Jul
19
I went shopping for clothes yesterday. I had to. Because, you know, BlogHer. And because my clothes were too big. My pants wouldn’t stay up and my shirts were starting to look all Flashdancy. So, I had to get new ones. Or become a nudist, which Dave felt was an idea worth considering, but I dismissed as soon as I sat down on a bed of goldfish cracker crumbs on the couch.
I hadn’t been looking forward to this shopping trip, partly because of my deep seated self worth issues, but mostly because I hadn’t had a good shopping experience in at least ten years. Shopping, for me, hadn’t been about finding something cute or that I liked, it was about finding something that fit. And where’s the fun when you have no choices? Or your choices are RED SWEAT PANTS or ROYAL BLUE STRETCH PANTS? Clothing is a basic need, style is not. No one knows that better than a fat person.
I pulled into a parking spot at the mall and my stomach flipped. I popped a piece of gum in my mouth to combat the temptation of the food court and steeled myself for disappointment. “Can a nudist fly naked on a plane to, say, Chicago?” I wondered. Then I took a deep breath and headed to Sears for their bra sale. And something amazing happened. The bras fit. Not just one or two, but FOUR. Four of the bras on the clearance rack FIT ME. And guess what? THEY HAD LACE ON THEM! I had finally lost enough weight to fit in a size that the fashion industry believes someone may actually have an interest in looking at, so much so that they were willing to apply lace to the undergarment! And here’s the best part: my total bill for FOUR BRAS? $24.99!!!! My last bra - the one I had to order special on-line at the Ugly Fat Lady store because they don’t sell a cup size I in the Regular store - was three times that amount, which meant I could only afford ONE that I had to wash and wear EVERY DAY. Now, FOUR BRAS! I shared this with the clerk who rang me up and I think I cried. Okay, I know I cried. But you understand. You would have cried, too.
After that, I was high. I think it’s what taking heroin probably feels like. And it only got better. I found three pairs of jeans, one denim skirt, five shirts, and three dresses plus one pair of awesome shoes for less than I had set aside to spend! I only shopped the clearance racks and secondhand stores, but I feel like a million bucks. And for the first time in a long time, I came home and did a fashion show for my family. And now, here’s one for you.
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Ooooooh. Aaaaah.
That is so wonderful! Talk about great motivation!
Yes! It’s funny how de-motivating shopping was before, but now, it feels awesome!
You look beautiful!! Congratulations!
Thank you! I have to admit, I actually felt pretty attractive and that’s new for me!
You are absolutely glowing with happiness in those pictures. You look beautiful! Your clothes are all gorgeous! Can’t wait to meet you!
I can’t wait to meet you, too! BlogHer is going to be so fabulous and there’s so much I’m excited about doing, but meeting you is at the top of my list.
WOWOWOOWOWOWOWWOW! That’s all I can say. How incredible. I am beyond excited for you!
Thanks! It’s nice to actually be a somewhat “normal” size. I still have plenty of weight to lose, but I’m not standing out because I’m soooo big anymore. I can stand out for better reasons now.
AWESOME… AWESOME… AWESOME!!!!
You look fantastic.
And I know the feeling… I used to be a size 28… ENORMOUS… and could not buy much to wear that was nice either.
I too have cried in shops cos I couldn’t find anything to wear.
So yep, I believe you cried… with joy!
WELL DONE chick.
Thank you! I was a size 28, and then some. I quit buying clothes after I hit 28 and those things were getting tight when I decided that was enough. Now, I’m in a 16/18. I still have more to lose, but WOW, what a difference the weight loss has made!
You look amazing.
Thank you so much! I feel pretty good, too!
You look so fantastic! Congratulations & GREAT job!
Thank you! I still can’t quite believe it when I realize I’ve lost more than 100 POUNDS! I was sitting on the couch with Julia and Lucy in my lap and I realized, all three of us sitting there added up to less than I weighed just six months ago. It’s trippy!
You look AMAZING!!!!! woohoo!
Thanks! I can’t wait to GO OUT in my new clothes! Yay BlogHer!
Beautiful! I love the dresses.
Thank you! I love them, too. I didn’t even have to go to the Plus section to find them!!!
Leslie, you look incredible. I love the dresses and I want to know where I can get a green shirt like that. So cute!
I had a similar moment on Thursday when I went to the doctors and for the first time in years they didn’t start the scale on 200. It was so monumental that I cried.
You look beautiful and I hope you have a wonderful time a Blogher.
Thanks, Amy! You are looking incredible, too! You’re a great inspiration.
There’s something about that 200 mark, isn’t there? Yay for you!
All the clothes I got came from JCPenney, Sears, or Fashion Bug. Even the stuff I got at the secondhand stores are labels from JCPenney. I didn’t even have to go in the Plus section! My peach shirt actually came from the petite section, if you can believe it!!!
I’m so happy for you!! You look amazing!!
Thank you! It has really just hit me recently how much weight I’ve lost. I haven’t been this size since college!
Leslie, I’m not going to lie… I have a few tears in my eyes. You look so amazing. And I can tell just by looking at you in those pictures that you FEEL amazing, too. I am so happy for you. You should be so damn proud.
Knock ‘em dead at BlogHer.
Thank you! I still have more weight to lose, but I sort of started this whole journey with wanting to go to BlogHer and now it’s here and I just feel fabulous. It’s good to know I can set a goal and reach it. I feel like I can do just about anything right now.
You look beautiful!
Thank you! Everyone deserves to feel that way!
That is so great. You look absolutely fantastic!!! And you’re positively glowing. Good for you!!!!
Thanks! I still weigh more than I did when I first met you, but less than I did the last time I saw you. It feels good!
When I saw you beaming with pride in those pictures, you made me grin from ear to ear…and tear up a bit.
thank you for sharing, you look lovely
p.s. Have a great time at BlogHer!!!
Thank you! I was excited to share the pictures. My whole weight loss started with this blog. I appreciate all the support I’ve gotten here, so I had to celebrate it here!
You look incredible!
Thank you! And speaking of incredible, I hope you’ll share about the birth of your newest family member. Was it a home birth? I saw you twitter that your water broke, then you went out to eat, played some games, caught a garter snake…YOU are incredible!
hi leslie you look fantastic.i have been following your blog for about a year now and i really like your content thanks for sharing it with us.congratulation again.have fun at blogher you deserve it.
Thank you so much - for your comment and for reading. I appreciate it so much. I’m so proud to have lost this weight and I’m excited to go to BlogHer!!! I can’t wait to go!
You look gorgeous!!!
Oh, thank you! I feel pretty good, too!
WOW!!! You look incredible - amazing - stunning and best of all HAPPY! That’s where Julia gets her smile from
Thank you so much! I feel so good!
I’m in LOVE with that pink & black design dress with the little half-jacket. I want it!
And congrats on a happy shopping experience.
I got it at Fashion Bug for $15! You can’t beat that!
You look great.
LOVE the new outfits! You look SMASHING!
Wish I was going
would love to meet you and swap stories and gain some motivation!
You look fabulous!!! Enjoy your trip.
You look really, really great. My fave is the pink dress with the little black short sleeved jacket. So cute!
Clothes… they can really make you feel so much better. The other day I ran out of clean laundry and was FORCED to buy two dresses, something I hadn’t done for the longest time. Let’s just say I had a bounce in my step today:)
Have a great time feeling and looking great at Blogher!
Very sexy! You look so beautiful!