Big Belly Blues

I knew the belly was growing out of control when I:

- stopped wearing shoes with ties or buckles
- started asking Fred to give me a little push out of bed
…or off the couch
…or a pull out of a chair. That is, of course, until we bought the exercise ball - good for those core muscles and I just roll right off!
- used my Bella Band for the first time in months so no one would see my belly poking out from under a maternity shirt that no longer fits.
- started seeking out the handicap stalls in public restrooms: they are bigger, have hand rails for support, and seats that are higher off the ground.
- had to move the hymnal from the pew back in front of me at Mass so I could kneel.
- modified to a “sit-kneel” position at Mass because my belly hits the pew in front of me before my knees hit the kneeler.
- could no longer take advantage of my ability to park my car in extra small spaces that everyone else avoids because I can’t get out of the car once parked.
- tried to squeeze sideways through a crowd only to have my belly bump into every person I passed.
- could no longer eat a full meal without feeling like I just left Thanksgiving dinner.
- was lifting myself out of my desk chair at work and the arm rest broke off and flew across the room under the strain of my body weight.
- had to start using a mirror to check for stretch marks on the underside of my belly.
- stopped painting my own toenails.
- lost my balance and fell over backwards while digging through a bottom cabinet (sprawled on the floor, I almost died laughing – my Mom and Fred looked a little more concerned!).