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Let’s talk about “Vanity Sizing”

April 06, 2011 18 comments

***Don’t forget to Enter to win a case of Chobani Yogurt! You have until Thursday, winner announced Friday!***


The other day I came across this article on Cosmo’s website, that talked about “vanity sizing”, a term I’ve never heard before. I thought the title was intriguing and decided to give it a read…

“Enter vanity sizing, where designers add extra inches of fabric to clothing without changing the number on the tag. For example, if you measure a size 2 pair of pants today, they might be as wide around the waist and hips as a 4 from 10 years ago. And 00s aren’t the result of women shrinking away (though some actresses seem to be). Designers created them because as 4s morphed into 2s and 2s became 0s, smaller-framed women were sized out of the normal range.“

Interesting. I’ve often heard that Marilyn Monroe wore a size 10 in 1950′s…

and yet I’ve heard that in today’s time she would have been more of a 4/6.

“In one of Kinley’s studies, researchers measured 1,000 pairs of women’s pants and found as much as an 8½-inch variation in the size-4 waist. “Designers know that if customers feel happy when they try the clothes on, they are likely to buy that brand again,” says Jim Lovejoy, industry director of the apparel research company TC2’s SizeUSA National Sizing Survey. Take it from Jenn, 23, of New Haven, Connecticut, who is usually a 6: “I have two pairs of size-4 jeans, and when I wear them, I get a surge of validation seeing that label.”

““I used to think about size constantly,” says Laura, 29, who lives in Denver. “I even hung a pair of size-2 jeans on the wall for inspiration, hoping one day I’d fit into them.” The problem is, how can you rely on size as a way to measure up when sizes themselves have become so inconsistent?“

“And when you actually think about it, you have to wonder: What’s that great about being a 0 anyway? “The idea of a size 0 is disturbing,” says Head. “It suggests that to be pretty and feminine, women need to disappear.” Do we really want to strive to take up less space in the world? Maybe, after all, there are better ways to measure up.“

So when did we become a generation obsessed with being super thin? I’m not sure. I personally never want to be a size 0. Not because I think people who are a size 0 are bad, but I’m a tall girl (5’10) and I’d love to keep my curves. I think I would look terrible super thin. Unhealthy looking. Not a look I’d like to obtain. But now knowing that the sizes have changed so much. What importance is in a size anyway? Do you find yourself looking at another girl going “Oh, she must be a size 4…” No? Me either. I don’t see the significance in “sizing up” someone. It doesn’t benefit me, it doesn’t benefit them. So why bother?

Another discussion point is, “How do you feel when you wear the smaller size?“. For me, from once being in a size 20 and now being in a size 6, I feel like a million bucks (assuming a million bucks feels friggin’ amazing)! To me being in a single digit number size felt like an impossible tasks. But as I was losing weight, I felt amazing in a size 10! I believe that how you feel about yourself is what’s important. Not a size. Do you feel happy with your body? Sure there may always be some random scar or extra junk in the trunk that bothers you. But in general are you happy with WHO you are in YOUR own SKIN? Then that’s a perfect place to be. Can I be honest? When I go clothes shopping, I automatically go looking in sizes that I once wore, not the size I am now. I really have no concept of the size I am now. It’s a whole new world. I do think a size tag on clothing is irrelevant, and this article has done a great job at pointing that out.

 

QUESTION: Do you think that sizes have shrunk over the years? Are you more likely to buy clothing if its the smaller size that fits?
See the full article here: Vanity Sizing – Real Sizes of Clothes – Cosmopolitan (photo credits from Cosmo)

Diet Pills and Jillian Michaels

March 08, 2011 11 comments

So, there’s this contest that Fitness Magazine is putting on. I’m entered in it for a chance to be on the cover of Fitness Magazine. *Squeel*

It’d be super crazy awesome if it happened. :)

If you don’t mind taking a second to VOTE for me, that would fantastic. Vote here, its easy and takes one click. I think you can vote daily too. Voting ends March 11th. {then I’ll be notified if I get to go on to the next rounds} :) THANKS SO MUCH!!

And look what I got in the mail yesterday…

 

I got a Words to Sweat By workout towel! This towel is super soft. Not what I expected, very pleased though. :) Have you seen their website before? I love all the motivational and funny sayings. I’m excited to bring it along with me on my next workout!

And now on to a completely different topic…

Let’s talk. This bothers me. I like Jillian Michaels. In fact, I’ve been a big fan of hers for quite a while and could seriously be considered a groupie. I like her that much. She’s hardcore, and that’s cool. But this…
is not cool.

