Comparison

Last night while I was out walking with a very nice friend, we were discussing how I had gotten faster.  I mentioned to her that one of the people I know who walks had told me that the reason I've gotten faster is the weight I've lost.  I think he might be right as I am not pushing as much weight and asking it to move forward as I was before.  She was so nice to say to me that she didn't think I looked like I had that kind of weight to lose last year.  I decided to pull out another comparison and put together this headshot:

Left: December 2010.  Right: September 2011

For me, watching the weight come off has been gradual.  I don't see my face any differently now then I did last December.  It's just my face and I have to live with it.  But when I put pictures of myself side by side, I see what people are seeing when they say "How much have you lost?" or "You look like you are thinner through the face."  I usually wave these comments off because I am still struggling with the last 10 pounds and I don't see myself that way yet.  I have to say the face in the second picture is way happier than the first.  I look like I am forcing myself to smile in the first one.  I do now genuinely feel happy more times then not.  I can handle my work stress better than ever and I feel more at peace with myself then before.  It's interesting how this last year has changed me.  Now if I could just figure out how to get this adult acne under control, I'd be dangerous!  And I sure do need to go for some teeth whitening if I am going to smile all big and goofy!

On another note, I was thrilled to hear that the FTC is fining Reebok over their toning shoes and the claims they made.  Read more about it here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44702829.  I've always thought it was a bit of a farce and over hyped.  I know Kim Kardashian advertises a different brand but she is who comes to mind when I think about these toning sneakers.  There is no way she got her behind to look like that wearing toning sneakers to workout.  She gets her shape by discipline, working out with a trainer and eating right!  These shoes, to me, were a whole way to show to the rest of the world that we want to be lazy about our exercise.  I hope this just leads to more fines with the other companies out there and the product finally getting pulled from the shelves.  They are just not good for your feet.

I will now disassemble my soapbox and return to the regular scheduled blogging.

I've updated my about me section and my past race information.  I find it interesting how much I've improved over the last 2 years since I've begun walking.  I need to start planning my 2012 race/training schedule. Any suggestions?

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Is there any product out there whose ads just make you angry?  Have you ever said to someone "I didn't think you had the weight to lose" but really thought the opposite?