BTW, these aren't the pants I bought... |
Today, I
dared to take a pair of "regular person" (i.e. non-maternity) pants
into a retail store change room. I'll admit I was nervous, because my
experience has been that, even if I manage to shimmy them over my hips, my
baby-induced extra weight and blown abdominals defy the closure of any zipper
or buttons.
But,
today, I am triumphant. Today, for the first time in over four years, a pair of
off-the-rack pants fit me! Never mind that said pants are double what used to
be my usual size; I bought them anyway. They are a symbol of my progress
to-date.
When I
originally began my baby-weight-loss journey, I told myself I wouldn't buy any
new clothes in my plus-size. This pledge was both a cost-saving measure (why buy
something when you're planning on it not fitting you in the near future?) and
meant to provide extra incentive to stay focused on my end goal.
Or at
least, so I figured.
Various
people told me that positive self-perception would boost my commitment to losing
weight, but I figured my practical side would wrestle my vanity into
submission. Turns out, a little vanity is
practical! Truth is, I make better choices to take care of myself when I feel
good about my appearance: I'm more inclined to grab an apple than a chocolate
bar, more motivated to head to the gym once again, willing to resist late-night
urges to snack.
Whatever
the psychology, when we feel good about our appearance, we work to keep feeling
our best.
I'm not
suggesting that every time we hit a stage of appreciable change in our
transformative journey we should blow the bank on a new wardrobe. I bought two
pair of very affordable pants, one that fits me right now and one that I can
just zip up without slicing myself in half. That second pair of pants I am able
to wear immediately, but they remind me that I mustn't slack off in my efforts,
that the journey has yet to be completed.
So, if
there's an (affordable) item that would celebrate your intermediate
accomplishment and help you feel a little more chic or "together,"
then maybe you should get it! Over the course of a long haul, we all need some
encouragement...
How about
you? What keeps you going when you're in the midst of a lengthy
work-in-progress?