Not All Pants Are Created Equal

Picture this with me. I’m in Gap Factory Outlet. I’m in the clearance aisle. I’m looking at the end of the rack where the “big girl” clothes are. I see this beautiful pair or green khaki slacks – they would be perfect for my trip to Belize. Alas, they’re a size 18. I’m not there yet.

**Bing**

That’s the noise of the light bulb going off in my head. Missy, the size 20 you bought at Gap in February is too big now.

Hallelejuah.

I was about to do a dance in the dressing room as I slid them over my shapely thighs (lol, I say that because those lunges in Jazzercise are working wonders I tell you!). They fit perfectly and boy oh boy did they look good.

But, I don’t own them.

WHAT? WHY?

I know, I know. Let me continue. They came of the clearance rack, right? Well, there was no tag. Why I tried on a pair of pants without checking the price first, I don’t know. But, I found a small pair with a tag. Originally $49.99 marked down to $43.00 (clearance, my elbow!) with an additional 40% off. Not too bad. Puts them at about $26. As I was debating if I wanted to pay $26 for a pair a pants that will hopefully be too big in two months, I see a phenomenal red sign 70% off! “Ooh, what’s 70% off?” I asked myself.

I’m easily distracted I know.

There, lying on a table was two stacks of the same Hadley Khaki’s $49.99 with 70% off! I’M IN LOVE! A tan pair and a blue pair; I’ll gladly choose the navy over the green. I start digging through the stack. Naturally, they don’t have an 18. I asked a saleswoman if she could see if they could order an 18 ($15 people!).

No. There are no more 18s.

So, I’m standing there in somewhat of confusion. In one had I have green pants for $26. In the other hand, I have blue pants for $15. Why?

They’re the same pants.

I asked the saleswoman if, considering they don’t have my size in the other color, she would be willing to give me the green pair for the $15. She takes me to the manager.

I tell the woman the story. I even include how exciting it is that I’m holding a pair of size 18 pants. (Really, I did!).

No, Ma’am. We can’t change the price.

But, Ma’am, they’re the same pants. The only thing different is the color.

Then choose a different color.

I tried, you don’t have my size.

Well, then it looks like you have to have the green ones.

But they’re more expensive.

No, they’re on clearance.

Yes, but even on clearance with 40% off, they’re still more expensive than the full price 70% off. I’m just asking you to give me the better discount.

I’m sorry I can’t do that.

Ok. I’m really trying to understand what the problem is. I’m a loyal customer. I love this store. You have great deals, and your salespeople are always very kind. And, like I said before, they’re the same pants.

I’m sorry. I can’t change the price.

Are you sure? I bet there's probably a manager override you can do to give me the discount.

No.

I should have said thank you or made a silly quip, but I couldn’t. I literally walked away. I went back to the aisle. I looked at “clearance.” I looked at full price. I looked at clearance. I looked at full price.

I just couldn’t do it. I even called my Mom for moral support. But, on principle alone, I couldn’t pay $11 more for the exact same pair of pants.

Call me crazy, but I’m a woman on a budget.

On the drive home from the Lake my mind would not rest. I was trying not to be mad or feel begrudged over a pair of pants, but what happened to “The customer is always right”?

Then it hit me.

How many times in my life have I gotten “a great deal” on something and walked away blind to the truth. The same thing was just around the corner for a far better price.

We women do this a lot. That boy is just so cute, and I am just so single. Ring a bell? That house is just so perfect, and I must have it because my co-worker’s house is 200 square feet smaller.

All around me I see women settling. I see it in relationships, in jobs, in houses, even in families. We take what’s right in front of us because we can’t bare the thought of waiting longer for something that may or may not be better.

News flash – God is always better.

My plans fail epically. His don’t.  Sure, I may have to wait a little longer, but it’s going to far surpass any stupid idea I come up with.

I’m constantly asked when I’m getting married. Like, all the time. Thankfully, my close friends and family know better by now, but the rest of the world just doesn’t get it.

Are you dating anyone? No.

Are you talking to anyone? No.

When’s the last time you did date someone? Late 2008 (seriously…not kidding.)

Aren’t you lonely? No.

What about (insert name of previous boyfriend here) guy? He seemed great. Can’t you two work things out. No.

Why not? Because He’s not who God wants for me.

