Tag: diet

Posted in Uncategorized

Shot or No Shot The Great Debate

Posted on by HeatherLynn

There is a question of what the best way is to lose weight.  It’s a question that has been asked many times for decades and it comes with varying answers.  The latest debate has been between getting “the shot” or doing things the old way, “Lifestyle changes”.   The question hovers around the effectiveness, sustainability, and overall impact on health.  

Medications such as GLP-1 ( ex: Wegovey, Zepbound ) can produce quick and significant weight reduction.  Lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise proved a long-term approach with broader health benefits.   It is said that combining the two would be the most successful way to attack this.  

Weight-Loss Injections 

How it works 

Medications that are injectable like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) mimic natural hormones that regulate appetite. These communicate a sense of fullness to the brain and slow stomach emptying, significantly reducing food intake.  

Pros 

Very effective:  semaglutide and tirzepatide have shown average weight loss of 15–20% in people with obesity. 

Convenient: Weekly or even daily injections are easier to stick to than a rigid diet and exercise plan for many people. 

Motivating: The rapid results are motivating for individuals who have struggled with weight loss in the past where the “regular” diets take longer to show progress. 

Added health benefits:  Some of the injectable drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of  heart problems, such as heart attacks and strokes.  

Cons 

Weight regain: When the medication is stopped, significant weight regain is common without sustained lifestyle changes. 

Side effects: Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. 

Cost: Many insurance plans do not cover these medications, patients often must pay more than $1,000 per month out-of-pocket. 

Muscle mass loss: Rapid weight loss from injections can cause a significant loss of lean muscle mass along with fat. 

Social stigma: Studies show weight loss with the aid of medication is viewed “cheating” rather than achieving success through traditional methods.  

LifeStyle Changes 

How it works 

Natural weight loss is done by creating a sustained calorie deficit through healthier eating habits, regular physical activity, and behavioral modifications. This process helps the body adjust and adapt to new habits.  

Pros 

Sustainable results: Building healthy, lifelong habits, people can achieve and maintain long-term weight loss without dependency on medication. 

Health improvements: Lifestyle changes provideb enefits that go beyond weight loss, including better heart health, improved mental well-being, and stronger bones. 

Preserves muscle mass: Regular physical activity, particularly resistance training combined with adequate protein intake, helps preserve lean muscle mass. 

Affordable: This method is more cost-effective as it does not require expensive medication.  

Cons 

Slower: Natural weight loss is slower than medication-assisted weight loss, which can be discouraging for some. 

Requires discipline: Building and maintaining new habits requires consistent effort and self-discipline. 

May not be enough : Many people with chronic obesity or underlying metabolic issues find it difficult to achieve lasting weight loss with diet and exercise alone.  

The combined approach 

Many agree that weight-loss medication is not a “magic bullet” and is most effective when paired with lifestyle changes.  

For Best Results: Combining medication with healthy eating and exercise can lead to better and more sustainable long-term results. 

Improved maintenance: Using injections to jump-start weight loss and then transitioning to lifestyle changes and potentially less expensive, alternative maintenance strategies can prevent weight regain. 

The choice between the “shot” and “no shot” approach depends on an individual’s specific health needs, lifestyle, and goals. Weight-loss injections are a powerful tool, particularly for individuals with obesity or related health conditions, but they are not a substitute for developing healthy habits.  You have to find what works for you.  For some it is the shot for some it is simply the lifestyle change, and for some it is a combination of both.   

Posted in Encouragement/Motivation, Food Stuff, intermittent-fasting

Lettuce Entertain You!

Posted on by HeatherLynn

Salads are a great addition for the journey to a healthier lifestyle. They are versatile and varied and nutritious if you choose the right ingredients and practice portion control.  The heart of every good salad is based on the greens you choose.    

Most people conjure up visions of salads where the Iceberg Lettuce is the base.   Iceberg lettuce has gotten a bit of a bad reputation with claims that it has no nutritional value and I, like countless others, bought into this rumor.      

An amazing sale on bagged “garden salad” caught my eye.   I noted the star of the show was Iceberg lettuce and it just burned me that they (whoever “they” are) were offering discounts on food that would do nothing for me.   It prompted me to do a bit of research, and I was surprised to find that I had been misled!   Iceberg lettuce is reasonable and nutritious!    

