Flat Feet and Chub Rub
I want to talk to you guys today about something other than hair. For those of you that are new to this blog, I live in Indianapolis. We don’t have a really good method of public transportation, so more than likely, you have a car. Yes, we have a bus system, but as an example, they don’t stop anywhere near me. I live within city limits. I don’t think it runs 24 hours a day. It’s not great.
I am currently on vacation in a city that does have great public transportation. You do a lot of walking as well. Because I usually drive everywhere at home, there are certain things I do not think about. Yes, I have heard of chub rub before; I have never experienced it. I wear dresses and skirts all summer long, and have never had an issue with it. Yesterday for the first time in my life I experienced it. DEAR. MOTHER. OF. GOD. by the time we got back to our hotel, I was walking like a bowlegged penguin. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BOWLEGGED PENGUIN!? It isn’t pretty. We got to our room and I ran to the bed, laid on the bed, lifted up my pretty dress and HOWLED. The hubs looked and gasped “You are so swollen on your thighs!” We looked at each other and said at the same time “Chub Rub” The swelling has since gone down, and I actually wore shorts today, so I am pretty much back to 100%. However, I think I will be wearing shorts the rest of my trip.
Another thing I want to talk about is shoes. I wear a size 10 shoe. I have an incredibly wide foot. I don’t know the exact width, as my foot has not been measured since I was a kid. My feet are also flat. So you have a plus size girl with a flat and wide foot. I cannot find a comfortable and stylish walking shoe. It’s not fair. I shouldn’t have to sacrifice style or comfort for a walking shoe. Don’t believe me? Go to Zappos.com. look for sandals, in a size 10, with a width bigger than just W. A lot of that stuff looks like something my grandmas would wear. Plus there is no telling if they are comfortable. When I get a chance, I am going on a severe hunt for a comfortable, stylish walking shoe, that comes in wide widths. If you have any suggestions or thoughts, do not hesitate to leave a comment or even email me. I shouldn’t have to wear sneakers with my cute dresses just because I am big foot. It is amusing. Big and tall guys do not have as many choices as us girls do when it comes to clothes. A lot of times they have to buy at the “Lane Bryant” of clothing stores, which means they are spending an arm and a leg. However, they can get all different styles of shoes in different widths. Plus size women have more and more choices. They grow with every single day. However, I can’t find the same shoes that are cute, and comfy to walk in to save my life. Everything scrapes the side of my foot (by my big toe) or they just hurt.
Do you have problems with shoes? What is your favorite brand of shoe to combat this? What about chub rub? How do you combat it?
Swimsuit shopping and Banding
I am going to be honest with you. I haven't owned a swimsuit in possibly 5-6 years. Why? I'm fat, I live in the Midwest, and.. well, that's about all. When it gets hot, I don't go to the pool to cool down. I sit in the house. In the blessed air conditioning. With my dogs.
Things have to change though.
You see, I have always been an active person. Whether it be shopping, working, and cooking, I was always doing SOMETHING.
That has come to an end here recently. I've gotten so big that it has sapped my energy. It hurts to even move. I can't shop because within 30 minutes, my back aches like I just walked 20 blocks.
Things have to change.
Today my husband and I joined the YMCA. I am going to start out swimming. When I have lost enough weight I will work on the machines. I want to be fit and able. I want to be able to have kids. When I do have kids, I don't want to be the bump on the log that parks them in front of the TV.
Things are going to change.
So, with the whole swimming gig, that means I need a swimsuit. It is incredibly late in the summer apparently to be swimsuit hunting. I first started at Wal-Mart.
...I know... I KNOW! But I was there... and it was a good thing I was there too.
There was a teenage plus size girl crying with her mom.
Apparently the girl was upset that the only thing available at Wally world was bikinis. She was feeling fat and unloved. (haven't we all felt this way?) She tugged at my heart strings. I did the only thing I could do in a situation like that; I spoke to her.
"Uh.. excuse me?"
the girl looked up at me mortified. "My name is Leslie..uh... I couldn't help but overhear you having issues with the swimsuits. I'm plus sized too...but, you are smaller than me, and I know for a fact they have a couple of great swimsuits here in your size that will not show a whole lot of skin." I pulled two random pieces from the rack. One was a skirted piece and the other was a halter piece that came to the edge of the skirt. Her mom thanked me and she ran off to the dressing room. There wasn't much there for me (very slim pickings) so I left and went to Fashion Bug.
People, before I continue further, I need to let you know that it is the hottest day of the year. I don't sweat and I AM SWEATING. The walk from Walmart to my car culminated into me being a big hot sweaty fat girl. Don't you just LOVE that visual.
I get to Fashion Bug and walk in. Fat, blobby, sweaty and ugh. The sales lady was nice to me either way. I explained I needed a swimsuit and she frowned.
"We don't have many left, but I will show you what we got." She leads me to a rack of swimsuits and I begin digging. LO AND BEHOLD! I spy a gem of a swimsuit. In my size! that looks decent! OMG!!!! I go up to pay.. AND IT IS EVEN FURTHER ON CLEARANCE!!! This damn swimsuit is like 10 bucks. I must stop this story.. and do the robot.
*does the robot*
I am ready YMCA. Bring it ONNNN!!!!!
In natural hair news, today I have decided I am going to band my hair. I will take before, during and after photos of the whole thing. I am excited.
Today's hair outlook is kind of bleak. I conditioned and moisturized my hair within an inch of its life. I don't know if it is the heat or what, my hair feels horrible. It feels like straw.
I went today to purchase bands and a wide tooth comb so that I can comb the conditioner through my hair when I am deep conditioning tonight. While I was at the store, I came across a darling hair accessory. It is a pink flower with a crystal gem on it. It has three small plumes of feathers on it. I have a wedding to go to this month and have been looking for something like this. YAY!!! It was really inexpensive too. It was 1.99 I will take a picture for my banding entry and put it up there.
Now I need to go read about all the fun stuff the Y offers. I want to get strong enough to take a Zumba class!
Espionage Cosmetics
