Let's Talk About YOU

Thanks for your feedback on my Fred post, people. I should say, for the record, that Fred is a real, live friend of mine and @nosredna's and I asked his honest opinion about the blog. So we shouldn't be too hard on him.

My real problem is, I'm tired of me. I know I make it seem easy to write about me, me, me all the time (it's my secret talent) but it's starting to get old.

"Hi. I'm @juliejulie. I went running. I didn't go running. Here's me--and my dog. Here's me--and Stacey. Here's the one about me and my car. Here's the one about me and religion. Here's me. And me. And me again..."

I'm wearing my own self out, writing all this stuff about my own self.

Then, a funny thing happened this morning. I got a great email from a stranger, meaning someone I haven't met in real life or online, yet. She shared a bit about her own recent running and weight loss journey and told me how much she enjoys reading my blog.

She ran her first 10k today! Holy cow, that is a big deal, and I'm impressed. Here's a tiny part of what she said:

Since I've started running in April...I've lost 13 pounds...lots of inches...and gained miles and smiles. I feel good. better than I have in years. I run for me. It makes me a better Mom.

I say she gets a gold star, so I'm giving her a virtual one, and as soon as I meet her in real life, I'll give her a real one.

I'd like to hear more from her. I've asked her to submit a guest post, because even though I once said the Chubby Mommy Running Club isn't a real club, I guess it sort of is. Because you loyal readers are making it one.

Anyone else want to send us their stories? I'd love to hear more about you.

Come, join the club. Membership cards optional.

Let's Talk About Me

Yesterday I had a good talk with a friend of mine - I'll call him Fred- about this blog and whether or not it is interesting.

Fred said it's time for me to stop being so shallow and start to dig a little deeper. Apparently all my pithy little safe stories aren't doing much for him. He wants drama, he wants action, where's the reality in this pseudo show of mine? Where's the storyline? How does it end?

Other questions from Fred:

1. Are you ever going to lose any weight, or just keep talking about it?
2. Why do you only talk about the good things and not the bad things?
3. Why should we care about a middle aged mom and her exercise stories?

So I said "Dude, you are not my target market."

And Fred said "Bullshit." Except he didn't really say that. But that's what he meant.

And then I gave him some answers:

1. Maybe it's not about losing the weight, maybe it's about my journey through middle age and getting healthy and staying healthy for the long haul.
2. Maybe if I slip into the darkness and the sadness I won't come out again.
3. I have no idea why people care about this blog or why they should. Can't it just be a little hobby?
4. My life is not a reality show and although it might be interesting for some people to see me unravel online, I don't think it is necessarily...necessary.

Fred said I sounded defensive. And he didn't mean to hurt my feelings. So I made a joke then, like I always do, when I don't feel like crying in front of friends, even if it is just online, which is always.

So, dear readers, what do you think? Give me some better answers.

Being Rockstars

I'll be the first to admit that sometimes the only reason I keep going over to Snap Fitness and letting Malibu Stacey force me to do all the exercises I sort of hate, is because she makes me laugh. And sometimes I just need to laugh.

Yesterday I walked into the gym at 10:00 a.m. on the dot, because there's no sense in being early to exercise, in my opinion.

I saw Stacey disappear around a corner and say my name. I tried to follow the sound of her voice, but I couldn't find her. She was engaging me in a game of hide-and-seek, apparently.

Maybe she was trying to get me to warm up by walking around the gym instead of just Twittering about myself?

I learned a long time ago that if you're lost in the woods, follow the river down stream, or better yet, just stay in one place until someone finds you. Hopefully, you thought ahead and brought snacks, in case you're sitting under a tree for a long time waiting to be rescued.

I always bring snacks, and I don't mind being rescued.

Stacey finally found me, and immediately told me I looked thinner (which is always good to hear) but what the hell was wrong with my hair?

"Oh," I said "Is it really that bad?"

"Yep, it is. What is with all the gray? You look more like Chubby GRANNY than Chubby Mommy. Don't tell me you've been coloring it at home? And the bangs thing didn't really work out so well, did it?"

