Being Almost Plus
When you are almost large (meaning over a size 14 but not quite 16) you have a hard time finding clothes that fit right (especially if you have big, child-rearing hips). Now, I am not saying hard time as in you have to find the right store, that carries the right shaped clothing for you (i.e. NOT Forever 21 or Target Junior)--I mean you have a hard time everywhere.
And when this happens one of two things happen (or both)--you try to squeeze into your old clothes or you buy new clothes in the old size because you aren't ready to admit you need to buy new clothes in a new size. Regardless of the which you 'choose' the results are the same-- you end up trying to squeeze yourself into the new clothing. And the results are awful.
To demonstrate, which really I would prefer not to think about, but you MUST see what you look like if you do this (and I would argue, no matter what size pants you wear, women do THIS when they are on the verge of moving the dreaded increase in pant size). Imagine a balloon. A almost full of air balloon. And try squeezing it into the cardboard paper towel roll. See what it does? It fits, sorta, but buldges out at the sides.
Now, image yourself slipping into those too small jeans. And yes, they are too small EVEN IF YOU CAN STILL ZIP THEM UP. Do you buldge over the sides? Are you love handles more apparent? Still not ready to admit you need to go up in size? Where a form fitting T-shirt and tell me how you feel?
I know. You feel terrible don't you? I do too. And it happens EVERY time I gain weight (do I need to remind you that I suffer weight issues?). I stuff myself into the pants I own-- budging myself into feeling like a schlemp. All of a sudden my shirts don't fit right and are sorta riding up my side. I am sucking in my breath at every moment as someone might notice the 'buldge.'
Well guess what? GO OUT AND FIND SOME PANTS THAT FIT!
I know, I know. It is easier said than done. Again, I'm there with you. Finding the store. Finding the pants. TRYING. THEM. ON. (For those of you with no weight issues--trying anything on in a dressing room requiring that you look in a mirror is torture. Complete torture). But do it. You will be glad. Really. My recommendation is go on a search for a store that carries your CUT of pants. Ones that fit you--if you choose almost any pant off their shelf at THIS store (or if you are lucky, these few stores), they'll fit. You'll be happy and look good. Really. They exist. My recommendation-- Old Navy. Or Gap. Or Banana Republic (if you can afford it). Ann Taylor can be good too. Try the Outlet stores for either of the last two. Really. Post-baby (I mean RIGHT AFTER baby, I got work clothes at both... and didn't feel like a whale and that is hard feat considering I am a walking hormone of tears). But you MUST GO THERE AND TRY THE PANTS ON. Sorry for the yelling, but I cannot stress this enough. Try the pants on-- no cinching, sucking in, or uncomfortableness allowed. No tightness on the thigh, no settling for a tight waist. Make sure they FIT.
Can I scream it any louder? GET PANTS THAT FIT! It makes a world of difference. And those T-shirts you thought you couldn't wear--that showed the buldge? Well, they look BETTER if you have the right pants. The ones not cinching at your waste and causing the baby gut to overflow. Really. I am telling the truth. And I would know.
And when this happens one of two things happen (or both)--you try to squeeze into your old clothes or you buy new clothes in the old size because you aren't ready to admit you need to buy new clothes in a new size. Regardless of the which you 'choose' the results are the same-- you end up trying to squeeze yourself into the new clothing. And the results are awful.
To demonstrate, which really I would prefer not to think about, but you MUST see what you look like if you do this (and I would argue, no matter what size pants you wear, women do THIS when they are on the verge of moving the dreaded increase in pant size). Imagine a balloon. A almost full of air balloon. And try squeezing it into the cardboard paper towel roll. See what it does? It fits, sorta, but buldges out at the sides.
Now, image yourself slipping into those too small jeans. And yes, they are too small EVEN IF YOU CAN STILL ZIP THEM UP. Do you buldge over the sides? Are you love handles more apparent? Still not ready to admit you need to go up in size? Where a form fitting T-shirt and tell me how you feel?
I know. You feel terrible don't you? I do too. And it happens EVERY time I gain weight (do I need to remind you that I suffer weight issues?). I stuff myself into the pants I own-- budging myself into feeling like a schlemp. All of a sudden my shirts don't fit right and are sorta riding up my side. I am sucking in my breath at every moment as someone might notice the 'buldge.'
Well guess what? GO OUT AND FIND SOME PANTS THAT FIT!
I know, I know. It is easier said than done. Again, I'm there with you. Finding the store. Finding the pants. TRYING. THEM. ON. (For those of you with no weight issues--trying anything on in a dressing room requiring that you look in a mirror is torture. Complete torture). But do it. You will be glad. Really. My recommendation is go on a search for a store that carries your CUT of pants. Ones that fit you--if you choose almost any pant off their shelf at THIS store (or if you are lucky, these few stores), they'll fit. You'll be happy and look good. Really. They exist. My recommendation-- Old Navy. Or Gap. Or Banana Republic (if you can afford it). Ann Taylor can be good too. Try the Outlet stores for either of the last two. Really. Post-baby (I mean RIGHT AFTER baby, I got work clothes at both... and didn't feel like a whale and that is hard feat considering I am a walking hormone of tears). But you MUST GO THERE AND TRY THE PANTS ON. Sorry for the yelling, but I cannot stress this enough. Try the pants on-- no cinching, sucking in, or uncomfortableness allowed. No tightness on the thigh, no settling for a tight waist. Make sure they FIT.
Can I scream it any louder? GET PANTS THAT FIT! It makes a world of difference. And those T-shirts you thought you couldn't wear--that showed the buldge? Well, they look BETTER if you have the right pants. The ones not cinching at your waste and causing the baby gut to overflow. Really. I am telling the truth. And I would know.
