NEW ALBANY — My hard work has paid off, and I hope it will continue to do so. 

About a month ago, I learned that I was named Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.'s Sports Writer of the Year for its small-newspaper division. I like it when my work is recognized, but the really nice thing about winning this particular contest is that there's a cash prize involved. It finally came through with my most recent paycheck, and I happily took a day off today to take care of some personal things. 

On an impulse, I strolled into Target with the intention of buying some new clothes. The shoes I wear daily had started to come apart, and I got some new ones. They're a little uncomfortable right now, but they're leather and I know they'll be better once I break them in. The sweatshirt I bought? Not so much.

When I'm heavy (which is about the last five years), I tend to favor darker clothes. They're slimming, but they also don't draw as much attention. Now that I'm starting to see the results of my fitness-conscious lifestyle when I look in the mirror, I decided to go ahead and get something with a little more color. I found a powder-blue sweatshirt. It was in my size, it looked good on the rack and it was the right price, so I decided to throw it in the cart. I'd bought sweatshirts at Target before, and I didn't figure it would be a problem. 

Well, it was. I just got home and tried it on (after tearing off the tags, of course), and the zipper is pretty tight. My muffin top is pretty visible on the sides when it's zipped up, and when it's not, it's pretty clear that it's not quite the right size for me. 

I don't mind when clothes are tight in the arms — it just means I can show people which way (insert flexing pose here) to the gun show. But tight in the torso is no good. It means I can't wear it. 

Instead of returning the sweatshirt, I'm hanging it up in my living room. It'll fit someday. And when it does, it'll mean that I worked hard enough and exercised enough discipline to earn the right to wear it. I know I can get there. 

Working out and eating right are more or less going well. I've been good about making the time to go to the YMCA in New Albany, and I'm eating in at my place more than going out for food. And when I do go out for a bite, it's usually someplace healthy like Subway. Hopefully the spring sports season doesn't leave me too tempted by hotdogs and whatnot. 

I'm still at the beginning of a long journey. I like where it's going.