~Monday, July 23, 2012

The Best Time I Got Fat



It happened all at once, yet not at all.

I got fat.

Fat to me is about 10 pounds. I know exactly how I got this way. Abraham joked that instead of doing the Couch to 5k, I did the 5k to Couch. It's been a year since I ran my last race, months since my last run. Abraham couldn't keep up with me, complaining of a hurt knee, and my geriatric dog just wanted to smell the river. So after 2 miles, we packed up and went home. Forever. 

Our nights were spent together with beers in our hands, at local bars, at concerts, at hockey and baseball games. Because our nights are spent together, I stopped buying perishable food. Perishable food! Also known as real food! Fruits and vegetables and cheese and meat! I switched from skim milk to organic soy milk, just because it lasts longer. When I did go to the grocery store, I loaded up on eggs, canned tuna and ramen noodles.

Abraham wasn't any better behaved. His house has dog biscuits, leftover matzo from Passover and a few canned goods. He keeps a jar of dark chocolate peanut m&ms on his nightstand because he knows I love them. He has no milk product, soy or otherwise.

The excuse is we're busy. Work. Kickball two nights a week. Parties. Friend invites. Sunday Funday. I can't remember the last time we've had a night in. Eating has efficiently become a social activity.

But my pants still fit, so it kept me in denial. How fat can you really be if you're wearing the same pair of pants?

Abraham and I have been invited to four weddings in six weeks. Last week I pulled out my beautiful dresses from last summer and laid them on my bed. Which to choose to wear? It quickly became evident. I would wear the dress that zips. Only none of them did. I'd get them all the way up to my breast and they wouldn't budge.

I got fat. There is certainly shame in no longer being able to fit in your clothes. I panicked. I called South Carolina Bestie and asked her how many tears would I have to cry to burn enough calories to fit in my dress. Turns out it was more than I had. I tried a corset with my dresses. Nada. I was just fat.

I called Abraham next. I told him my predicament. He heard my sniffles.

"Are you crying?" he asked.

"No."

"Are you lying?" he asked.

"Yes."

His voice got soft. He assured me I wasn't fat. I remembered what The Leader once told me, "If a guy really liked you, 10 – 15 pounds wouldn't make a difference." The Leader was right.

I told Abraham I wanted to start running again. He agreed. I said I needed to buy a fat girl dress this weekend for the first wedding.

"Anything you want."

I asked his roommate for dieting tips, knowing she was also in the midst of losing weight. "My boyfriend is responsible for 4 – 6 pounds," she told me. "It's a nice trade off though, isn't it?"

That's what everyone tells me when I say I got fat. They've been called "happy pounds" or "relationship pounds." But the way she phrased it—as a trade off—it soothed me.

"I'd rather be happy than skinny," I said.

"Me too."

The next day I dejectedly walked into Abraham's house after work. He stopped what he was doing and rushed across the room to greet me. He held me so tight. "You're not fat," he said. "I'm sorry you were upset last night and I couldn't be there for you. I love you."

It is a nice trade off.

We have since run 6 miles. We're starting back at the beginning of Couch to 5k, and he signed us up for a 5k in September. He told me he was proud of my running and my drive.

"Do you think I'll lose the weight?"

"And then some."

"What if I don't lose the weight? What if I look like this forever?"

"Then I'll still love you."

15 comments:

Mummy Dearest said...

Can we just think of this as the Lobster? Xo

Anonymous said...

LOVE this post.

Both hubster and I have gained weight since we first started dating. I like looking at it as a trade off!

Here's to being happy and just a little bit chubby! :)

(Oh, and LOVE a certain relationship status change on fbook... ♥)

x0

LLandL said...

first of all, what a sweetheart.

this hit me recently as well! my boyfriend cooks every evening and is very much a meat and potatoes kind of guy... needless to say it's finally caught up with me and I am NOT happy that my pretty summer clothes aren't fitting, no matter how many time he tells me i look great. like you, i'd rather be happy than skinny, but i'm not planning on buying a new wardrobe in the process either. (hopefully)kudos to you for signing up for a race and getting your butt in gear. i'll be right behind you.

K said...

There is nothing better than "love chub"!!

K said...

There is nothing better than "love chub"!!

Lpeg said...

Even with Le Chef's hard work making 'healthy' dinners at night, it's still not even close to the way I was eating before! I'm feeling sluggish and tired constantly, but I do agree - it is nice to be happy for a change :)

It'll be okay, don't worry!! :)

Missy June said...

Absolutely delightful! I gained about seven pounds in the first two months that I was dating my guy. I always gain weight when I'm happy. He's gained 10. Love him. Totally worth it.

Anonymous said...

Can you find me an Abe? I like him more and more as you write about these incidents.

Breeza said...

I second PropertyofJ. I need a west coast Abe! But I'm so glad you're happy!

Danielle said...

With making running a priority, you should have making healthy dinners together a priority as well. I have maintained for the last month, but should have lost

Cut out carbs for a week or 2, load up on protein and veggies, you'll be good.

Its better to be gaining in the best of times, versus the worst of times.

Anonymous said...

Happy over skinny any day of the week. A happy face is totally a better look than a skinny ass, anyway. Best of both worlds, darling. (And you'll get back to where you're more comfortable. Sure of it.)

Eleni Zoe said...

I've just got a stupid smile on my face. You are both adorable.

Anonymous said...

Interesting..I'm opposite..I always lose weight while in a relationship. Before things got bad last summer I was down to 196. Haven't been that small since Grade 9.

D said...

Yeah, it happened to me during round 1 with the ex. I gained about 10 lbs. I read it means you're having a good time on the date...you don't want it to end so you keep eating what's on your plate and order an ap and dessert. Cosmo is right about everything :)

Blog Deleted said...

Shouldn't be eating anything soy, Sarah, if you have thyroid problems. http://chriskresser.com/the-soy-ploy and http://thyroid.about.com/cs/soyinfo/a/soy.htm

 

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