Cotton Bam Boo Tastic, and how the girls are a signal of weight loss to come

I called Woolcott and Company, my friendly yarn shop. I'd say my neighborhood yarn shop, but since the yarn for my pink cardigan was a vacation purchase in Cambridge, Mass... it's not my 'hood so much.

Not only did they still have more balls of yarn in the right color- it's even the right dye lot. Never one to turn down the quirky wonderfulness of fate, I've ordered two skeins which MUST BE more than enough. I probably only need half a skein, but these are not things you take lightly when you have to add this much fabric for the bust-line and still want to have 3/4 length sleeves. If I end up having way too much, I'm sure I could come up with some interesting uses for it. Cute little baby sweater tops the list (as an accent color, if not enough for a full little sweater or hat).

While the new yarn is wending its way to me, I've been re-working the dagnabbit sweater fronts. And this time they really are zooming. There's something to be said for re-work- at least it's easier!



It's funny what it takes to get a person to realize their real size. I'm making size C of this sweater, 39 and 3/8 inches around. And it looks to be fine, width-wise. And yet I needed to add significant space to accommodate my significant frontage. I know this- I know my bra size, and I know I'm not a tiny person. But it's still an awfully visceral way to be reminded of what I'm really like. It doesn't quite match up with my self-perception.

My general size is like that. I'm a great deal bigger overall than I can really comprehend. I'm getting it, though, and this has lead to some pretty big changes. I don't just have a gym membership, I go to the gym on a regular basis. And I'm working up to going on a more frequent regular basis. I started the Couch to 5k running plan, and just finished week 3 this evening. I walk home from work on occasion (it takes an hour and a half or so, with a big ole hill in the last half hour). I wear a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. I started doing crunches again, and other ab exercises, because my waist size has increased commensurate with my bust size. I have started cooking more, and especially cooking things that I can pack and take to work for lunch. Every lunch I bring with me saves me 8-10 dollars and ensures I have some notion of the nutritional content of what I'm eating. I also miss doing yoga, but haven't been brave enough to try any of the classes at my new gym. I do it at home sometimes, and hope to get more into it again soon.

I wish I could say all these changes were making a big impact- and I suppose they are helping. I gained 15 pounds after starting my new job, and when I began a new medication, and I've lost that excess weight already. But I have a long way to go, and it's incredibly important that I not get complacent. I may be the bounciest and flubbiest chick working out at my gym, but at least I'm there- and eventually, surely, more of the weight will come off. Maybe someday I won't need to alter my sweaters anymore, and I won't need as many skeins of yarn or as much time knitting to have beautiful hand-made tops that fit.

I'll keep you posted.