Nutritionally, it provides essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C, contributing to eye health, blood clotting, and immune function. 

Iceberg lettuce also contains beneficial minerals like potassium and calcium, which support heart health and strong bones.     

I’ll stop hating on Iceberg lettuce, for sure.   

There are some other greens to add to your mix.  I like to mix and match to keep my body guessing at what I’m going to throw at it next.  

  1. Raw Spinach  –  a great way to boost up your iron  
  1. Raw Beet Greens –  vitamin A  and vitamin K 
  1. Raw Swiss Chard  –  tvitamin A and vitamin C 
  1. Raw Dandilion Greens – high in calcium, iron, and prebiotic fiber & vitamin C  
  1. Raw Mustard Greens  – a bit of Folate, vitamin C and vitamin K 
  1. Raw Collard Greens  – Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and a small amount of E 
  1. Raw WaterCress – Vitamin K and Vitamin C 
  1. Raw Romaine – Vitamin K and Vitamin A 
  1. Raw Leaf Lettuce – Vitamin A 

As you’ll note, there are two vitamins that seem to be present in nearly all forms of the lettuce family.  Vitamin A & K 

Why you need Vitamin A –   

Vitamin A is essential in your Vision health, aids in Immune Function & Reproductive health, assists in Cell growth and development and is a workhorse for your skin health. 

Why you need Vitamin K –  

Vitamin K is important to contribute to blood clotting and is a major star when it comes to your bone health.   

You cannot choose a “wrong” combination of the lettuce family.  However, do not live on salad alone.  This is only a supplement to healthy journey you’ve chosen.  Continue to make wise decisions and eat mindfully!  

Posted in Emotional Well-Being, Encouragement/Motivation

Pain in the Journey

Posted on by HeatherLynn

Pain.  It is a factor in your journey that will provide a frustrating stumbling block you will feel helpless to overcome.  When you are in chronic or severe pain from an injury, you may want to literally feed that pain.   They call this “maladaptive pain-related coping”.   The term “maladaptive” refers to behaviors or actions that hinder an individual’s ability to adapt or adjust to different situations differently.  ( I hope we have BOTH learned something new today!) 

Overeating in response to pain is basically just a coping mechanism.  It makes you temporarily feel better.  Psychologically, deep down, there is this primitive need to fuel up to replace the energies you are exerting as your body attempts to heal the injury.  

This leads, obviously, to over-eating, knocking you off the journey you’ve worked so hard on, landing on a plateau and falling back into a sea of frustration.  It can be a dangerous time for you as you risk falling back into old habits since your resolve is distracted by the pain.   

There are some things you can do to help. 

1.  Be careful and don’t hurt yourself.   I know, great wisdom coming from the Queen of Klutz.  If I am not injured then something is certainly wrong!   

2.  Don’t suffer through the pain. Get to a medical professional and get the help you need.  

4. Bulk up on the antioxidants. Fresh, leaf vegetables and fruits with complex carbs are much better than simple sugars.  

5. Keep moving as much as you can.  Depending on the injury of course.   Take frequent breaks. 

6. Get plenty of sleep.  Your body repairs itself quite a bit during those hours.  

Ice is your friend when it comes to injuries.  Inflammation is what is causing most of that pain and ice packs greatly alleviate the discomfort.  

Here are some foods you can partake of , that also reduce inflammation :  

Whole Grains :   whole grain bread, oats, brown rice, barly, quinoa, couscous, polenta,     bulgur, and rye bread.  Also stick with multi-grain or wheat pasta.  

Beans,nuts, seeds, pod foods :  peas, edamame, black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas,        white beans,  hummus, walnuts, almonds, pecans,        peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pinenuts etc. :  

Fruits : berries, pomegranates, cherries. Darker colored fruits are especially good.  Avoid     fruit juices.  

Vegetables : yellow, orange and red peppers and tomatoes, Spinach, chard, kale, leaf            lettuce, romaine lettuce, arugula, mixed greens (focus on dark leafy greens)                   Purple and green cabbage, onions, garlic, broccoli, brussels sprouts,            cauliflower, radishes, cucumbers, green beans and green onions. 

