Say it Ain’t SEW!

Had I known just how valuable those stitching techniques I was supposed to be learning in Seventh Grade Home Ec were going to be— I’d have definitely paid more attention.

After losing a significant amount of flab, you’re gonna need some new clothes. Don’t bother trying to take up or cinch in your jeans, bras, or undies – some things just cannot be DIY’d to the point of comfort. And no one wants embarrassing “And that’s the time I unintentionally mooned a family of eight in the Walmart produce section” stories to add to their collection. But you can easily add darts to your shirts, take up the shoulders in your tanks, and add a few concealed pleats to your favorite pair of black dress pants.

I just spent an hour hand stitching the sides and shoulders of a dress I bought a few months back and never wore. And now it’s too big.
But with some careful planning I was able to turn my XXL dress into a Large (plus)!

So get on youTube and start honing those skills, lest you end up broke or, worse, on the pages of peopleofwalmart.com!

“I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”

Since I began my weight loss journey/epic trek/insanity hike I have struggled with clothes. Sizes, fits, and mental breakdowns over too many choices leave me shaking in the aisles while my husband flashes varies shirts in front of me like a cotton kaleidoscope.
So he bought me a shirt.
That fits.
And boasts: “I have nothing to wear.”
I. LOVE. IT!

Save It!

I’m a hoarder.

I’m not yet worthy of my own Lifetime episode but I hold on to clothes like they’re going out of style.

Literally.

But you can’t do that when you’re losing weight at a quickened pace. Last night I mournfully, tearfully parted ways with dresses, skirts, and outfits that I had been “saving” for a special occasion. Which never happened.

So wear your clothes and don’t save them otherwise you could end up a very sad person with a very happy sister receiving all your treasures!

Support and Supporters

Making the decision to lose weight, for me, was a tough one. I’ve always been known as the fat one, the funny one, and the friendly one. But the pretty one? The thinnish one? Nope.  That was not on my label. So when I told my long-time buds and friends about my Gastric Sleeve Surgery and how I was doing it to finally take control of my eating and my health, everyone was overwhelmingly supportive.  I, foolishly, thought this would continue as I passed milestones of weight loss and clothes shedding.  But, alas, this was not to be true.  Some of my oldest friends and loudest supporters have grown silent.  I don’t exactly expect them to shriek when they see me and my slightly smaller hips, but an acknowledgment of my struggles would’ve been nice.  I didn’t want a parade to be thrown in honor of my now single double-chin, but a “hey – you’re looking pretty good!” wouldn’t have been a bad way to go. It’s surprising, to me, someone who gives so much on so many occasions, that people just kinda ignore this milestone of mine.  

And that’s something else that needs to be included in the therapies and group support classes beforehand: Not everyone will be happy for you. 

Some will be jealous.  

Some will be jealous and not admit it. 

Some will stop speaking to you due to their OWN body issues. 

Some will go from being acquaintances to your own personal cheerleader. 

So, if you’ve had a Sleeve and you find some friends pulling away – let em go.  They’ll come back.  And if they don’t – then they only liked you for one reason – your fat made them feel thin.  And now – your thin makes them feel fat.  

But that’s not your problem. 

Finding pants that fit? Yup -that’s a problem you can handle.  Sometimes.  🙂

Fitting In…

There is a pile of clothes next to my front door.  A clothes heap that reaches my waist and is topped with blazers, suit pants, yoga pants, tank tops, t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans. 

So. Many. Jeans. 

And none of them fit me anymore. 

I had been a size 24 for so many years that I had no reason to refresh my wardrobe. Sure, I’d add to it every now and then and cardigans were my crack. I had every color, shape, style, and print. And now? They look like tents on me.  So to the pile they go.  Some of these outfits have been with me longer than a few friends and it felt like betrayal as I stacked them like little fat soldiers on top of one another and turned my back on their lovely, lovely buttons and belts.  

I thought breaking up with my boyfriend, “The Mr. Food,” was hard but this, THIS was harder.  I know I should box them up and send them on their way like “Toy Story by Lane Bryant” would expect me to, but so far, I can’t.  They mock me as I walk by, avoiding staring at them directly, lest I make eye contact with a pair of glittery pants that could maybe, possibly, perhaps be saved/altered.  

But no more. 

The size-shaming, wardrobe-of-days-past, ends tonight.  I am boxing up the Trash Heap of Clothes and donating them to Goodwill.  And then, I will go to my closet and slip on one of the two pairs of pants that fit me and I will sigh and wait for the day when I can go to a “normal” store and buy more cardigans. 

So.  Many.  More. Cardigans! 🙂