Weight-loss pills? Rapid Weight Loss System? Are you friggin‘ kidding me.

I’ve read Jillian’s book: Master Your Metabolism: The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones for a Hot and Healthy Body and thought it was good. Talked about not putting JUNK into your body and eating REAL food and losing weight the right way. No quick fix.

Weight-loss pills. Naturally losing weight. Um… sounds contradicting, yes? I think so.

I’m completely bothered that Jillian Michaels, who has a LOT of influence in the Healthy Living/Fitness scene would come out with a Rapid Weight Loss System.

Sigh.

Sadly, I think people want a quick fix and would easily try something like this. I need to do some research into this stuff and see what it actually does to your body. I know things like Hydroxycut causes liver failure. Terrible right? Trying to fix one problem and actually creating another.

When are we going to learn that if you want to lose weight, there is NO quick fix.

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Rants? Lets talk.

Weight Loss Story – Part 3

February 12, 2011 20 comments

If you missed Part 1 & Part 2 please click here and here.

Again I thank you for the out-pour of emails, comments, and messages. I love them. Thank you for sharing your stories too. I appreciate each of you so much and am happy to be able to share this story with you.

I’ve left you hanging on part 2 of my weight loss story for a while huh? ;) Well lets jump into it, shall we!

I had discovered that I really enjoyed exercise. I’d meet my friend at the gym and we’d work out for hours… I loved it.

My weight stayed about the same for what seemed like years. Thankfully though, I left the 200′s. Having a “1″ in front of my weight, felt like such huge accomplishment, and definitely is.

Still I was searching to become a healthier me. Having excess weight was not what I wanted, not because of vanity reasons {sure some were vanity, not going to lie}, but what if I was a risk for diabetes? Heart problems? Among tons of other medical problems that come along with being overweight. Sure, I was in my 20′s and most 20 year olds feel indestructible. But I knew I wasn’t. I knew there are real serious concerns with being overweight and I wanted to rid myself of those possibilities.

Mid 20′s, I tried a vegetarian diet for the first time. In secret. Ya know, cause people would totally make fun of me for being a vegetarian. And yet, I liked it. I didn’t miss meat at all. My weight lowered, not drastically, but by roughly 10lbs, and I thought that was great. I had no desire to go back to eating meat, so I claimed the title: vegetarian. Did I eat the healthiest options? No. Any diet lifestyle can be abused. Even healthy food can be overeaten. {A vegetarian post coming in the near future.}

Also in my mid 20′s, I met my future husband.

We had gym dates. How cute is that?

I was determined not to become that newly dating couple that packs on the weight. You heard of that weight right? “Happy Weight”. Oh we were happy, very much so. We ate out a lot. But I worked hard not to add on weight. I wanted a healthy life for us.

In the summer of 2008, we were engaged. A very happy time. :) {and this blog was born.}

I worked hard to look my best in the dress. I worked out, ate salads, did everything I knew to do, to slim down and feel good about me being a bride. I felt good.

February 21, 2009, I became Rodney’s bride.

Honeymoon in Cabo

After honeymoon bliss, in my heart I still wanted to strive to be a healthy couple. I knew I hadn’t gotten it all together yet. I wanted to find ways to help us both do that.

I found a 5k. I had no idea how long a 5k really was, but I knew I wanted to be active, I wanted to be apart of something that healthy people did. My deepest desire was to shed all the weight that I felt held me back in life and do something that scared me and put me out of my comfort zone.

Hello 5k. Which is 3.1 miles. Just so you know. ;)

I loved it. I wanted to run more, I craved the runner’s high and truly enjoyed who I was becoming. Striving to have this healthy life and being active.

2009 was a good year. I ran races. Continued to workout and did the best at eating healthy. I felt good, better than I ever had in my life. But I still felt large. Not obese. Just large. I averaged a size 12 and my weight was still too close to the 200′s. Remember, I’m tall, 5’10″. Weight is a little easier to hide when you’re tall.

But what was I missing? Why couldn’t I shed this extra weight? Why wasn’t the weight coming off with all this exercise?

Nashville Half-Marathon

In April 2010, Hubs and I completed our first ever half-marathon. A HUGE accomplishment.

Empowered and ready to take on the world, we came back to Houston and I knew that if I could be dedicated enough to train for a half-marathon, run 13.1 miles and feel the thrill of crossing that finish line, feeling like NOTHING CAN HOLD ME BACK, then I could conquer my weight problem.

Plan of Action. Planning can bring success. If you want to accomplish something big, you have to have a plan and strive to make that plan into a reality.

Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.

