here.
* * *
So yesterday when Fred got home from work, I tried on some clothes for him and asked his opinion on various things. For one, I found some cotton pants that were marked way down, and I needed his opinion on whether they were too tight on me in the thigh region. He said they looked fine to him, but pointed out that they were way too long, which I knew. I’m going to wash them and see if they shrink any, length-wise, and if they don’t, I’m going to take them to be hemmed. Surely they won’t charge much money to hem four pairs of pants, right?
Then I tried on the swim shorts and top I bought from Junonia to wear in Florida next week. The shorts looked okay, but the top – a rash guard with short sleeves – fit in a way that made me uncomfortable.
DON’T ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME, DAMNIT!
See, I have got ultra flabby upper arms. And while some women are comfortable showing their flabby upper arms to the world – and good for them! You go, girls! – I am just NOT comfortable doing that. And if it makes me uncomfortable, will I be comfortable on the beaches of Florida, feeling like everyone’s staring at my flabulous arms? NO I WILL NOT.
So I ended up deciding to send the top back, keep the shorts, and wear a CoolMax shirt with the shorts.
I SEE YOU ROLLING YOUR EYES, AND SHADDUP.
Then I tried on a pair of pants I’d gotten at Target earlier in the week, a pair of what were labelled “Capris”, but I think of capris as ending right below the knee, and these looked more like highwater pants than what I thought of as capris, so I tried them on and asked Fred if they looked dorky.
He said they didn’t, but they also didn’t really look like my kind of style (ha! Like I HAVE a “style”!). However, since I only bought them to wear hiking (or maybe this fall when it starts cooling down, if they still fit – which I hope they don’t!), I guess I’ll keep them.
I’d provide pictures for y’all, but I’m afraid you’d start thinking I’m an attention whore who canNOT get enough compliments, and I SWEAR I’m not!
So then I put the clothes I’d been wearing back on, and Fred looked disapprovingly at the polo shirt I was wearing and said “That shirt is WAY too big for you.” Which it is, because it’s a 5X, and it came from a Big & Tall Men’s store, and according to their size charts I’m now in a size L, so yeah. Too big, too long.
He went into the closet, got one of his own polo shirts, and told me to try it on. When I did, he proclaimed that it fit perfectly, and I should start wearing his old polo shirts from now on. Except –
DON’T ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME, DAMNIT!
It felt too tight to me through the stomach. The middle stomach. Where a lovely roll of fat resides, and which – to me – appeared to be standing up and waving hello in this shirt that purportedly “fit” me.
So I told Fred maybe I’d be comfortable wearing it in ten or fifteen pounds, and told him not to get rid of it.
And that was pretty much the excitement for yesterday – finding out that I can ALMOST fit into one of Fred’s shirts. The day I weigh less than him AND can easily wear one of his shirts? There will be a par-TAY.
* * *
Meme, seen over
on MySpace.
ONE.
Spell your name without vowels:
rbyn ndrsn
TWO.
Are you single?
Nope.
THREE.
How many pair of jeans do you own?
One – shortly to be three, when the jeans I won off eBay get here.
FOUR.
What color do you wear most?
Yellow.
FIVE.
Least favorite color?
Uh… puke green, I guess.
SIX.
Last song you heard?
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe… just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe
SEVEN.
Where do you wish you were?
On the beach in Florida!
EIGHT.
Are you happy with your life right now?
Very much so.
NINE.
Anyone ever said you resemble a celebrity?
Years ago someone told me I looked like Mama Cass (gee, thanks), and I’ve also been told Rosie O’Donnell. Neither of whom I particularly want to look like – I’d prefer to hear Ashley Judd.
TEN.
What is your favorite time in school?
I always really liked the part where it was over.
ELEVEN
Do you shop at stores like Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and AE?
I… do not even know what those are. Sex toy stores? Ha! Kidding! Clothes stores, right? Uh… right?
TWELVE.
How do you make money?
I sponge off my sugar daddy.
THIRTEEN.
Best friend of same sex as you?
My sistah!
FOURTEEN.
When do/did you start Summer Break?
My life is a summer break!
FIFTEEN
Are you missing someone right now?
Actually, no.
SIXTEEN.