And then, right then and there, she whipped out her cell phone and called Rachel, her cute-as-a -button hair girl, and proceeded to tell her that I'd be coming in getting my hair done and writing about it on my blog, and then Rachel's phone would soon be ringing off the hook with Chubby Mommy Running Club readers who will want Rachel to make them look cute again too.

And Rachel will be sort of a celebrity then, Stacey told her, and also Stacey has been getting new clients because of her Chubby Mommy Trainer status, and people in line at Starbucks even shout "Hey look! It's Malibu Stacey, from Chubby Mommy!" and then she hands them a business card. Because she is good at marketing.

And of course Rachel the hair girl was all in, and now I'm excited to get cute hair again. Stacey has that effect on people after all.

So then I said "Stacey, who else do you know? Cause I could use a few other things to write about..."

And then she said, "Honey, I know everyone, and you need a complete life makeover."

And then I knew we were on to something, because boy, do I ever need a life makeover.

So Julie and Stacey and the Chubby Mommy Running Club are now open for sponsorship and bribery for shameful self-promotion. Hollywood agents encouraged to apply.

Please email me at julieanderson (at) hotmail.com and we'll work something out.

And remember, Stacey is hot and looks good in designer sportswear. I'm just sayin'. And of course I'm happy to sample food and drinks, too.

If I Were a Slutty Flight Attendant

I did not stay up late enough last night to watch David Letterman call Sarah Palin a slutty flight attendant, but I did watch the video. 

I try to be politically agnostic here at Chubby Mommy Running Club, but the phrase Slutty Flight Attendant is a good one. It conjures up so many images, most of which involve false eyelashes, red lipstick, short skirts, and well, maybe a former beauty pageant contestant or two, if we're honest.

In fairness to Mrs. Palin, I think she'd be a really good flight attendant, because she seems friendly, engaging, and like the type who would make sure your coffee is hot. She'd probably even slip you an extra bag of peanuts. 

But modern flight attendants wear long skirts or pants and long sleeved blazers with silly scarves tied around their necks to block any possible cleavage overflow. Seriously, they're pretty conservative these days. 

If I had the body and confidence to wear the outfit pictured above, I'd go for it in a heartbeat. I mean, the boots alone would be enough for me to take the job. I'd get to keep the boots even if I quit, right?

I'd have to be careful not to spill hot coffee on my bare legs, though, or I'd probably cuss up a storm. Wait, maybe that would be okay? 

[Photo credit to the Upgrade Travel Better blog, who probably ripped this off from an old Southwest Airlines Ad archive file, but hey, he found it first!] 

Malibu Stacey's Hot and @juliejulie Cheats

First of all, let's just be honest with each other: Stacey's hot. So, here are a few photos for the people who visit this blog to see her, and could care less about me and my new bangs.

  

Listen, it doesn't bother me that you like looking at her more than you like looking at me. I mean, let's face it, she works her butt off to look this good, and I don't. More power to her.

Ok, now back to me. 

Please?

As Stacey flits around the gym hamming it up for the camera and I sit in the corner on the Cybex machine pretending to do those bicep press thingys, I'm thrilled that she's too distracted to keep track of how many I've done.

At first I thought Stacey was just making up all these random masochistic exercises for me to do on the fly, to keep me busy while she talks about her new shoes and stuff. I figured she wouldn't even notice if I started cheating.

  

Did you know wall sits are harder with a Kettle ball between your knees, but easier if you lean forward?

Turns out Stacey does know, actually, and she gets all pissy when I do it. In fact, I think she added the heavy ball this week just to make up for the cheating I did last week.

I'm just sure. She's so bossy sometimes.

The good news is, I did manage to lose 2 pounds last week, and I'd like to credit the cottage cheese cups I ate every morning during my business trip to Duluth, MN. I wanted scones, but the thought of Madam Bossy Boots waiting for me back in Bend encouraged me to stay the course.

Also, the running is probably helping. I'm up to about a 4 mile loop now, but I still slow down and speed up, like Stacey taught me, to burn more fat, which makes me sweat. A lot. But I'm sure you'd rather see sweaty pictures of Stacey. 

Ok, here's one more shot of her looking a little kittenish as she's showing off her new shoes. This is your reward for reading all the way to the end:

Thanks for stopping by to see (her) us.

Love, 

@juliejulie