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Jun 10
When did elastic waist pants come in style? How about ugly, comfortable shoes? Wash and wear hair? Is this you?? Come on girl, is life really too hard to make any sort of effort? Is comfort really king?? 
I’m all for comfort and acting my age (which is considerable actually), but I’m sad to think that these things seem to become the ‘uniform’ of so many women my age. I will never resort to these things. Yes, I want to be comfortable, but comfort in my own skin trumps the clothes I wear. Honestly, I think that if you’re wearing these things, you’ve given up on yourself; you are NOT comfortable with who you are physically and then it’s reflected in the styles you choose.
I’m no fashion icon. In fact, if it weren’t for my 16 year old daughter and fashion forward 13 year old son, I’m sure I’d embarrass myself on a daily basis where fashion is concerned. The point is that I haven’t given up. Some may call me vain, but I think a healthy dose of vanity is important; I take pride in how I look. It starts with how I look in the mirror long before I get dressed. Facing my aging body with its flaws is a necessary evil. I get dressed with the lights on. I need to acknowledge my body so that I can take care of it.
Do you avoid the mirror or the scale at all costs? Do you think avoiding these things make you look any better? Are you taking care of your health by not paying attention to the scale or your weight? Facing yourself is the hardest step. It can be extremely painful after years of loose fitting clothes and dressing in the dark. There is no perfection where body image is concerned and sadly we are compared to a standard that is basically unattainable. But you can raise the bar a little by making the effort to take care of your body or at the very least, pay attention.
This is a sensitive area for most. It may even tick you off: I don’t think I know a woman on the planet that deep down doesn’t want to feel ‘sexy’ even if you never say it out loud. As a woman in my forties, I want to feel and look sexy and it’s not about seeking attention from men. I want to look good for myself. Yes, physical comfort is important, but I need to be comfortable with who I am. When I feel good in my own skin, I take more care of my appearance. This is something that you may prefer not to acknowledge. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not a high maintenance girl that takes forever to get ready and I don’t use a ton of make up or spend heaps of money on designer clothing. This isn’t the point at all. The point is that by I’m paying attention to how I look, I’m also paying attention to my health. Are you paying attention to your health? Or are you hiding behind your ‘comfortable clothes’?
Many of my clients come to me once they make this connection. They aren’t feeling good in their skin and they’re ready to do something dire: exercise. For some it’s a last resort, for others it’s an inevitability that they’ve put off once they realize that nothing else will work to take them back to their former selves. I’m here to encourage you to take the plunge into movement.
Exercise is magical. Once ladies get off the couch and get hooked on movement, they tend to stand up taller and throw their shoulders back. They get excited about shopping for better fitting clothing. Even before anyone has lost a pound or an inch, my ladies are smiling and feeling good. Self care is empowering. Women tend to be so good at taking care of others and we are last on the list. I can best take care of my loved ones when I make an effort to meet my own needs too. It works for me and hundreds of other women I work with. I’m not suggesting a selfish investment either. If you were to take 30 minutes a day to exercise, you’d be surprised what a positive effect this can have in all parts of your life.
I know these may be harsh words for some of you. I want you to take a good hard look at whether you’re happy in your skin. If you are and you’re wearing the uniform I describe, my apologies. Feel free to wear what ever makes you happy, but I hope that you’re choosing your fashion, rather than having that ‘fashion’ choose you.
My mission is to have you feeling great and sometimes saying harsh words are necessary.
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My passion is teaching people how to work fitness into their daily lifestyle in order to improve their quality of life. Let’s work together to help you reach your fitness goals!
It is amazing when I go out that stretch pants did seem to come back into style!! (Yuck) I teach 7 classes a week and try to eat as healthy and clean as possible. It is true what they say “you are what you eat!” Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. There is always room for improvement!
You sure speak the truth! The heavier I got the bigger more tent-like my clothing got. I always take care of everyone else before myself. It’s part of our female DNA I think. I always get myself dressed, hair, make-up, etc. Then get the kids up and start the day. But in my desire to take care of everyone else, I stopped taking care of my inner-self…the things that truly make me feel better about myself, which makes me have more energy to do what I love…take great care of my family. It all works together. I will commit myself to working harder to get better style clothes. That will in turn help me to work harder because I will love how I look! Thank you for your truthful words. They don’t offend…they motivate. You can tell your tone is of caring and concern not condemnation!