What does that mean? IT MEANS I HAVEN’T FOUND WHO GOD WANTS FOR ME.

A pair of pants, I might settle on. My future spouse? Heck to the no.

So what if I haven’t gone on a legit date since 2008. I can feed myself! I know what I want and more importantly what I need in a Godly husband (Godly being the key word), and I will not settle for anything less than God’s best so please, oh please, quit asking me when I’m going to settle down.

Sorry, that was a tangent. A true tangent; but a tangent nonetheless.

Moral of the day – not all pants are created equal. And you know what? Not all lives are created equal. Quit following your plans for just a smidge and ask God what he wants.

I guarantee you it’s better than the “pants” you currently have on.

Peace Out, Home Fries

(P.S. I’ve been “fried food-less” for more than a week. It’s freeing!)

Missy :o)

I Know I Shouldn't Have...Minor Set Backs

Ok, never mind the fact that it’s been more than a week since I posted. This whole “No Internet at Home” really sticks! Good news, though! Free Internet at my apartment starting July 1^st! Woo hoo! Never mind the fact that rent went up $7.50 a piece this lease year. Oh well!

Anyway, back to the minor setbacks.  So, about 10 days ago I weird things started to happen. I went to Jazzercise one night, and it was great. However, about an hour later my heart started racing. My heart rate just skyrocketed, and I started sweating. I know I shouldn’t have, but I chalked it up to weird blood sugar.

Then, that Sunday, I went for Week 1 - Day 2 of C2-5k. I did great for the first two minutes of running. But, then I got these horrible pains in my side and had trouble breathing. I walked pretty much the rest of the way…just jogged a little at the end. I chalked that up to the heat of the day. I know…I shouldn’t have.

Well, then Monday night I went to Jazzercise. I was feeling great until the fourth song in. I got really light headed and dizzy. Something just felt off. I know I shouldn’t have, but I chalked it up to not eating before hand. About an hour after getting home my heart rate shot up again. The sweat came, and I just felt awful. This time, I knew something was wrong. You know how you can just feel “off”?

Well, the next day, I called my Nurse Practitioner (with some advice/nudging from my dear friend Missi). I thought I’d schedule an appointment for the next time I was home. I’d been on this medicine for about a year that was supposed to help lower my glucose levels. I’m not diabetic; I’ve always been what doctors call “pre-diabetic.” My body makes too much insulin and what it doesn’t use, it stores as fat. Thus why I have such a hard time losing weight – and why this 40 pounds is INCREDIBLE! PTL!

Anyway, my NP was less than enthused about what I shared with her and wanted me to go in for blood work ASAP. I spent most of Wednesday morning at urgent care getting blood work and an EKG done (remind me to tell you THAT awesome story, lol). Meanwhile, she took me off the medication and told me to stay away from ANYTHING THAT CAN INCREASE MY HEART RATE until all results come back. So, yes, that means I’ve done nothing physically challenging since LAST MONDAY!

Sucky.

Anyway, my EKG came back “perfect” as the doctor said. Kidney is fine. Heart seems to be fine. Pancreas seems to be fine. The only thing that looked out of the ordinary was that my glucose levels seemed closer to normal and my thyroid numbers “are way out of whack.” I kid you not – the urgent care doctor actually said out of whack.

They faxed the results to my NP, and I’m still waiting to hear back. She was out of the office Thursday and Friday. I’m gonna’ be “that patient” tomorrow and call until I get through to her. Meanwhile, I’m a couch potato….sadness.

In my last post, I ended with Paul’s words of wisdom that spiritual fitness is far superior to physical fitness. All of this has got me thinking. In exception to your diet and exercise, you really don’t have that much control over your physical being. Cancer just shows up. You fall and break an arm. Your heart decides to stop.

On the other hand, we have COMPLETE control of our spiritual well-being. We control its healthy levels, if you will. We control when it’s levels get “out of whack.” The question is – what are you doing about it?

Just like I felt like something was “off” last week, I know when my relationship with God is off. I know that feeling of neglecting my prayer time. I know how I feel if I miss reading some part of the Word for a day or two. How many times have you said, “I know I shouldn’t skip it, but I’m just so tired to pray today.”?

