It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

March 21, 2011

Those Legs Look Like Tree Trunks

First, I opened my mail today and what did I get?  My Great Giveaway Win from Rose at Eat Drink and Be Meiri.  If you haven't checked her blog out yet - do - she just ran an Ultra Marathon and she is awesome!!

My box of great stuff!


I won lots of really cool stuff from Rose - 5 really fun pairs of knee high running socks, some more running socks, a cool water bottle, some great workout bands and a Chi Running Book. AWESOME!!


Hello Kitty Socks

Rose sent me a handwritten note that said she couldn't wait to see me in the socks.  Does this count?  You are supposed to wear them on your arms right?

WARNING:  This is about to become a body image post!

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When I was in 7th Grade, I lived in Edgewater, FL - just a few short minutes from the beach.  All the kids at school were surfers or wanna be surfers.  I was a wanna be.  Anyway - "jams" were really, really popular.  Jams were just long shorts.  To be super cool you wore your jams with high top converse tennis shoes.  

Me, looking super cool in 7th grade
 
My Grandmother Myrtle - who really was an awesome, amazing woman, but who also said anything that came to mind said to me one day when I was getting ready for school in my super trendy outfit "Oh my honey, with those long shorts and high top shoes your legs just look like two big tree trunks."  I was devastated.  This was the first time in my life I realized I had big legs.  And I really do.  In 7th grade I was probably a size 4 or 6 in women's and about 110 pounds.  I was relatively small all over, but my legs were big.  As I got older, my legs were always the biggest part of my body.  I felt disproportionate no matter how thin I was.  I still have an issue with the size of my legs, but it's not all in my head - they are big.  I've learned to accept it, but still don't like it.  To put this in perspective, most people my size can wear tall boots.  I can't, unless I buy plus size boots - seriously I'm not lying.  Don't believe me - if you are a female measure your calf - it's probably between 12-14 inches, my in 16.5!

Anyway, I hate to have pictures of my legs taken.  I tried.  I tried to take some pics in the socks, but I'm just going to have to work up to it.  So I provided a sneak peak......maybe one day I'll be brave enough!

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So enough of that.  Let's talk more about GREAT Giveaways.  Are you following my husband Jim's blog  - 50 After 40?  He has designed a great sticker that he's giving away.  Check it out.  It's really AWESOME!!


24 comments:

  1. Wow, you look super-HOT in those pic's ... I really miss you when I'm on the road!

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  2. I'm diggin the water bottle! I read part of Chi Running, it's good! I think the most helpful thing for my running was reading Born to Run! Have you read it?? It's amazing!

    That's a great sticker!

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  3. I have a hard time wearing boots too! I have convinced myself that the marathons and triathlons have just made my calves extra strong and that makes me feel a little better. :)

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  4. I'm glad everything arrived. I love the socks on your arms.

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  5. Michael... what a fun give-away you won! Congratulations!

    I appreciate your honesty... I think we *all* struggle in some way with how we look~ me too! It's all a process. I'm slow and I doubt that I'll ever be very fast, my legs have definitely seen better days after a dozen pregnancies, but I'm having a blast just getting out and "tri"ing! Thanks for your honesty... you definitely aren't alone in your struggles.

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  6. You are too cute! I love your hair. I went from long and blonde to short and dark and as it has grown long again, I've been aiming for your look...but it's just not working for me :-(

    I have CALVES, too! Did you see my bathtub pictures this weekend??
    Mine range from 14 1/2 to 16 1/2 depending on my weight. What bugs me most is that my left one is always 1/2 to 1" bigger than my right. I guess there are worse problems...

    Enjoy your socks!!!!

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  7. Big calves?...bigger knees here... :)

    Great giveaway!

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  8. Socks on the hands is the new trend! Love it. Nice prize!

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  9. Darn it. I really wanted to win the Hello Kitty socks.

    Can I just say in a respective way that you do look very pretty in those pictures. Jim's right, but only he can call you super hot.

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  10. I am the same way. I have a very large lower half. Even though the rest of me is super thin I am always going to have a large legs. Darn genetics I guess?

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  11. i know how you feel. i always thought i had skinny legs until i wore shorts to work one day and one of the guys laughed and said "wow, i didnt know your legs were so BIG! you've got MAN calves" gee thanks! then trail running made them even bigger.

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  12. Jim is so sweet! (You can pay me later Jim!)

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  13. The blog pics are looking just flat out awesome. Keep up the great work and keep winning those giveaways.

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  14. I suffer from the same leg and calf/boot issues. I am trying to become more comfortable wearing shorts because it is too hot not to, but I struggle with it.

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  15. Great socks! You know my friends have the same problems with their legs so you are not alone. We have quite a time trying to find them boots!

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  16. Your box of goodies look awesome!

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  17. That's quite the haul! All runners have hot legs so... You need to conquer this quirk! :)

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  18. I think we all have some body part/area that we are insecure about. I will never ever love my middle. I didn't even when it was thin...and 4 kids later, well...

    Love that box of good stuff! (and Jim is awesome!)

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  19. I love your hand socks pic!!! :)
    Your calves are running calves lady!!!

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  20. The only reason I have ever been able to wear high boots is because I have big feet. The calves also get bigger as the shoe size goes up.

    I just found your blog. Love it!

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  21. I believe those are poor-man arm warmers a la Jess at Blonde Ponytail.

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  22. Awesome loot!

    Hey, I hate my legs too. I think they look like sausages. But I take the pictures anyway as a way for me to get over it.

    I am not over it.

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  23. Great score on the free stuff!

    Kevin
    HalfTRIing.blogspot.com

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