Resolutions Aside

The Curtain, George Segal 1974
Photo by Theresa
A few nights ago I heard something on the news that has stayed with me for a few days:
"It's that time of year, when New Year's resolutions begin to fade away.  Stay tuned to find out how to keep your New Year's resolution to stick to your diet."
I didn't need to stay tuned. I realized right then and there how great it is that I no longer worry about keeping a New Year's resolution to stick to my diet. I no longer worry about about giving up on a diet. I  no longer worry about what diet I'll do if this diet fails or what else I'll I try.

This program is a life-changer for me. There's nothing to give up. There's no resolution to chase after. I have changed the way I eat and how I think about food. One of reasons I didn't journal for the first seven months on this program is that I don't spend time thinking about a diet.

That's one of the great things on this program--seven whole months passed before I realized I hadn't taken a before photo or even measurements. This leaves a whole lot of time to focus on other things in life and also takes away a lot of stress.

I know I'm not the only one following this program who feels this way. In a recent blog entry, Linda wrote:
"I haven't given up. That is a big success for me! Usually I have cheated or given up on a 'diet' by now after being on it this long especially when it feels like I am not losing."
There are times, of course, that I think about the program; mostly when I feel like I'm not losing weight. Karen recently blogged about what she does when she feels like she isn't losing weight:
"I just buy something smaller or tighter clothes and that helps me get motivated to lose more weight and reach the size I want."
When I'm feeling like I'm not losing weight, I too open my closet and try on clothes. It's wonderful to find items that fit me now and didn't fit me last year, or even just a few weeks ago. Or to discover I fit into some of the hand-me-downs I had set aside because they were too small.

Speaking of clothes, I was thinking about the plan I had for my wardrobe as I dropped sizes. My plan was to avoid spending money on smaller clothes along the way, to get by with clothes that I outgrew years ago and the hand-me-downs from my friends.

This is a good plan, but my body has changed. Those clothes that haven't fit me in years may fit now, but not always in the best way. My body is shaped differently than when I was this size before. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I see me in clothes that my friends gave to me and I think "I would never buy this!" I wear them anyhow, because they fit.

I have a better plan that I'm following now. In December, I bought three pairs of pants and they look so much better than the older ones I have in this size. I bought pants that compliment my body by fitting in all the right places. While I'm still losing weight, I don't need an extensive wardrobe, so I don't rush out and buy a ton of clothes. I have to say, I can't wait until I get to go to regular stores, instead of large women's store, to buy smaller sizes and new styles. I'm not there yet, but that day will come.

Meanwhile, I gratefully accept all hand-me-downs. Especially the wonderful winter jacket Aime gave me. I never would have gone for this style jacket if I was looking to buy a new coat, but I love this hand-me-down coat. It's not always a bad thing to I realize I would not have bought an item that was a hand-me-down.

Size 30/32 tops
For sale on eBay
Also part of the plan, is to sell my larger clothes on eBay. I did this with most of my coats in November and those that didn't sell I donated.

Today, I went into my closet and pulled 20 of my size 30/32's, photographed them, and put them for sale on eBay. If they don't sell, they go into a bag for Goodwill. Time to be rid of those sizes. Amazing, the closet is still full of clothes that are too big.

Up next: size 26-28 later this week.

There was mention of a clothing swap, but I haven't heard any ideas about how we can do this. Ideas?


2 comments:

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    1. Do you know the name of the consignment shops? I would love to sell them in a consignment store rather than eBay, as that seems like a lot less work.

      I get what you mean about the dryer too! When I was taking photos of my size 30/23 tops, I kept thinking about how they never went in the dryer, which was true for all my tops. Today, it's my choice that I don't put them in the dryer - less wrinkles and energy saving, but it's nice when I need a top dry NOW that I can put them in the dryer!

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