One word to describe you:
“Sassy” (says Fred)
SEVENTEEN.
Favorite pair of shoes:
These:
EIGHTEEN.
Do you own big sunglasses?
Yeah, they’re pretty big.
NINETEEN.
What would you rather be doing right now?
Sitting on the beach in Florida!
TWENTY.
What should you be doing right now?
Uh… actually, there’s nothing pressing. I need to do some laundry, but I got the most important stuff done this morning (cleaning out the bird bath, filling the bird feeders, and putting out peanuts for the squirrels).
TWENTY-ONE.
Do you have a crush on anyone?
I might have a tiny crush on
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
* * *
Currently
reading:
Motion to Suppress, by Perri O’Shaughnessy.
Recently finished:
Breaking Clean, by Judy Blunt. It ended up being a lot better than I thought it was going to be at the beginning, and I enjoyed it. Reading about all the work ranch wives do is guaranteed to make you feel like a lazy-ass slug.
* * *
Anatomy of a Snooze
(Starring Tom Cullen M-O-O-N)
* * *
Previously
2005: This is the story of how my husband is a fucker.
2004: As you can imagine, I’m in a REALLY good mood.
2003: After much persuasion, he confessed that he’d seen the movie ratings poster on the wall and thought there was going to be a movie about the ratings system.
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: When I think about the incredibly stupid things I did as a teen, it makes me cringe.]]>
I hear yah on the flabby arm thing. I don’t like showing mine off so I don’t blame you for feeling that way! Some people look fabulous I look like a freak. And I don’t like anything clingy or even a teeny bit tight looking on me. 😛
Hey Robyn?
You do look great in you new pic. You, um, kind of remind me of…………….
ASHLEY JUDD!
Karen: In my dreams, sister! 🙂
Wow, a fabulous new haircut AND a new semi-wardrobe. I know how hard it is to downsize clothing. After years of buying what is most comfortable, its difficult to buy things that truly fit properly. I remember last summer when I first wore new t-shirts that I was sure were screaming to the world “look at my boobs! look at my rolls!”. I had spent most of my life dressing to cover, so it was more my perception of being exposed than what others were actually seeing.
Once you get into Fred’s polo shirt, please post a pic. We’d all love to tell you how great you look.
Um … flabby upper arms. Yep, I think they’re the hardest leftovers for me. And I have finally accepted they’re here to stay … sigh.
Robyn, just so you’ll know, I will go ahead and presume to speak for everyone and say that NO ONE thinks you are fishing for compliments! You are a true inspiration and we are SOOOOOO happy for you and SOOOOOO glad you are sharing these wonderful changes with us.
Seriously.
I won’t wear tank tops right now because I don’t like my upper arms or the place on the front outside of my armpit (it’s not really boob, but in that area). So I totally understand.
Also, walk in the soft sand in Florida. That’ll get you a MEAN workout.
And M-O-O-N might need to start going on your walks with you!
Take pictures! I wanna see every itty bit of progress!
Yeah, I want to see any and all pictures of outfits! It’s one of the most inspiring parts of weight loss stories! We won’t think you’re fishing!!
I haven’t posted in a while but I read everyday.
I can so relate to NOT wearing sleeveless shirts. I hate my flabby arms. And I also relate to the shirt issue. It is hard to find shirts that fit just right. I don’t feel comfortable if they are too snug and show the rolls but the baggier the shirt the bigger you look. Not easy to find the perfect shirt
Thanks for posting your progess and weight loss stories!
I had to smile when I read your description of capris looking like highwater pants on you, because I think they do that on all short women. I’m shorter than you (5’2″), but unless you’re a long legged tall drink of water, I don’t think they ever sit right. However, I kind of like how they fit- I’m short enough that they are almost the right pant length, so I an avoid hemming them. Also, they are light and airy for the summer weather. I would think they’d be good hiking pants too- that’s a good idea!
First, you do bear a remarkable resemblance to Miz Ashley as a matter of fact!! Second, the flabby arm things hits us all if we live long enough. I used to care, not so much now. I think you will find as you get older you give less of a shit about a lot of that kind of stuff. You are just too young right now, that’s all!! And I agree with all the others, no one thinks you are an attention whore and we love to see pictures of your progress. Last, why oh why can’t humans sleep the sleep of Tom Cullen. What I wouldn’t give for the total abandon he gives to sleep, as well as the flexibility to get into some of those positions!!
