#fitspiration

#Fitspiration: I could use some this week! Here are my current thoughts:

1. I want to be skinny enough to feel comfortable in my own skin. On my weight loss IG account, I follow a lot of people who are, like me, trying to lose weight. So many of them, like me, are unsure of what their "ultimate goal weight" will be. Many of them say they'll stop when they feel healthy.
   
   It's been a long time since I've felt comfortable in my own body. I remember being at a college football game six years ago, wearing size eight (in juniors) shorts and a youth size large jersey, and I felt good. I still felt inadequate compared to some of the girls who were baring more skin, but I remember thinking my legs looked nice, and my shorts fit right, and I wasn't self-conscious about how many beers I was drinking because I was thin enough that other people wouldn't think twice about my calorie intake.
   
   Six years ago. I can't wait to feel that way again, and I'm positive that I'll be even more confident because I'm six years wiser, too.
2. I want to be obviously fit so that people won't question my strength or athletic ability.
   
   I've always been proud of the fact that I am able to run a few (slow) miles no matter my weight. I had an unfortunate conversation with a colleague recently that made me realize I just don't look fit. It went something like this:
   
   Me: Hey, I'm thinking about doing that bike ride to the Keys in November!
   Him: REALLY? (Insert shocked face here!!!) You know it's two days of straight riding, right?
   
   I'd like to never repeat that moment again.
3. (This one is downright cringeworthy!) I want to wear leggings as pants.
   
   Sometimes I picture myself twenty pounds lighter (okay, 30...) wearing those cute fitness leggings with bright, colorful patterns and prints - maybe the cosmos, or whatever. And I also picture myself wearing leggings with a sweater (one that covers my butt, of course) and cute boots in the winter.
   
   Yeah...Skinny Me is going to wear the hell out of some leggings.

Summer reading list

I read more in the summer than I do throughout the rest of the year. I'm not sure what's up with that. Maybe it's just permanently instilled in me that fall and winter and spring are for school-mandated reading, and summer is for reading for pleasure.

Also, I recently discovered Goodreads, and I'm in love.

Anyway, here are a few books I've read recently:   

Who didn't read this in 2014? A tragic teenage love story. I thought it was good, but not great. It was an easy read - I read it on a three hour flight - but I wouldn't call it light. The themes were heavy, but it wasn't so moving (IMHO) that I cried the whole time. 3 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed Attachments and I look forward to reading more of Rowell's novels. I din't exactly fly threw this one, but the main character was relatable to me (despite being a man) and I cried happy tears at the end. 4 out of 5 stars.

A Dog's Purpose is the best novel I've read in quite a while. (Pro tip: Must love dogs.) I was moved to tears multiple times, but it was such a sweet, hopeful story. I liked it more than The Art of Racing in the Rain (another good book written from a dog's point of view). 5 out of 5 stars!

Next, I'll read:

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar by Kelly Oxford
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
another novel by Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl? Eleanor & Park?)

What are you reading this summer? (Respond in the comments!)