Aren't you sick of seeing that stupid tagline all over the interwebz? I know *I* am. But believe it or not, for anyone going through major life trauma of some kind, I have a tip to share that will alleviate your stress and flatten your stomach. Full credit where credit's due: this tip comes from my friend Ken, who got it from his brother, Kraig.
In the spirit of new beginnings, I did something a couple weeks ago that's either brave or foolhardy: I bought my first two-piece bathing suit in over 20 years. It's one of those new ones with board shorts for the bottoms and a bikini-type coordinating---but not exactly matching; what will these crazy kids today think of next?---top. Now all I have to do is wear it. In public. Around other people. Some of them, men. I never thought this could happen, but in a very roundabout kind of way, icky thoughts have become my bathing suit season friend. If you're wrestling with a demon or two, put 'em to work.
Every time you catch yourself thinking about the thing that upsets or worries you---you know, stuff like financial difficulties, being forced to leave the home you love, your marriage ending abruptly, wondering how that big 'ol scar on your breast is going to go over the next time you get naked with someone...but I digress---immediately do 5 stomach crunches. More, if it's convenient.
Doing something that requires physical coordination instantly shuts off the higher thought processes in your brain so your head can concentrate on what your body's doing. No higher thought processes = no more mental treadmill. Amazingly, when the 5 crunches are over your brain will not immediately snap right back into that icky thought track you were so anxious to leave behind, either.
In my case, the icky thoughts most often seem to assail me when I'm out in public. For some reason Target and the grocery store are major icky thoughts magnets. Maybe because those places have such strong associations with home, marriage and family for me. Now, I can't just park my cart, lie down in the aisle and punch out 5 stomach crunches in front of a bunch of other shoppers. And sometimes it's not convenient to do so at home either; like when I'm in the shower, for instance. At such times I just flex my abs, hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat four more times.
Considering how frequently I need to quash icky thoughts these days, my midsection should be all ready for its summertime unveiling by the end of the month. if you'd rather work some other part of your body, you can adapt this trick pretty easily so long as whatever it is you're trying to tighten or reduce can be easily flexed in public without drawing attention.
On a totally unrelated note...if it seems like I'm not posting very often, that's because I'm not. I'm going through some pretty heinous stuff all right, but it's stuff I can't write about here. ='(
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Thanks for posting..sure can use the hint about the flat stomach and I have been thinking about you. It has been 10 years since I was in your spot (I was 46 also) and everything you have said is so very true.
ReplyDeleteI made many poor decisions while in terrible pain . Please be sure to have several people you can trust to brain storm...I didn't think I had many options and I see now that I did.
Time does make the pain go away and you will be happy again but never the same. I still daily have to say ' Change is Good' and find the good in my new life. The loss of the family unit as it was is the hardest because it effects our children (even once they are adult)long after you mourn and recover the loss of the spouse.
I have shared your posts with my dear girlfriends and family because they were there to see me cry but I never explained as well as you did how it felt. You took the words right out of my heart.
I have an idea about the heinous stuff...so I am sending warm thoughts and good wishes. Wish I could help more.
Thanks, Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteThe heinous stuff is...well, there's just no better word for it than "heinous". I wish I could just go into hibernation like a bear and wake up next year with all of this behind me. *sigh*
I just returned from a 14 day cruise to Alaska...and my first chance to use my Kindle. For two months before buying it I had been preloading free and low cost books. I had downloaded both of your books and have to tell you how much I enjoyed them. Snowball is the ultimate in funny stories...reminded me of "Burn After Reading". Gave me a lot of laughs and I hope I can get hubby to read it as well.
ReplyDeleteAdelaide Einstein was very different...in the beginning I felt it as though it were set in England. Not sure why...but soon discovered it wasn't.
I lost my husband of 19 years to cancer in 2004. Here I am on a gorgeous cruise, reading away with the tears falling. What a wonderful, insightful and comforting book. Humor, real life, tragedy all intertwined.
I hope your current travails soon come to a peaceful (for you) end and you can get back to writing. I will be waiting in line to buy them all!
Thank you....
I'm glad to see a post from you. I have gotten rather busy with summer, and just got back by your page. I'm always happy to hear from you, even when what you have to say is very sad. Your strength and courage, and love always comes through, no matter what you are going through. (At lest that is how it seems to me since I've started fallowing your blog)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to use the crunch trick. I stress over all sorts of silly and not so silly stuff. I've also started hula-hooping. It's a great fun way to lose some weight, and more importantly to feel absolutely beautiful. There are some very inspiring stores from people of all ages and walks of life out there about hoop dancing. If you're interested I can drop a few links on you.
Keep sharing what you can, and keep smiling. We, your readers, are all here pulling for you.