Tips For Affordable Wardrobe Update

I have gained a substantial amount of weight over the last few years. What used to be a svelte figure is now a flabby and rotund one. My small sized clothes and shoes are now the property of my daughter. And I am forced to buy few few sizes bigger than what I used to wear.

Despite of my weight gain, I still have to present myself appropriately.  I am in serious need of a wardrobe update and here are tips on how to go about it without burning a hole in the pocket.

Check out flea markets

There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking out flea markets to update your wardrobe. I like vintage clothing so the best place to find gorgeous lacey and loose, billowy blouses that looks vintage are in flea markets. You can haggle too and you'll be surprised to find plenty of other stuff that you can accessorize your new outfits with.

Check out online shopping sites and avail of their promo deals

I was checking the internet a while ago for great deals online. I found several good hits of online shopping sites for full-figured woman like myself in the internet. There are also others that are preppy and great for office wear too. Visit MakeMeChic.com so you'll have an idea of what kind of staples you can add in your wardrobe to accommodate your new size plus don't forget to check out the shoes too.  I want to add a nice pair of boots that I can wear to work in my wardrobe collection.  The site is also offering 30% off due to its extended sale. You can find more of these online sales in the internet.

Swap clothes with your relatives or friends who are the same size as you

This can be tricky but it can be done if you're not the fussy one. Just make sure that when you trade clothes with your relatives and even trusted friends, they don't have body odors because that is a big no-no. If so and to avoid hurting their feelings, you may just want to take a rain check on this one. This is just a suggestion.

Have your clothes repaired/adjusted by a dressmaker

Do you even know what a dressmaker is? Well, they are still around and thriving. I know several dressmakers here in our place where I can take my beloved business suits for repair. In this case, adjustments.  Some of my coats have enough allowance in the seams so it can be adjusted accordingly. Business suits are really expensive here in Dubai so I can live with several of my suits being adjusted rather than kept in a box and put into oblivion.  That will save me money because I will just pay my dressmaker a fraction of the costs of each business suits I have bought and not worn for sometime because they are all tight.

Buy basics and mix and match and invest on some classic cut outfit

If it's really necessary that you have to spend few money to buy new clothes, make sure you spend it wisely by investing on outfits like a business suit, a shift dress, 1 or 2 cardigans of basic colors, at least 2 blouses that you can wear with a business suit or solo, 1 or 2 pairs of trousers, at least 1 decent jeans that will fit your new body perfectly and basic tees to match it with. You don't have to splurge and there is no need for it. Just learn to mix and match your updated wardrobe and stick to colors that can go well with others like white, black, gray, and pastel colors.

See, updating your wardrobe need not be an expensive undertaking.  Just follow these simple tips and you will be fine.

Weight Gain And Weight Loss

Gaining weight was difficult when I was young. I was a scrawny, little kid with a whale-ful of appetite. I remember chugging full cream milk every day, having 1 pint of ice cream for dessert and eating rice and other fattening morsels regularly. I barely gained weight.

I reached puberty and still had the same problem - too skinny. I was already in college and was still buying pants and other clothes off the pre-teens rack! I would always have my jeans re-fitted by a tailor or have to get a size meant for a 12 year-old kid. Imagine how tiny and slim I was then.

I got married and had a kid and still had the slim physique I had before. I started to balloon when I hit 35 and that was 5 years ago. Since then, my weight would fluctuate. It is a real yo-yo weight loss and gain for me. However, I noticed these past few weeks that it is a steady weight gain. Am I reaching menopausal stage? Are my hormones going berserk?

I am exercising and eating properly and yet, the scale still shows abominable numbers. I am too scared now to step on the weighing scale because the numbers are not right. Or I am in denial? Proof that I am gaining weight are my tight clothes. They are seriously getting tighter  by the week. If I don't do something very drastic and serious then I will end up buying bigger sized clothes which I am not too happy about.

My friends are supporting me on my goal to lose weight for good health's sake. I am serious about it but I need constant reminders and a lot of prodding o help me get through. I think I am having withdrawal symptoms now. I crave food that I usually don' eat and when I eat them, I feel awful. I hope I can get over that phase. I just want to lose weight the healthy way.

I have a very long way to go. I hope I can make it through because gaining weight is easier now than losing weight. My body's not the same anymore.

Weight Loss Dilemma

Again, I got stuck in a very long rut. My friends are losing weight but I am gaining more.

I can't blame anyone but myself because I have allowed it to happen. I used to have a strong will-power and deeply motivated but it is not working these days. I know what to do but I can't seem to push myself.

I have been bugging my other "round" friends to join me in my quest for weight loss for good health and they just keep saying tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. I am tired waiting for the day when I can actually have a buddy system or a support group to back me up on my endeavor.

Where do I actually start? I don't want to end up fat and miserable. There's nothing wrong when you are plump but if you are having health issues then that is something worth changing. I can't stay like this because it's not making me healthy. I have to start somewhere and I need to do it soon.

Walk For Good Health

I started pounding the treadmill again last month. So far, I can say that I have been very good with my commitment to stick to my schedule.

I fell off the wagon few months ago. I just felt that I didn't have the drive to continue on what I have started last year when I lost weight. Of course, that dilly-dallying cost me my weight loss success. I had to start all over again and who was I kidding? MYSELF!

The month of April was my wake up call when I could hardly fit on my clothes I just wore few months ago. I took a close look at myself in the mirror and I was aghast on what I saw - a very, very rotund version of me! I cried and felt a little insecure. I know it is bad to self-loathe but I felt that. A lot of people  are even making side-comments on my "sudden" pudginess because I was not like this last year. I already shed some of the weight and then I slacked.

I had to convince myself that I am doing this because I don't want to look good but I want to feel good inside and out. There is a difference between wanting and feeling and I want the more substantial one. I may look good but my health is horrible. I will go for the latter. Below are pictures of me - recently taken and how I looked like five years ago. I normally don't post a photo of my very fat image but this is my reality. I want to have that same motivation I used to have and this time it's to feel great inside because I deserve it.

"Bigger" version of me. I wore a loose blouse to conceal my flabby tummy. 

Taken 5 years ago during my "ideal" weight days.  I used to have "flat" tummy and skinny arms. 

So, I am now committed to walk regularly with other exercise on the side like skipping rope and doing jumping jacks for few minutes. I also do half push-ups to tone my arms. My food intake is getting better each week. I am beginning to shun processed food and taking in more fruits and vegetables with lesser sodium. I still eat fried food but using olive oil. My budget is a bit over the top these days because of the food I prepare and eat but you don't put a price on good health, right?

I know it's still a long shot before I reach my desire weight goal. I will get there in due time.

I Ate too Much

I have been very bad today. I ate too much at lunch. I normally eat heavy on breakfast but not much on lunch. My friend split her pasta Alfredo and gave me the half portion while I also munched on my fried tofu soaked in soy sauce and vinegar.

What's so bad with this lunch was the dessert. I gobbled a whole bar of chocolate with hazelnut filling. I felt guilty after eating those so I drank my favorite green tea. I need to run today though to burn those unwanted calories. I guess, reading those lipozene reviews will be quite beneficial at this point.

My food intake tomorrow will be portioned. I am eating oatmeal and salad. I can't entertain other freebies now. I may end up wearing a bigger dress size!