What Not To Wear Revalation

The past two weeks, I have been home by myself a lot. My husband started a new job. My father-in-law also decided to purchase cable for the house last week. Awesome! So, I have been watching a lot of Little House on the Prarie and What Not to Wear. 

I like seeing what they do to the larger women. One thing they said really hit home with me, because I do it all the time! They were dressing up a lady named Leeanne who said she would see someone her size in a fantastic outfit and think, "I wish I could pull that off". The hosts of the show pretty much said that if someone else your size can do it, so can you.

I have been trying to work up the courage to believe that. In the past 6 months, I have gotten a lot better at makeup and become more bold when trying new things. Step one, check. Step two, I was given an awesome curling wand. I want to learn how to do hairstyles other than ponytail and buns. And braids. As I'm working on this second step, I am also getting ready to do a no-tshirt campaign. If you remember about two weeks ago, I was able to hit a $0.25 thrift sale. I picked up a lot of awesome winter/fall tops and sweaters. My husband has appreciated the extra effort I have out into my look when we go out.

So, that's my spew for today! If you haven't seen WNTW, find it online. Their tips are great, and they help women of all sizes and age.

Gwynniebee Faves ... Reds and Pinks

I have been eyeballing gwynniebee.com for a LONG time. They are a site that let's you rent your wardrobe, as many pieces as you want in a month. You are limited on how many pieces you can have out at a time, but the shipping is always free. Plus, the site is based on plus sized women.

I decided to do an entry, because they currently have an email-only special where you get to try the site for $10 for the first month. Thus, get on their site and sign up! It's free.

I love capris. I would choose them over shorts almost any time of the year. I particularly love the soft color on these. They could be good for spring with a pale top or for fall with a dark floral blouse.

I have been all about plums and wines this fall. The neckline is great, the lace is awesome, and the color is beautiful. I think I would want a bolero, though.

Going along that color scheme line, look at this skirt! It hugs the waist so nicely. Yum. It would be awesome for layering with!

This cardigan almost didn't make it on the list. I love the patterns and the warm colors, but the thick collar edging feels almost old-ladyish. No, not vintage. You know what I mean. It just looks so comfortable!

Last but not least is this DIY-looking sweatshirt-like pullover. It looks comfortable, chic, and warm!

I won't be purchasing gwynniebee for a while, unless I get an offer for a free month. Also, I am wanting to wait until I am down to 200 lbs. I am at 252, down from 263! We are on track!

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Numbers

Life is all about numbers, even if you don't like math. Here is my story in numbers.

12: the age I first became obsessed with my weight
220: the weight that first made me cry (at 12)
15: the size of jeans I wore until I started college
5.9: the height  I always thought was "perfect"
18: the age I left home for the first time, and the biggest size of jeans most stores carry
2013: the year I got married
263: the heaviest I have ever weighed in at
0: the number of friends that stuck with me after high school
175: my weight senior year
104: the times I chose to wear something baggy so others wouldn't have to look at my rolls


I mention a lot of weight numbers for a reason: even when I was thin at 170 lbs, I still thought I was fat. I still had rolls, my jeans were size 15, my shirt was an xl. None of my thin friends wore clothes that size. It has taken a long time (almost 5 years from the time I graduated high school) to realize numbers are all that I was worried about. Looking back at photos of me from that time, I can't believe how thin my face was! I know better now. Its not that I am any more used to purchasing higher sized clothing or that I have grown comfortable with the numbers, its simply that I recognize there is more to me than the weekly addition and subtraction.

A body is more than its fat content. Now that I'm in a spinning class, I can feel things differently. I can push harder and know that, even if I stumble out of the room, I did it. I have less fear of doing things, period. I am now able to measure my success by what I have accomplished, how I reacted to the situation, how hard I was able to push ...

Of course, it is also a huge help that I understand my body and how it works a lot better than when I was 18. We women are told to eat a little and exercise a lot, stay away from fatty foods, and that chocolate will cause you to break out. Here's a fun little fact: in the past month, I have lost 6 pounds by eatting high-fat foods. Fat is good for us to eat. Our body needs fat to function. And 900 calories a day is borderline starvation.

Quit basing your worth on your dress measurements! That goes for all sizes.