Conquer the world!

 So... here is something only people who are overweight can understand.  Chain stores (Gap, J.Crew, Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc...) are the work of the devil.  The clothes are always cute and everyone is wearing them.... except for you!   Okay probably not everyone but it really feels like that. 

About 3 or 4 years ago there were a few brief shining moments where Old Navy started to put Plus size clothes in their stores.  YIPPEE!  I actually got jeans there and it was great.   I thought finally these stores will get smart and realize they are missing a huge portion of the population.  Alas, I gave them too much credit and about 1.5 years ago they pulled the Plus sizes back out.  Who knows who the rocket scientist was that  made that decision... Anyway, I was back to thinking these stores were the work of the devil.  

So I'm 72 pounds down now and the weather is getting chilly in New England.  I've been buying as few clothes as possible as I've gone through them pretty quickly.  I've been living in jeans and t's.  Unfortunately it is getting a bit chilly for that and I was in desperate need of a sweatshirt. Well, unless I'm going to Lane Bryant I have no idea where to even go to buy a sweatshirt.  So, I asked my mom and she said Old Navy.  UGH!  This was the last place I wanted to go.  Well I sucked it up and managed to muster up my courage and go to the store.  I walked into the store and decided while I was there (alone) I would try on some jeans to see how close I was to fitting in them.  So I grab the size 20 and I go in the dressing room with some shirts & sweatshirts.   

I tried on the sweatshirts first.  I put on a zip up brown hooded sweatshirt and turned around to the mirror and busted into tears.  I couldn't believe it.  It fit and I could zip it up.  (WOW).  So I took a deep breath and decided to try the jeans.  All I could think was "well if they are close to zipping I'll know I'm almost there and that's an achievement".  I slip them on zip and button and they are sooooo big I can take them back off without unzipping and unbuttoning.  More Tears... 

So I go back out and grab an 18.  I come back in and try them on and they fit.  WOW again.  (well I thought they fit).  They had a little room but I thought well they will shrink and I was so excited they weren't the biggest size.  I had a coupon so I was thinking I should get the next size down while I was here so I'll have them in another 10 pounds or so.  (am I a frugal shopper or what!).  So I go out and grab the 16 and try them on.  Well apparently I have no idea what "fit" means cause after I tried the 16 on it was clear that the 18 did NOT fit.  The 16's fit like they were made for me.   Holy $%&*@#$.   

That's like a normal size!  A size I can get in ANY store.  I can't believe it. The Women's section is only hanging on to me by a thread... the misses section is about to gain a new chick.   I still feel like people are looking at me though.  Walking around Old Navy I felt that people were looking at me thinking "Wow she must be shopping for someone else, she's too fat".  But hey, the proof is in the fit I guess.  So I say to all... go try on that dress or those jeans or those sexy undies... you just might be surprised.  

Much love and skinny thoughts to all!

 I'm officially  65lbs down.  Feeling good.  I bought pajama bottoms at Jockey yesterday and I bought an XL... that's so cool.  Before I couldn't even wear a XXL.  One more pound and I'll be 1/2 way done and that's even COOLER!  Hopefully I'll be there tomorrow. 

I finally had to go buy a few clothes again.  A couple of t-shirts (size 16-18) and jeans (size 18)...  the 16-18 shirt was wayyyy cool because I like that 16 number... In about 1 size I'll be able to shop in the regular section and not the Plus size section.  That will be so cool!    The first week or so that I wore the new clothes to work, which obviously actually fit... about 7 or 8 people asked me if I was getting taller.  HAHAHAHA it cracked me up.   

1/2 way in a bit less than 5 months is fascinating.  Seems too good to be true and I seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.   I need to get to the gym regularly again and I think the weight will start to drop off quicker.  I'm going to make a real effort this week to do that.  

Be well and think thin thoughts!

 229 today!!!   The number 2 has never looked sweeter!   I am officially in the low 200's... LOVE THAT!  In just a few pounds I'll be half way to goals.  A whole bunch of great milestones all one right after another... You can't beat that for motivation.  

Thin thoughts to all!

Hi all,

I've been lapse... I haven't written in a while. Not much to report except some bumps in the road until today...

I've struggled with some vitamin deficiencies that have made me really weak and lethargic. I'm apparently really short on Calcium, Vitamin C and most problematic is Iron. I am bruising so easily, I look like my cats are beating me in my sleep. And the last time I took blood it took the poor lab tech about 10 minutes to stop my arm from bleeding! :(

It has taken some time to get things evened out a bit but I'm finally feeling quite a bit better. Yippee! But jeez what a balancing act.... I take about twice as many pills now as I did before surgery, ugh! Wasn't the idea to cut down?

Anyway....

Today I reached the 60 lb mark!!!!!!!!!!! YIPPEE! So the next goal is to be in the 220s... only 2 lbs to go. I can't even tell you the last time I saw that number. And actually in 6 pounds I'll be 1/2 way to goal... oh my goodness... that's just amazing.

This week's goal is to get back to the gym now that I'm feeling better... Wish me luck!

Much love and skinny thoughts to all.

Who knew it would be so difficult to throw away clothes? I mean really they are just clothes... It's not like I stitched them myself!!! I also never realized how many I had... jeez.

I've had to make a couple passes at the task. So far I've given 10 garbage bags to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. It has totaled 217 items of clothing! Holy Moly...

The worst part is really that there were quite a few things that I just wasn't ready to get rid of yet. Favorite items, you know? I think the reason is that I still don't see myself like everyone else is seeing me now. I'm down 55 pounds, which intellectually I realize means my body has changed but in my head I'm exactly the same. So I think I hold on to them so I'll have something to fit in...

As far as the clothes I fit in right now, my closet looks like Smurfette's.... remember how she had like 10 dresses all EXACTLY the same... I now have about 5 of the same t-shirts all in different colors and 2 pairs of jeans! lol... It's actually kind of amusing. But hey I can't complain my t-shirts and my jeans are 4 sizes smaller already!!

I'll leave you with a philosophical point to ponder... Only one female smurf (Smurfette) and like 100 male smurfs... where did that baby smurf come from??? hmmmm....

Be well...