I had already developed a lot of healthy habits. It was time to really apply all those healthy habits and even visit some that I had never applied.

Portions.

Sure, I had talked about portion control when it came to eating. Did I live up to my words. No.

Food Journaling.

Sure, I talked about food journaling, did I always do it? No.

Simple practices. Huge benefits.

My husband was on board. He wanted to be apart of this chapter in our lives.

As the days turned into weeks, the weight started coming off. Faster than I had imagined.

June 2010

I felt amazing. Not just good, but truly amazing. I felt beautiful. Not because my hair looked right, or my make-up was looking great. I felt beautiful inside and out. I was finally doing what I already wanted to do.

I stayed consistent. Focused.

This was it, I was tired of battling the extra weight. Enough was enough. During these months, I would constantly remember that middle school girl who would cry herself to sleep, because she didn’t want to be overweight anymore. Failure was not an option. I had to stay focused.

Was it easy? No. Did I want to quit? No. I was tired of quitting. Tired of doing things half-way. This was all or nothing.

I lost 20lbs and ran the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon in October 2010…

Second Half-Marathon.

I continued to feel Empowered. Strong. Confident. The weight was coming off and I was feeling alive.

During this time, everything wasn’t super easy and picture perfect. There was weeks when I didn’t lose a thing, or week’s when I’d gain a few pounds. Sometimes I just wanted a big huge pile of pasta and I wanted to swim in it. I’m still human. I still craved all the things that got me to 280+ lbs.

What learned  to do, was life changing…

I learned I could still have things I craved, but in a healthier way. I could still have my pasta, but in a proper portion size, instead of a mountain of it. I wasn’t restricting myself, but teaching myself what is healthy.

I also learned, its OK to have some dessert every now and then. You see, early-20′s I swore off desserts, because that was why I couldn’t lose weight. Which saying I couldn’t have it, made me want it even more and secretly I would hide and eat sweets, so no one knew. You see I had created all these reasons in my head why I couldn’t shed the weight. I made excuses for why I ate large portions and why I ate so often. None of them make any sense. But it was how I justified myself for doing what I was doing: eating myself overweight.

and then… I lost 40lbs.

Can you tell that I’m beaming in that picture? Can you see the sheer joy in my eyes? :) I smile looking at that face. I’m proud of who I’ve become.

Simple practices. Huge benefits.

Have I arrived? Am I at my goal weight. Almost. Only a little more to go. And trust me, I’ll tell you when that happens. :) I’m still consistent with my lifestyle changes. I don’t call this a “diet“. A diet is something that ends. This will never end. If I were to think that I had it all figured out and stopped making conscious decisions to make the right healthy choices, because I knew it all, I can promise you, the weight would come back on. This is a lifestyle change, and one that I gladly welcome with open arms.

Starting from the major gain in middle school, to losing all of it, as of today I roughly have lost somewhere around 125lbs in my lifetime.

Dear friends, I don’t know where you are in your life. I don’t know if my story applies to you, or what you’ll take from it. Maybe you felt like I did growing up, maybe your struggles are similar. Maybe you feel like being overweight has held you back. You’ve felt less than enough, because of what you think of yourself. Maybe you’ve felt like losing weight is the most impossible task and you feel hopeless. Maybe you’re sad and desperately wish to change.

I’m here to tell you, you can. Losing weight is not impossible. My weight-loss journey did not happen overnight. It’s been years of learning and working hard. You can accomplish ANYTHING you set your mind to. Sure, that sounds cliché, but people say it for a reason. It’s true. You can do anything. You can lose weight, you can run a race, you can accomplish whatever you’ve dreamed of doing. You just have to do it. Stop making excuses for yourself. Don’t let yourself hold you back. Break free from the lies that keep you still. Move. Make things happen. Make choices to better your life and run with it. See what you’re capable of. Do things that scare you because you can. Is that running a 5k? Then do it. Don’t let fear hold you back because you think you can’t. “Can’t” no longer should come out of your mouth.

I knew that I wanted more out of life, than just watching it pass me by.

This journey hasn’t been easy.

I was dealt a hand I never wanted, a path in life I didn’t know that I could handle. I got to choose how I wanted to live it.

I chose to do something about it. I chose to be unafraid. I chose to strive for the best. I chose to be healthy. I chose to be happy. I chose to live.

…and that my friends, is exactly what I’m doing. :)

Weight Loss Story – Part 2

February 08, 2011 12 comments

If you missed Part 1, please click here.

