Hey, brain, leave my belly alone

Hello belly.

I used to work out to get rid of you. Now I accept you as part of my entire being and I work out to keep you, along with my whole body, running like a well-oiled machine.  However, today you softly rolled over the top of my spandex shorts and you reminded me that you are bigger than before and I had a moment of weakness – I flirted with my old ways of thinking.

Cycling gear is unforgiving.

You know it’s true.  It is really hard to look good in spandex with a padded butt.  Well, when I was really skinny  I didn’t mind it, but I wasn’t eating much in those days so maybe I was just delirious.

Sunday I suited up in my cycling gear – my first ride of 2012.  I hopped on my bike and I felt my belly, that soft roll at the top of my cycling pants. I was stunned at how quickly I reverted to my old way of thinking. Immediately I was struck with the thought, “I can get rid of this stomach; I’ve done it before.” I was developing a list in my head – my lexicon of ways to get rid of that tummy roll. I started thinking about how may minutes a day I would need to increase my exercise (should I sign up for a half-marathon?) and what foods I could eliminate from my diet (carbs are over-rated).

But then, suddenly I was soaring down a hill, feeling free, alive and powerful and I was reminded that I don’t need to get rid of my belly. I need to get rid of old ways of thinking that creep back in my head, every now and then.  Because I don’t want to run a half-marathon right now.  I love cycling, yoga, and nice and easy walks and jogs.  I love brown rice, pearled barley, and bread.

Nice try, brain. 

I am not getting rid of my round, buddha-like belly.  We’ll get through cycling season, one pair of spandex shorts at a time.

Tagged as: body image