Article: Fashionable reasons why I must lose weight

Fashionable reasons why I must lose weight

LESLIE INGLIS
GUEST COLUMN in Toronto Star

I've decided that if I truly want to be a fashion diva I must get
serious about weight loss. The real clincher came the other day while
visiting a friend. I found that I couldn't quite park my bottom in her
new designer armchair.

I haven't always been this weight. In fact, there have been times when
I was positively skinny. Of course, that was prior to puberty. Anyway,
this extra poundage just kind of crept on to me over the past few
years. I've had plenty of excuses for the added weight and plenty of
reasons not to slow my growth spurt. However, I'm finally caught in a
fashion gridlock. There are no longer clothes out there that fit me
properly.

A description of me might help but I haven't looked in a mirror since
high school. I tried to solicit my husband's help but he started
stammering and clammed up. He's learned that talking about my weight is
dangerous territory. I'm 5'8", medium build, with an extra 20 pounds.
I'm a bit smaller on top than the bottom, so when trying on pants I
find that if they fit in the waist I can't get them over my hips. If
they fit in the hips then the waist is too big. Thus the fashion
gridlock.

Getting dressed in the morning has become a burdensome task. Not the
actual dressing part. I can still get into my clothes without a shoe
horn. But the wardrobe choices have dwindled significantly. It's not
that I don't have clothes. They fill a few boxes in our storage closet
and a cedar chest. But they are in incremental sizes downward from
where I am now. I actually have complete wardrobes for six different
versions of me. None, of course, that fits.

I spent most of the past year searching for a pair of classic
five-pocket jeans. I visited just about every major department store
and specialty shop in the Greater Toronto Area. I tried natural fit,
woman's fit, plus-size, stretchy, roomy, elasticized, shapely and
maternity. I even considered moving to the men's department. In a state
of desperation, just to have something to wear, I finally purchased a
pair that are too big. About three hours after washing, I can pull them
down below my navel without undoing them. My skinny niece was aghast
when I showed her my trick and told her that I was going to have my
belly button pierced just like hers.

Recently, my daughters were flower girls in a wedding. I was hoping to
find a nice outfit to wear. I went to a popular store that carries a
plus-size line. I picked out a few skirts and approached the change
area. The sales associate asked me if I was sure that I was in the
right store. I assured her that I was. Again, quite skeptical she said
that she thought I was too "tiny" to be in this store. I threw my arms
around her. I don't think that I've ever been called tiny. Well, I
didn't really throw my arms around her, but she was right. The clothing
was too big. I was sent to the store's so called "regular zone."

Unfortunately, their skirts didn't account for the curves that come
with gravity and a little extra bulk.

Disappointed, I settled for a sweater set and a pair of black dress
pants already in my closet. The pants were destined for the cedar
chest. However, the sweater set nicely offset the puckering zipper and
tight waistband of the pants. When we got the pictures developed from
the wedding I kept wondering who was that woman standing with my
husband and daughters. I'd managed to stay away from the camera lens
for a few years now, preferring to hone my skills as a photographer .

I hang out with a group of moms after school while our children are
playing. Our conversations vary and often stray to the more private
areas of our collective lives. One day the topic of lingerie came up. I
stayed mute. One woman was discussing her collection of matching
coloured lace bras and panties. Some push up, some padded, all sexy to
be sure. At her size, she can probably buy three sets, in a variety of
colours for the same price that I paid for my latest bra. Her favourite
colour is purple. Purple, I thought, trying to remember if I've ever
worn a purple bra. My current size only comes in beige and white. Push
up, padded? My cleavage would be around my chin. My collection of
so-called lingerie is more akin to body armour. I didn't tell them
about my latest bra purchase. That it could double as a Snugli for our
guinea pigs. Twin preemies would fit quite comfortably, too.

But really, I'll be okay as long as I can still wear my running shoes
and back pack. And I am considering switching to long, swaying,
shapeless skirts.

However, before I head in that direction I'm going to direct
considerable energy into losing some of this extra weight. I want to
wear my faded Levi's with the patched knees. I want the freedom to get
tattoos and body piercing. I want to fit in my friend's chair.

--
Diva
********
Completing 4 years of maintenance

although i am very happy for diva for her success and maintnance.i cant see
changing my whole way of life just to fit into whats hip in the fashion
scene. buy hey i guess everyone has thier own motivation. good for her if
that is what made her take charge. for me and most likely most here. i
would say health is the priority. walking past the big and tall section to
the regular sizes is just a WONDERFUL side effect. kudos to her and
eveyone who can lose and maintain for what ever motive that keeps them
focused.

"alien" wrote in message
.. .
although i am very happy for diva for her success and maintnance.i cant
see
changing my whole way of life just to fit into whats hip in the fashion
scene. buy hey i guess everyone has thier own motivation. good for her if
that is what made her take charge. for me and most likely most here. i
would say health is the priority. walking past the big and tall section to
the regular sizes is just a WONDERFUL side effect. kudos to her and
eveyone who can lose and maintain for what ever motive that keeps them
focused.

Well, I for one am in the process of changing my whole life, and as a bonus,
I am fitting into the most up-to-date fashions. I'm not losing weight and
becoming fit because of it, but I've always enjoyed fashions and if I can
now enjoy them on me, why not?

I went to my stylist tonight and got a great new haircut. It's shorter than
I'm used to and layered. It's a bit retro; very trendy.

--
Martha
www.bastmagazine.com
For the best in extreme, underground metal!!!

