Who has my waistline? I want it back!

So today I worked out at a gym. Something I recently started. Prompted by the fact (at least in part) that my waistline is missing.

The last place I worked could be described as business casual with an emphasis on the casual.  Which was fine with me.  I wore suits (!) with heels and PANTYHOSE (?!?) for jobs in the '80s and '90s, so casual -- I was good with that. My "uniform" became black pants with whatever top I pulled off the hanger.

Until one day, an out-of-office presentation needed to be made, so I thought, "a skirt, I haven't worn a skirt and heels and PANTYHOSE (PH) in forever so I'll do that. Might be kind of nice for a change." Ha!

First, I discovered that someone had snuck in and replaced all my PH with smaller sizes as evidenced by the crotch part that would come up no farther than slightly above the middle of my thighs.

After much straining and cursing, I finally yanked those babies somewhere closer to where my waist should be. Then I pulled on my Spanx (one of the world's best inventions) over the PH in the hope that would keep the darned things up at least until I finished the presentation.

And then came the skirt...which immediately slid up above what should have been my natural waistline. Hmmm. Ok. Pulled it back down. Slid up again. This went on until I realized that my skirt did not fit the way it used to.  My "buddha belly" prevented it.  So, on went a long sweater to cover everything up and off I went, delivering a speech, all the while my waistband hovered what seemed like not too far from my armpits.

So it's been for several years...the belly and I, along with jiggly arms and thighs, were not at a good place.  Although it must seem as if vanity is my name, it really isn't.  I thank God every day that I have all my limbs and parts intact. I truly am grateful; I have friends who haven't been as lucky.  

And so, for the sake of trying not to let myself go too far downhill and improve my health and fitness before I become totally decrepit, the gym with the elliptical and the stationary bike and the weight machines is becoming my acquaintance, not a friend yet but certainly not the enemy it was a couple of weeks ago.

It takes a lot of maintenance for us these days, as one of my dear Friends recently noted.

Here's to abundant health and joyous journeys for all of us.  No matter how much maintenance it takes!