When I hit age 35 things shifted.  I’m not speaking metaphorically here – I’m talking physically shifted – to my middle.  What began as just a little pudge has over this past winter grown into a full blown roll all the way around my waistline and I can’t take it any longer.  There are only so many baby-doll tops a 38 year old woman should have in her closet.  So as undisciplined as I am, and as much as I despise exercise, I’ve decided to work it off.

For the past two weeks I’ve been walking/running (who am I kidding…walking mostly) and doing stomach crunches every single night.  (at least 10)  I’ve been eating a sensible, pretty much sugar free breakfast each morning, something sort of light for lunch and a decent dinner.  I’ve been avoiding junk and lots of sugar.  And tonight I remembered why I don’t usually do this.  Shin splints.  Ouch.  I always used to get them in high school.  I also got fluid on my knees every time I ran or walked very much.  So as I hobbled down the road with piercing pain in my legs a while ago I started dreaming up alternatives in my head:  Elliptical???  Honestly – I don’t even know what that is.  I just hear my very fit friends talk about it all the time.  I don’t have one and don’t have time to visit one, so strike one.  Swimming???  I can’t swim.  Strike two.  Lypo???  I hear it’s very expensive.  Strike three.

I plan to fight through the pain as long as I can.  I actually have noticed a difference in my belly.  In fact, I was feeling pretty good about myself until the 19 year old, blond, perfect size 1, 0% body fat intern started working in my office two days ago.  I know God has a sense of humor and all, but seriously, that’s just mean.