Thank you Christi! I think you’re one of many well meaning women that puts themselves last. Time to bump yourself to the top of the priority list!
its really hard sometimes getting used to fashionable clothing.i have lost 145 pounds so far,. when you are a 300 pound lady, there is nothing fashionable. its exciting now to see the clothing options available to me but , on the other hand its kinda scary at the same time
Wow! SO impressed with your commitment and efforts Cat! I agree that larger ladies have a hard time with fashion. I hope that you can find some clothes that are fashionable and comfortable for you now. I think a big issue for those that have lost so much weight is getting your mind to catch up with your new body image. All the best to you and continued success!
well the hubby thinks the cloths im wearing now are pretty hot lol. but i agree getting your mind to catch up is hard. what is hard is looking in the mirror in the morn and not recognizing the person looking back! :0)
Love Myself… Love My Body…
Thank you the article is not offending, it is a very insightful reality check from where someone like me has come, be or is heading on my personal lifestyle fitness and health journey.
I personally made a choice to Get with my own Health and Fitness Program no matter whether when my age was Under or Over 40 as I decided I deserve to Be my Best Self at any given age… this also came with my “dressitude-attitude”.
Fashion is a Fickle industry.
It’s impossible to keep up with all the trends but there are certain dos and don’ts that never go out of style. Taking a good look at myself while on my health and fitness journey with a reality check in the mirrors, passing a shop window, or from an unbiased friend or salesclerk, while on enjoyable shopping excursions I have realized many times over with all my positive body changes, I was ready to go down in size or wear clothing that showed my new shape and celebrated these rewarding milestones in adapting to the new and current fashion trends along the way with many more style choices. These have been my rewards to date along with the compliments from others who have shared also in my triumphs of success in being fit and healthy.
Whether losing or maintaining weight to be fit or healthier. No one will look at my clothing label; I wear the size or fashion style that suits me and is becoming to me and my body type “while becoming healthier, leaner and fit”.
I feel fantastic about my accomplishments to date and I appreciate, Shawna, the information the Female Fat Loss Over Forty program packages affords me whether home or away from home with all the healthy information and workouts to continue to have fun doing at the same time becominf fit.
Yes, I want to look good for myself so physical comfort is very important to me; I need to be comfortable with who I am. When I feel good about myself inside and out, I know I do take more time, care of my appearance and my overall health as self care is as empowering as mentioned.
Yes, for me exercising and being nutrition conscience the majority of the time maybe difficult at times or in certain situations but there is no easier way and no one but me is responsible for my destiny in overall health, how I feel about myself inside and out or what I am able to have a choice to wear in current clothing fashions
Thanks for the reminder and review where I have come from and where I am steadfast on my own personal fitness and health journey. The FFLOF program “is an unique personal team approach “and it is giving me the tools and directions to keep me focused, positive and make these accomplishments with help and not on my own. I look forward to the current info, input from blogs and informative e-mails with tips, suggestions, techniques from article and videos.
Healthy Blessings to all,
Tammy S.
Amen, sister!
Thanks for writing your article, Shawna. It’s not harsh at all. You are passionate about fitness and health and you care for other people’s health… whether they are female, male or children. So thank you for writing. It’s because of your words in your article, I now want to start taking better care of myself so I can have the energy to take care of others and feel good in my body too! I want to wear nice fitting clothes and not frumpy clothes that hides my fat!
I’m an instructor… and instead of wearing “nice looking clothes”, I wear a t-shirt (which is too tight) and a sweather or parka or hoodie over it… yes, even on a warm day! I know my students think I’m crazy… and my insecurity shows… and it affects my self-esteem… and I’d eat to fill emptiness… and the whole cycle starts all over again…
Thanks for reminding me who I am again and that I’m worth it. I now have a few goals and I want to finish what I start… starting with your bootcamp! Keep all your articles coming!