"Skinny" Is In the Eyes of the Beholder

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I'll admit. I'm not as slim as I once was.

I look at my daughter, with her long legs and skinny-minnie waist and think, "That was me many years ago."

What can I say? I discovered I like to eat, I like to nosh. I guess I got comfortable once I got married.

Okay, I also did give birth to three kids in less than five years, so there was still plenty of baby fat jiggling around. I guess jiggling around enough for idiotic, rude people to ask, "Are you pregnant?" or "Are you expecting?"

Well, I had to learn to come up with quick comebacks for these unwelcome comments: For "Are you pregnant?" I learned to answer, "No, this is just baby fat...from the last baby!" And for "Are you expecting?" I learned to answer, "No...but I was expecting you to ask that!"

My size is not ideal, but thank G-d I'm still tall, because otherwise I might be called, "short and fat". Right now I'm just tall and a little overweight.

Yes, I can do something about it...and sometimes I do. I watch what I eat, I exercise more, I don't just eat for the sake of eating. But I should do these things more often, shouldn't I?

I went to my doctor today for a follow-up from my annual physical that I had a couple of weeks back. I'd been fearful of the results, knowing that my family's medical history has begun to change, and that diabetes, hypertension have been written onto the medical charts of other family members. I did not want those showing up on mine.

Thank G-d they didn't, and I had great feedback. I asked my doctor to look back at my weight over the years I'd been with him. Yes, I'd had some pre- and post-pregnancy weights in there, so there was real fluctuation over the years, but realistically I know I'd feel better if I were slimmer again. I wouldn't have lower back pain as I do more and more lately; I'd have more energy to deal with my kids; I'd have a more positive self-image; shopping wouldn't be such a horror movie. (every time I go into a change room, I look in the mirror and do a silent scream when things don't fit.)

After I went to the doctor I went shopping, primarily for items for my kids, but came across a couple of items for me -- one a skirt, the other a sweater. The interesting thing about the skirt is that I bought one that is too snug, and at least one size too small for me. But it was the last of its kind, I liked it so much and the price was more than right. I bought the skirt with the hope that perhaps with watching what and how I eat, and exercising more, I WILL be able to fit into it, perhaps by the end of summer.

The sweater was a definite, and cozy fit.

When I came home I modeled both the skirt and sweater for my family. My youngest son had run upstairs to watch TV, my oldest son was eating dinner and not really interested, so that left my husband and daughter for whom to model.

My husband wished me luck in fitting into the skirt, as is my goal. My daughter announced it was cute, and her stylish eight-year-old self told me how I need to wear the accompanying scarf belt with the knot to the side, rather than the middle.

I then modeled the sweater on top of the skirt, and it was a nice, and classic combo.

Daughter piped up, "Mummy, you look skinny!"

Two seconds later, youngest son comes running down the stairs, TV remote control in hand. Now you have to understand that this child usually does not hear me when he's watching TV and I speak to him, even while standing beside him. I can repeat myself several times and he's oblivious to my presence. But THIS he heard, and came running to check for himself.

"Ema's skinny? Yeah, you ARE skinny....you can do magic!"

Okay, so, kid, if I can do magic, here's my mantra:

"Abra-cadabra,
Kalamazoo
Let these pounds disappear
From me to you.

Let me slip into something
A little bit smaller
Please make it fit
And make me look taller.

If I lose twenty pounds
To Las Vegas I go
'Tis my reward
I want you to know

If I lose twenty more
Along with my tushie and hips
I'll visit Vegas again
To see Gladys Knight & the Pips

I'll revisit my clothes
That were kept stored away
And I hope a size 12
Will then fit me each day.

Now that's not a tiny size
But such is not my style
And size 12 is pretty ideal for me
I haven't been it in a while.

My size 12's haven't gone out of style
They are a classic fit and cut
For anyone who's skinny
And doesn't have a butt or gut.

I hope to report
That many pounds will disappear
And after a while
It will be made quite clear.

It's mind over matter
That begins the weight loss
Show your food and drink
That you're the boss

You make the decisions
You choose what you eat
And once in a while
You can have a small treat.

Yes, I'm a magician
My son is quite right
Those pounds will disappear
And I'll again be skinny and slight!"