higher price is to be paid. In the article, Moving Comfort VP Julie Baxter gives rather informative advice about sizing, fit and maintenance for sports bras. I actually learned a couple of things that I had not known before. I have kept sports bras for years and worn them into threads, but it turns out that's pretty much the worst thing one can do. The best piece of advice for full figured, sports bra wearers:
"Sports bras shouldn't have birthdays."
Looks like one of mine shall be getting the ole heave ho ASAP! I hope I can find a specialty shop in my area for a consultation. If not, I shall wait until Christmas when I am home to go to my beloved friends at The Bra Boutique in Coral Springs, Florida. They sold me a fantastic sports bra by Freya when I was home over the summer time. It was worth every penny I paid for it. I need to find a stocker of MC's line of sports bras. I love how they have color!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
[o1] NWM 26.2 Results
Nike Women's Half Marathon [Race Report]
Race Date: Sunday, October 17, 2010
Location: San Francisco, California
Bib Number: 5,930 (Photos & Videos by BrightRoom)
Corral Placement: I <3 Nike+ (Red)
Race Stats
- Race Class: Female 30-34 Years
- Half-Marathon Rank: 9,002 (10,719 Overall)
- Gun: 03:06:01 > Official Time: 03:05:44 (Soft Start)
- Pace: 00:14:10 (per mile)
- Split Times
- 5K: 00:35:05
- 15K: 02:03:26
Race Swag: Tiffany & Co. Limited Edition Finishers Necklace, Nike Dri-FIT Finishers Shirt (Magenta), Food for refueling from SAFEWAY (Gatorade, Luna Bars, Clif Shot Bloks, fruit, juice, bagels)
[oo] - Start Line
Friends of mine fall into one of three groups: 1) naturally slim, 2) long-time athletes, and 3) happy couch potatoes. I fall unceremoniously into group three. I love desserts, movies, writing, reading, and being a foodie. All of which greatly contributed to my maxing out at 183 pounds last year. I stepped on the scale, had a good cry, dried my eyes and decided to do something about it. On December 5, 2009, I found a pair of Nike+ Bowerman Edition Pegasus 25s at Nordstrom Rack for $48. I had been toying with the idea of taking a stab at running, and when I saw the price tag, I simply couldn't pass it up. In the same building, I picked up a Nike+ for iPod kit, went home, laced up, and gave it a go.
I lasted about two days. Then the snowy winter rolled into Westchester and I threw in the towel. A couple of choice words from relative at Christmas, knocked the wind out of me, but also kicked me back off the sofa. I think part of my motivation to run on snowy January mornings was purely a way to channel my anger. I was angry at myself for not taking better care of myself, but angrier because what they said to me had some vein of truth.
Since then, I've logged over 555 kilometers (345 miles), dropped 22 pounds, invested in some neat tech gear and participated in my first half-marathon. From here on out, I want to keep running, losing, and learning. Come run with me.
I lasted about two days. Then the snowy winter rolled into Westchester and I threw in the towel. A couple of choice words from relative at Christmas, knocked the wind out of me, but also kicked me back off the sofa. I think part of my motivation to run on snowy January mornings was purely a way to channel my anger. I was angry at myself for not taking better care of myself, but angrier because what they said to me had some vein of truth.
Since then, I've logged over 555 kilometers (345 miles), dropped 22 pounds, invested in some neat tech gear and participated in my first half-marathon. From here on out, I want to keep running, losing, and learning. Come run with me.
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