We’re going to call this post “what not to do while running”. We have already covered that running while being chased by the undead is a very bad idea. We have also figured out that running while Rue is dying in the arena is also a bad idea. Now, we have a third scenario that makes for a terrible run.
Before I get to our third scenario, let’s get a little re-cap of my running history. Between 2005 and 2006, I lost 175 lbs. Because of the fact that I lost the weight when it was common practice to wait until after you have kids to get skin removal surgery, I am running around with a person’s worth of extra skin. This requires me to run with all kinds of special underpinnings. I wear what I lovingly refer to as a “skin sucker” aka spanx at all times. The only time I take it off is to go to bed.
The streets were absurdly crowded yesterday, so I decided to hit up my gym’s treadmill for a quick, 5 mile run. The gym was hot. really hot. I thought I’d be just fine as long as I maintained hydration and watched that I didn’t let my pace fall below 8 minutes/mile.
I was a sweaty mess by mile 2, and the new sports bra I was wearing was tugging a little bit on my skin sucker. By the end of mile 3, I knew that even with all the runner’s lube I had placed under the banding of my SS, I was going to chafe. Mile 4, I thought “maybe a blister”. By the end of mile 5, I was weeping. I was effing crying on the effing treadmill in the effing gym. I was crying like I just figured out Snape was in love with Harry’s mother. I was crying like I had when I figured out I’d never be Mrs Jordan Knight. By the time I got home to inspect the damage, I had a burning, bleeding, rope burn looking wound around my ribcage. I looked like one of the hostages in “hostel”, what with my rope burns and mascara mask. I was real cute, I assure you.
Cue the ugly cry. Cue the cry that happens when I realize that no matter how much weight I’ve lost, or muscle I’ve built, until I get this skin taken off, I am always going to feel fat. I am always going to feel like I am that size 26, and I am always going to have problems stemming from that.
Now I am determined. I am determined to get this shit cut off of my body like so many bad memories. I don’t need it. In fact, I NEED it gone. It’s painful, it’s embarrassing, it leads to more problems than just the ones I listed. It’s just.plain.depressing. I realize I have come farther than most people thought I would. I am stronger than ever. I am happier than I’ve ever been. Yet I am still trapped. Trapped in a body I don’t belong to anymore. It’s like the worst “Freaky Friday” ever. I eat healthy. I train. I run. I help others to do the same. Yet, I am stagnant and sad about it.
Now just to figure out how to pay for what insurance won’t cover. Oy. I am thinking I could be either the worst sex hotline operator (“what are you wearing” “ummm, a hoodie and running socks?”) or best fake psychic ever. I may need to brainstorm more. I’m going to need more brain food.
Fish, yep! I eat it. Chia seeds and their omegas? Duh. Sweet potatoes with their vitamin A and Beta Carotene? Oh. hell. yes.
I can even turn them into something my formerly fat brain will be tricked into loving. Something like healthy baked sweet potato chips. I may even add a healthy dip. It’s a good thing I can cook, or then I’d be really depressed about all of this.
Healthy Sweet Potato Chips with Chobani Yogurt Dip.
Baked Sweet Potato Chips and Yogurt Dip
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp raw sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp (or more) cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
for the dip
- 1 individual sized portion of plain yogurt (I use chobani)
- 2 oz room temperature reduced fat cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- drizzle of honey
Instructions
preheat oven to 425F
slice with a mandoline or a knife the yams into very thin slices
toss all of the yam ingredients with the yams in a large bowl, evenly coating the slices
place yam slices on cooling rack on top of cookie sheet and bake until crisp (about 20 minutes)
for the dip
whip together all of the ingredients, save for the honey,
pour into bowl and drizzle with honey.
serve
Oh Yummmmm! I love adding Cinnamon to my Baked Sweet Potato Chips! Never thought of adding Cocoa Powder, great idea!
Love both recipes
Thanks, Kierston!
Girrrrllll, I’ve read it before and yet I am still in awe of your 175 lb weight loss. That in itself is truly amazing! I managed to lose 85 lbs about 7 years ago (although I’ve been too complacent with my diet and exercise and 15 of those lbs have crept back on over the past year) and I, too, have some lovely…souvenirs…from the weight loss. I know about the stretch marks, bat wings, baby got back fat, jelly belly and saddle bag thigh-hang that are forever present no matter how what the current scale weight reads, how clean the diet is or how much muscle has been sculpted. And, yes, it is indeed very frustrating! I can only imagine how difficultly heavy (literally and figuratively) the baggage from a 175 lb weight loss must be to carry. I wish you all the best in preparation for the skin removal surgery and hope with all my heart that peace and comfort settles in yours. Cat, you are such an inspiration to me and others! Thank you for keeping it real around here
thank you, Beverly.
cocoa powder you say? innnnteresting!
I feel your pain, Cat. I had RNY 10/08 and have since lost 320 lbs. I still have more to lose, sadly… But yeah – excess skin is horrible. I was able to have a panniculectomy via insurance because mine was ridiculous but my abs are a MESS. It looks like I have a muffin top and a half, no matter what I do. The rest of my body isn’t much better. Ugh.
The sad thing is, I need to lose more weight but part of me hesitates because how much worse will my skin be?
I totally understand. I felt the same way for a long time. But your heart, is more important that your appearance. I hated telling myself this.
You’re such an inspiration, Cat!! I’ll have to direct my WL clients to your site – you’ve done such an amazing job.
Get that stuff cut off!
Thanks, Lindsay!
You are so inspirational – and I think it’s awesome that you share the ups & downs of weight loss.
Also, I think a hoodie & running socks is totally hot, in a phone sex way. Of course, I am not one to be calling those kind of hot lines, so I might not completely understand the target audience.
come on, our idea of talking dirty is conversations of naps and beer. are we men?
LOVE baked sweet potato rounds. I’ve actually been eating a baked sweet potato with yogurt for breakfast every once and awhile!
that’s one of my 11 month old’s favorite breakfasts!!
Ok, I never comment but I just wanted to give you a suggestion. If your excess skin is causing rashes, rubbing, etc that cause you pain it may actually be covered by insurance. Mine covered the skin removal and all I had to pay was my out of pocket for the year (1,000). Have you seen your doctor after you have a sore or a blister? He/she may be able to make your case to the insurance company.
thanks Brandy! I’ll give it a go.