Robyn…I workout in the pool at the fitness center and ALWAYS wear a “Travel Smith” t-shirt over my suit! My Mother taught me that anyone over the age of 18 shouldn’t show their arms! Heh. Mine are the sort that continue waving long after they should! By now, everyone in the pool is just used to me wearing my shirt.
Have a great time in Florida!
I forgot to say that I too think I have a crush on Ms. Brenda Leigh Johnson!!! I love that show and her character and Kyra herself. She is awesome. You have to think it would be a hott to have Brenda as a buddy. You would always know she told you what she really thinks!! And those baby kitties from last year were so totally adorable!!!!
Joining the chorus to beg for all the progress pictures you can stand to post! Heck, I’d even enjoy seeing how you’re swimming in that 5x polo shirt now that you’re getting so skinny.
Oh, eewww, I didn’t mean to make that sound stalker-ish. I’m just so danged proud of you, and I like seeing how well you’re doing!
Hi, Robyn — I didn’t have time to tell you the other day how wonderful that new
haircut and highlighting look on you. That short length could have been invented to show off your face — keep it that way, at least until you get tired of it, it looks just fabulous.
As for the upper arm flab …. oh, lord, that’s my problem too. I may be fooling myself, but I keep thinking that if they’re tan they’ll look less flabby. If that isn’t true, let me keep my illusions.
But I only go sleeveless at the beach or at baseball games, where I know damn well nobody is looking my direction.
I don’t know what Ashley Judd looks like, but now I know what you look like, and you are cute! Keep the hairdresser.
Congratulations on the weight loss and the ability to now venture into a new world of acting and feeling! You have worked hard and I am incredibly envious of your success.
Have you heard of the new arm surgery where they do the lift under the arm, eliminating the long visible scar? I never considered surgery before, but that is one I will definitely look into when I get to where I want to be.
Keep up the great work!
Shelby: I hadn’t heard of that, but I’ll definitely be looking into it when the time comes!
One word: PICTURES! SO happy for you, Robyn! And LOVE the new hair!
I think those longer capris look good on NO ONE! It even makes models look stunted. They make ones that come just above and also just below the knee. There are also ones made that have a rolled-up cuff at the bottom, so you could roll the long ones up. I’m not very overweight but also hate my upper arm flab. I’ve been searching to find polo or other nice knit easy-care type shirts that have longer sleeves (I hate cap sleeves). I’ve had to buy men’s polos to get this. READERS: ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO GET LONGER SLEEVED POLO-TYPE SHIRTS (AT LEAST NORMAL T-SHIRT LENGTH)?
Again,with the cute tootsies!
The “What Not To Wear” say that capris are the work of Satan and no woman should wear them,BUT personally,I like the breeze on the ankles,very cooling.
I soon hope that the fellas who work with Brenda on The Closer will ease up on their dislike of her. It makes me uncomfortable for her! Bad,bad men!
Lo: I just bought some polo shirts at Kohl’s for less than $10 apiece (they’re men’s polo shirts). I didn’t try them on, I’m hoping they fit!
RUNDMC: I agree – we’re only three episodes into the first season, and I keep turning to Fred and saying “How can they not LOVE her???”
Thanks, Robyn! I’m going tonight. Once again I’ll be buying mens’ shirts, but dang it, they have better sleeves and they’re also usually made of better material, anyone else notice that? Last year I bought mens’ pink and orange polo shirts that looked more like girls’ shirts than the girls’ versions.
It’s your websight, who cares what 1 or 2 people might think! I bet 98% would agree with me….We Want To See More Pictures. 🙂
Feel free to make fun of me for this suggestion, but to combat my upper-arm flab? I use Dove Intensive Firming Cream. I also use it to comabt the bit of curvy flab above my the back of my knee. It seems to work. Maybe you could try that for the arms for a while until you get more comfortable with their natural shape?
Hey Robyn, I think you look fabuloso..We want more pictures dammit. You look good in those jeans. That weight is just melting away. Before long you will be able to wear anything!! Hugggs to YOU!! 🙂