I’ve come to place in my life where I know what reading the Word does for me. It brings me joy, peace, comfort and a whole bunch of wisdom that I wouldn’t normally have. Last Wednesday as I was waiting to hear from urgent care, I was a mess. My NP thought I could be in danger because of my symptoms. It took everything I had to focuss that day. I was getting ready to go on a Prayer Walk with some of the students when I realized I needed to do some praying of my own. So, I sat on a couch in the XA House and just prayed. Then I read a little in Proverbs. Then I’d pray again. Before I knew it, and hour had gone by – an hour free of worrying about my heart - an hour of peace in God’s gentle presence.

Now, I know some of you have been dreading the time when the spiritual side of “The Best Missy I Can Be” finally came through. But here it is in all it’s glory. My faith, my God is the heartbeat of my life. He is the SOLE reason I even get to live this life as Missy. My heart daily beats for Him. I long for His presence like my body longs for movement right now. I know there are people in this world that don’t even think God hears our prayers. I kow people think I’m insane because I live my life for someone I can’t even see.

But I really don’t care what they think.

Even if I blow up to a 500-pound woman and never work out a day in my life, I will still have Jesus and I will still be stronger than I am now. Don’t worry I won’t do that, but do you get what I’m saying?

Ok, well, then, what I’m saying is – try me. Take one moment of your day and open up to the Book of Proverbs. Heck, go to Bible Gateway right now and read a little. Want some of that wisdom I was talking about? Check it out.. Test me on this and just tell me if it doesn’t make you feel a little stronger, wiser, better today.

I don’t know what my NP is gonna’ tell me. She may ban me from exercise for longer. She may put me on meds for my thyroid. She may tell me there’s something horribly wrong with my heart. No matter what, I know that I’m gonna’ be just fine. A minor set back in my physical life will not cause a minor set back in my spiritual life. On Christ the solid rock I stand, and all other ground is sinking sand.

In reality, I haven’t had a setback at all. I’m just leaning on Him.

The Splinting of Shins

I mean, really? Shin splints? Who invented those? They flipping hurt.

So, on Wednesday, I decided to be the bionic woman or something. I started C2-5k that morning as I mentioned in my last post. Well, then I went to my normal Jazzercise class that night. And, frankly, that was stupid.

About two songs into the Jazzercise class, I was dying. My legs were screaming, "WHY?!?" For someone who is just now moving out of her sedentary lifestyle, that was a little overkill. As a matter of fact, I woke up to this in my inbox the next day.

To: missyxa@gmail.com
From: yourlegs@gmail.com
06/15/12


Dear Melissa,
Why on earth do you hate us so much? We've been good to you. We're shapely, and we're strong. We're even a little tan for you right now. So, why, oh dear Lord, why did you try to murder us yesterday??? We are only as good as the rest you give us. Now, you've caused an argument between our bone and tendon. As a matter of fact, they split up yesterday. Do you know how much counseling we had to put them through? Do you know how much work we had to do while you were in that chilly pool? COULD YOU NOT HEAR US CRYING?


Anyway, because you let us rest for about 24 hours, they tendon and bone are making up. I'm sure you can still feel their resentment, but they're on the mend. We encourage your exercise plan, but please don't over do it EVER again.


Love,
Your healing, but ever sexy legs.

Now, I know what you're thinking, legs can't type. Well, of course they can't, but I'm telling you, they were screaming at me. I naturally googled shin splints. I had heard of them before, but I wasn't quite sure what they medically were or how to make them go away. If you follow the WebMD link, you will learn valuable things. Like...


1. I shouldn't run on concrete.
2. I shouldn't run and Jazzercise in the same day.
3. I shouldn't wear flip-flops the day after said events. 


Well, that's been my biggest lesson of the week. I'm feeling much better today, so I'm headed to Jazzercise at 5:35 p.m. to start my weekend off right. I'm loving this whole physical fitness thing. But, good 'ole Paul reminds me that it's not all about that. 


“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8


But, more on that later. I've gotta' go shake it for 60 minutes!


