![The Awkward Side of Dropping 40 Pounds [Philosophical Monday]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dressform.jpg)
The Awkward Side of Dropping 40 Pounds [Philosophical Monday]
We live in a culture where dropping 40 pounds is supposed to solve all your problems, make you feel like you can do anything, and moreover make you feel GREAT! But I’ve been 40 pounds lighter for almost three months now, and while I welcome the extra energy that comes from being at my pre-baby weight, in the case of trying to get pregnant again, dropping 40 pounds has made things a bit … difficult.
For one thing nothing really fits right anymore. Though, I’m technically at the same weight that I was at pre-baby, as any mom can tell you, that weight is not at all deposited in the same places. The Anthropologie dresses that looked banging on me last summer, now sag in the chest area. The tops that I used to wear before getting pregnant cling a bit too tightly to my now soft middle. I can no longer fit the designer jeans that I purchased pre-baby. But I also no longer fit the designer jeans that I brought when I was 40 pounds curvier. The answer of course is to buy designer jeans and dresses in my old size that are made for curvier women or get the larger stuff tailored.
But then why spend money on new dresses and jeans and tailoring if I might be pregnant now or if it doesn’t work out again, a few more months from now? So … awkward. I don’t want to even talk about the bra situation. That’s just a state of pure chaos right now.
I think the solution might be to be more careful about my purchases in the future. Yes, this looks great on me now, but how will it look with a belly? If it turns out that a future pregnancy isn’t in the cards, will it look baggy and dumpy as I get thinner?
It’s going to take a while to build a perfect wardrobe of things that look great on me at any size. Meanwhile I’ll just have to come to terms with that strange feeling of “having nothing to wear” and not being able to do anything about it. So is life.
I am in the process of scoring proposals right now and have to have them done for a meeting in an hour and a half. But I was taking a break to eat and reading Fierce & Nerdy and I am compelled to respond (even though I need to get back to work)!
#1 – I cannot believe that you managed to lose 40 pounds! First, congrats. Second, I hate you. I have not been able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight from my first child and it is not six months after my second. I fear I will never see those numbers on the scale again. So I am not feeling for you with the whole things don’t fit.
#2 – Your comment about the weight not being deposited in the same places is right on. I have been trying to find a way to describe it to my childless friends (and my husband) and that is exactly it! Thank you for helping me to actually verbalize the issue in a way people can understand.
#3 – Your idea of finding clothes that you can “work” at any size is intriguing. Very actually. But do you think it can really work?
I am in the process of scoring proposals right now and have to have them done for a meeting in an hour and a half. But I was taking a break to eat and reading Fierce & Nerdy and I am compelled to respond (even though I need to get back to work)!
#1 – I cannot believe that you managed to lose 40 pounds! First, congrats. Second, I hate you. I have not been able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight from my first child and it is not six months after my second. I fear I will never see those numbers on the scale again. So I am not feeling for you with the whole things don’t fit.
#2 – Your comment about the weight not being deposited in the same places is right on. I have been trying to find a way to describe it to my childless friends (and my husband) and that is exactly it! Thank you for helping me to actually verbalize the issue in a way people can understand.
#3 – Your idea of finding clothes that you can “work” at any size is intriguing. Very actually. But do you think it can really work?
#1 Losing 40 pounds was my 2010 resolution and I barely made it before the end of the year. I advise patience and focusing more on long-term weight loss as opposed to wondering why you haven’t lost all the weight in the six whole months since your second kid. I think next time, I’m going to give myself six months to get adjusted to my new life before trying to focus on weight loss.
#2 Yes, I actually don’t mind the new depositing. It’s been fun and refreshing to have a new look. The only thing is that I can’t buy wardrobe to match this new looks, so frustrating…
#3 So far, I’ve only found one item. A hip-hugging lightweight sweater that ruches at the waist. It covers my soft middle and if I get pregnant it will frame my belly perfectly. Leggings are also a comfortable, one-size fits all gift from God. And Anthropologie has a few maxi dresses that might look good on my now and later. Mostly it’s the chest and hip area that I have to figure out.
You have one of the best attitudes toward change. Truly, the best of anyone I know. I am not at all happy with the way my weight has deposited since Sekou and Zora. I feel like such a complainer. But it is true. I wish i could embrace the body change the way you do.
I totally agree. Between babies, I think I looked like a slob, because I didn’t want to spend money on “in between” clothes. I’m kinda psyched to be done with pregnancy and try and lose weight for good and reward myself with a new wardrobe.
I lost 10 more lbs last summer, but still had 10 to go to get to pre-baby weight (not to mention another 20 on top of that of newlywed weight) and it was really hard to be motivated, knowing I would just get pregnant and gain weight again.
The upside is that I have gained less weight this time. Probably because I started this pregnancy at a higher weight. I think if I had lost that last 10 lbs, that it would have quickly been gained again.
Yes, I’ve had many a dream about my 2013 wardrobe. Wait for it…
This is a million dollar idea for a designer. I’m really intrigued by this issue. I haven’t joined the ranks of mothers yet, but my body does change throughout my cycle and I have one dress that is my go-to outfit for when I’m clueless about how to dress my body. Maybe it could become one of your staples . It’s designed by my friend Haley Starr who spent 3 years engineering it so that it could fit absolutely ANY body shape or size. It’s really amazing (I’m starting to sound like her PR person) but it was the first thing that came to mind when I read this. Check it out here:
http://hayleystarr.com/clothes-infinite.php
That’s GORGEOUS. Especially love the long dress…
Jersey knits, or even better,silk jersey knits…they are the key to your wardrobe right now, especially in maxi dress form, as they will look banging on you now, when you’re pregnant, and again when you are not…they hide lots of sins, and show off all the right assets :-)
It’s funny, b/c the one green dress that has been kind to me through all the stages was a green jersey knit from J. Crew…
See!
For those days between pregnancies you could use this to perk up that Anthropologie Dress…
I can’t decide if it is creepy, or brilliant…
http://www.thebeerbelly.com/The_Winerack_p/200-007.htm
I think the answer is both creepy and brilliant. Wow…