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:40:58 GMT, "MH"
wrote:

Well, I for one am in the process of changing my whole life, and as a bonus,
I am fitting into the most up-to-date fashions.

Me too. I fear I'm not always dressing in an age-appropriate fashion,
though :-).

At Christmas I was checking out of Old Navy with some jeans and
sweaters, and the young woman at the counter asked me if I was buying
gifts for my daughters :-). I just said yes.

Chris (55, no kids)

Chris Braun wrote in
:


At Christmas I was checking out of Old Navy with some jeans and
sweaters, and the young woman at the counter asked me if I was buying
gifts for my daughters :-). I just said yes.



lol that is cute. im a person who doesnt think fashion should revolve
around a certain age. wear what one likes. lol as for the young woman at
the counter well,, lets just say people shouldnt always assume things..
hehe and if they do most likely keep it to themselves. i learnt this at a
younger age when i asked my aunt when her baby was due...she wasnt
pregnant. that is when my mom taught me as a child to be seen and not
heard.

my mom is 55 and dresses LOUD and up to date with the fashions especially
if we are going out. the brighter and younger looking the better and i
think its wonderful. i will go pick her up and take her to the movies and
such for our mother/son dates once a month. one woman even said in a
rather rude way that a woman her age should be dating men her age. lol we
got a kick out of that. oh how stupid the woman felt when i stated i was
her son. she blushed and left the theater not buying her ticket.

"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:40:58 GMT, "MH"
wrote:

Well, I for one am in the process of changing my whole life, and as a
bonus,
I am fitting into the most up-to-date fashions.

Me too. I fear I'm not always dressing in an age-appropriate fashion,
though :-).

At Christmas I was checking out of Old Navy with some jeans and
sweaters, and the young woman at the counter asked me if I was buying
gifts for my daughters :-). I just said yes.

Chris (55, no kids)

I bought a pair of Old Navy jeans (boot cut that fits right below the waist)
before the holidays. I love them. The style makes these short legs look a
little longer. My granddaughters thought they looked great and insisted I
wear them when I took them shopping. One granddaughter told her mother she
wished she would dress cool like grandmag Love those girls!

Beverly (61, kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids)

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 04:35:53 GMT, "Beverly"
wrote:

I bought a pair of Old Navy jeans (boot cut that fits right below the waist)
before the holidays. I love them. The style makes these short legs look a
little longer.

I like the same cut, and for the same reason :-).

My granddaughters thought they looked great and insisted I
wear them when I took them shopping. One granddaughter told her mother she
wished she would dress cool like grandmag Love those girls!

Cool grandkids!

Chris

"Beverly" wrote in message
...

"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:40:58 GMT, "MH"
wrote:

Well, I for one am in the process of changing my whole life, and as a
bonus,
I am fitting into the most up-to-date fashions.

Me too. I fear I'm not always dressing in an age-appropriate fashion,
though :-).

At Christmas I was checking out of Old Navy with some jeans and
sweaters, and the young woman at the counter asked me if I was buying
gifts for my daughters :-). I just said yes.

Chris (55, no kids)

I bought a pair of Old Navy jeans (boot cut that fits right below the
waist)
before the holidays. I love them. The style makes these short legs look
a
little longer. My granddaughters thought they looked great and insisted I
wear them when I took them shopping. One granddaughter told her mother
she
wished she would dress cool like grandmag Love those girls!

Beverly (61, kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids)

The lower rise, flared jeans make legs look longer, 'tis a fact. : )

Martha
who LOVES Old Navy!

Beverly wrote:

Beverly (61, kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids)

You have great-grandkids? Wow! The rules are different for great
grandkids, aren't they? My grandmother nearly forced her 15 year old
daughter to give a baby up for adoption in the early 1960's. But I had
a sister who was slow to wed and my grandmother was pressuring her to
have a kid out of wedlock!

When the baby given up for adoption in 1960 showed up 30 years later she
was DELIGHTED to welcome him into the family, at least partially because
it increased her great-grandkid count.

Dally

"Dally" wrote in message
...
Beverly wrote:

Beverly (61, kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids)

You have great-grandkids? Wow! The rules are different for great
grandkids, aren't they? My grandmother nearly forced her 15 year old
daughter to give a baby up for adoption in the early 1960's. But I had
a sister who was slow to wed and my grandmother was pressuring her to
have a kid out of wedlock!

My 24 year old (step) granddaughter has two adorable girls. They both call
me grandma as I've always treated all my grandkids the same regardless of
their actual status. She often comes to me for advice especially when she
has to deal with her motherg Her mother is my ex DIL but we still have a
very good relationship. When there are kids involved in a divorce I think a
special effort should be made by all parties involved to maintain good
relationships for their sake. It's not unusual for ex-spouses and other
members of the ex's family to be included in our family activities. A
divorce in our family only means you don't live in the same house anymoreG
Some of my friends say I have a very strange family. Hey, they aren't
telling me anything I didn't already know.

I only see the great-granddaughters at family birthdays, etc and they live a
few miles away. If they lived a little closer and were a little older I'm
sure they would be included in some of the bike rides, etc.

The stigma attached to having a baby out of wedlock have changed greatly
over the years. My kids were born in the 60's. If you weren't married it
was shocking!!

Beverly







When the baby given up for adoption in 1960 showed up 30 years later she
was DELIGHTED to welcome him into the family, at least partially because
it increased her great-grandkid count.

Dally