First, your comments, emails, messages, facebook comments, and tweets are so super awesome and I love, love, love hearing your stories too. THANK YOU! Sharing my weight loss journey has been hard, pushing the “publish button” on a post literally makes me nervous, looking at these pictures gives me an ache in my stomach that I can’t even describe, remembering the past isn’t always enjoyable, but realizing how far you’ve come, makes it all worth it. All of you are wonderful people.

I left off telling you about how middle school was the beginning of my weight gain and how sad and alone I felt those years. High School wasn’t much different…

to shock the socks off you, somewhere in high school I tipped the scale around 280lbs-ish. I’m 5’10. I had room to hide the excess weight, but still, that much extra weight can’t be hidden and neither can your emotions.

Finding clothes to wear to hide in, are hard to find. I found myself often going into my dad’s closet (how feminine does that make a teenage girl feel!?) and wearing one of his polo shirts, thinking that the bigger the shirt the easier it was to hide my weight. Wearing anything fitting was always quite uncomfortable. The times I did wear something fitting, I was very self-concious and aware of the lumps and excess weight hanging out. Which in turn never makes for a very fun outing because your self-conciousness overrides your ability to really enjoy the event.

I never really felt girly and pretty. Sure, I loved having my hair look perfect, my make-up being flawless, but I always just miserable in my own skin.

DIET: Somedays I would eat healthy, or so I thought, and think “this is it! I’ve figured it out, I’m finally going to beat this weight.” Then tragically I’d fall back into familiar patterns and eat way too much of anything really. Good or bad. I started my first job at age 16, a hostess at Red Lobster, with 30% food, I often ate the Cajun Chicken Pasta (hated seafood mind you, ironic I know), and the multitude of free cheese biscuits that I comsumed, (oh and WITH a side of ranch) was ridiculous.

ACTIVE: Besides working at a job that required me to stand for 4-5 hours at a time. Physical activity was still non-exisitant.

High school ended and I was tired of being overweight. I went to an Old Navy to purchase a new pair of jeans… when the only size that fit me was a size 20, I knew this was not how I wanted to live my life. I hated this rut of a life I had created and wanted a change. I wasn’t a child anymore, I could make decisions for myself. I had an epiphany. If I want to change my outward appearance I had to do something about it. No one could do it for me.

I joined a gym.

A glimmer of hope in a very redundant cycle of hopelessness.

Working out. As simple as it is, for someone never being introduced to the activity, can seem like the most impossible task. Sure I was afraid to try out the gym for the first time. But having friends join with you, made the whole new venture seem so less threatening. I came to realize I really loved being there. I loved working out. A whole new world that I had always shied away from for fear of not being “good enough” to even try it. I think back about my train of thought back then and it makes me sad for that girl, the girl who thought she wasn’t good enough, just because of being overweight.

Exercise was good. I felt good about myself working out. It satisfied me. I felt stronger and happier working out.

However, exercise without proper nutrition does not accomplish weight loss.

I felt smaller at times. I felt the same at times. I never saw true weight loss. I came to the conclusion I needed to diet.

Now living on my own, I felt more in charge than ever of my diet. My mom had this book… I had heard about this diet and I just knew this was going to be the tipping point in which I defeated obesity!

I would do the Atkins Diet.

I followed the plan very strictly, eating huge portions of what was allowed and lost somewhere around 20-30lbs (remember I never really weighed myself, I focused more on how my clothes fit and what size I was). I felt fantastic. I felt pretty, I felt like I was going to be thin forever.

Let me tell you the problem with fad diets.

  1. They’re a fad. Translation its not going to last, meaning its all hype and promising you something that it cannot truly fulfill.
  2. It’s a diet. DIETS DON’T WORK. But… I didn’t discover that until later.

Once I had lost some of the weight and was nicely in a size 14 and felt good about myself. I decided to forfeit the Atkins Diet. Because I had arrived, I knew how to be healthy and continue to lose weight.

The bad thing about the Atkins Diets, as soon as you stop the “diet”. All those pounds that came off so rapidly, come back to haunt you… and then some…

Naturally, I didn’t plan on gaining the weight that I had lost back. But it happened.

Frustrated. I would workout, (because I truly did love it) in hopes to lose weight again. But eating whatever you want and then working out and vice versa, only does one thing…

Keeps you at the same weight. No progress.

and that’s how it was, for years.

The difference though, I may not have shed the excess weight, but working out at the gym gave me confidence in myself. I liked that girl I was when I worked out. I loved fitness. I was missing a key factor in achieving weight loss; my diet. Not A diet, a fad, a pill, a drink. My daily diet. I hadn’t figured that part out yet.

Click for Weight Loss Story – Part 3

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