Peace Out, Home Grapes
(Eat those!!)
Missy :o)

Big Bridesmaids, Dancing Queens, and Java Chip Frappuccinos

I HATE physical activity. Like, hate with the fire of a thousand suns (40 points for whoever caught that reference). Mostly, I hate it because physical activity usually means being outside, and Missy and the outdoors have never really mixed well. My idea of outdoors is a pool and a sweet tea with a shade umbrella.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

This journey really started in March of 2011. I was in two weddings last year, which meant two bridesmaid dresses…which meant two fittings in which I would probably have the biggest dress. Now, if you know me well, size has never been anything but a number for me. BUT, I KNEW I had gained weight. I KNEW I would probably be “the bigger girl” in all the wedding photos. So. Not. Cool.

So, I signed up for Weight Watchers. It worked for everyone else; surely it would work for me?

Wrong.


I just didn’t care. True, I didn’t want to be the “big bridesmaid,” but that didn’t mean I was willing to do anything about it. Besides, I rocked those dresses – flabby arms and all!

Me and Em at her wedding in May 2011. Look at that round face. Woh, baby!
Thank you Simpi Photography (Angie Herrington-Mertz)

Me literally dancing down the aisle at Heather Dawn's wedding in April 2011
Thank you LP Photography (Lyndsey Portell)

I continued the summer like I was trying to lose weight and get fit, but nothing happened. (Duh, Miss!) It wasn’t until I was shopping and had to buy a size 24 that I realized how “unfit” I had gotten. I hadn’t been in a 24 since 8^th grade, and I was a Butterball in 8^th grade…and I was back to that?

So, last August I started counting points religiously. I still had no desire to go on a walk or really even move, but at least I could watch my eating habits. When I went in for a tonsillectomy in December, I realized I had lost 10 pounds (Yeah, I never weighted myself while counting points…probably why it didn’t work, haha). The 10 pounds was exciting! And I thought, “If I can do that without thinking about it, what can I do if I actually try this?”

Well, I don’t know if you’ve had your tonsils out, but it SUCKS! Seriously…nothing but popsicles and juice for two weeks? Let’s say, the new weight loss got a jumpstart! It was great! It was the boost I needed to really focus on a new me.

By mid-January, I had hit the 25-pound mark, and I was feeling great. I couldn’t help but think that I could be doing more. Then, one glorious day, I got an Add Sheet Daily Deal in my inbox. “10 Jazzercise classes for $18.” I didn’t really know what it was, but it was cheap (considering one class is normally $15), and the jazz part probably meant dancing. And this chick LOVES to dance! Like, loves to the point that if I were to stop dancing, my limbs might fall off, and I'd melt into a little glob of sadness. Abba's Dancing Queen? That's me. For real. 


So, I bought it with my friend Kim, and started going. I LOVED IT. I’ve been going since February as much as I can. I’ve also started changing what I eat, too, not just staying at my PointsPlus count.

That brings me to today. As of today, I’ve lost 39 pounds, and I’m in a loose fitting size 20. I feel amazing! But, it’s time for a new challenge. That “50-pounds lost” mark is just around the corner. I will get there, and in the mean time, I’m starting phase two of “The Best Missy I Can Be” – Run a 5k by Labor Day.  Why? If I’m being honest, I really don’t know. Considering walking up a flight of stairs use to exhaust me, a 5k sounds just ridiculous.

No bother, though, today I did Week 1 – Day 1 of Couchto5K. On the 60 seconds of running, I could only do about 45-50 seconds of it, but hey, I started somewhere!

And, starting somewhere is just the beginning (obviously, or it would be called ending somewhere, hehe). The totally awesome thing is that this is not just affecting my heart rate and weight – my whole life is changing! See, this journey would not be possible without prayer. The basis of getting fit wasn’t just a jean size, it was a “If God calls me to Africa tomorrow, could I go?” feeling. I realized that I kept praying, “Lord, wherever, whenever,” but there was no physical way I could go anywhere that involved walking a lot.

I promise to get into the whole spiritual side of transformation soon. Today is just about the start. Today is about looking at your life and honestly seeing what needs to change. Is it physical? Is it spiritual? Or, maybe it’s emotional.

Or, maybe, this blog is just something for you to read while waiting in line at Startbucks, and that’s totally cool. Get me a tall, light Java Chip Frappucino with no whip. I’ll make up the 7 points on my run to get it from you. ;o)

Peace Out, Home Fries!

(But, don’t eat the fries…not worth the points.)

Missy :o)

Me with a girl I mentor in May 2012.
Not the best pic, but you can see the difference!