Olive Oil:  replace butter and other oils with this for cooking. 

Fish : Go for cold water fish like salmon, herring, anchovies, sardines and mackerel. 

White Meat ;  chicken, turkey and other birds.  No frying or deep frying.  

Dairy: Eggs, natural cheese ( not processed ), low-fat milk, yogurt.  

Herbs ;  cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, garlic, rosemary, cayenne, pepper, black pepper. 

Honestly, looking at the list of “anti-inflammatory” foods, it is not much different than how you should be customizing your diet on a regular basis when you are not in pain.   

Above all, know that an injury does not mean your journey has come to an end.  This is just a setback.   The hard work is not in the physical, its in the mental.  You are going to have to mentally pick yourself up and get yourself back into the driver’s seat and start walking again.   How long will you sit on the side of the road using your pain as the reason you have failed?    

Day five – My Journey Phase 2  

Posted in Uncategorized

Returned

Posted on by HeatherLynn

I took a little hiatus from the blog but I have returned.   The carnivore diet attempt (for me) was pointless.   I love fruits and veggies way too much to just eat straight protein and honestly, I was concerned about missing out on vitamins and minerals that are essential to my overall health.   Thus, I continued to plateau and fret about my lack of will power and motivation.   I knew I had a huge vacation coming up and I felt like attacking my plan too hard would be like sabotaging myself.  (Justification is an art, my friends).   

So here we are.   The big vacation has been taken.  I am back home and a few pounds heavier because who worries about diets when they are on a cruise?   I certainly didn’t let anything stop me from grazing and indulging and now I must face the music that I danced to.  

Let me first give thanks to the lovely stomach virus for kick starting my journey and shaving off some of the extra pounds.   It was unexpected, and horribly and living on the BRAT diet for a few days has sucked rocks, but it did motivate me in some weird fashion.   

While away, I never worried about how I looked.  My journey so far is responsible for that.  I was very comfortable in my own skin amidst literally, thousands of other people.  I was able to let go and relax, be myself and make some lasting memories because I wasn’t hung up on my body image.  This is a big win for me!     

I am not where I want to be yet, but this getaway showed me that I am well on my way.   I am once again inspired to hit the trail and rejoin my fellow travelers.   My fridge is currently bare and awaiting a grocery run.   My list is being made carefully along with a list of activities I must do that will keep me moving (even with a bad back).    Stay tuned for updates!  

Posted in Encouragement/Motivation, Food Stuff, intermittent-fasting

Exploring the Carnivore

Posted on by HeatherLynn

A plateau is, no doubt, one of the most frustrating blockers in this journey of a better lifestyle.   I began to doubt myself and I felt old habits trying to creep back in as week after week nothing seemed to change.  The weeks turned to months and the numbers on the scale have refused to move.  I know my motivation is lacking, my hunger pangs are winning, and my self-esteem appears to dip down to those self-sabotaging moments that held me back for years.     

This must stop.  My brother reached out to me, having the same problem.  He has been plateaued for a full year.   He grew weary of it and did something about it instead of lamenting about the frustration.    He embarked on a side journey of a Carnivore diet combined with the intermittent fasting.    If anyone needs an inspiring talk, my brother is the one to speak with.  His scale is moving again, and the hopefulness has come back into his voice.   The daily text messages I get are all encouraging me to explore this method myself.   I’m going to let history repeat itself and I’m going to take his advice and dive headfirst and give it a go.   

Today is Day One.    

I spent a good portion of my morning reading up on the Carnivore diet and I have doubts, mostly because I am a lover of fruits and vegetables and this diet does not include those.  It’s an elimination diet with claims to help with weight loss, improve mental clarity, reduce inflammation, improve digestion and increase energy levels.     

The basic foods you get to consume include animal proteins, fatty cuts of meat, organ meats, fish and seafood, eggs and full-fat dairy products.      

The foods you are avoiding include plant-based foods, grains and cereals, legumes and beans, processed foods, sugars and sweeteners, and alcohol.    

I encourage you to read up on this :  The Beginner’s Guide to the Carnivore Diet – Carnivore Keto Secrets   This site is very thorough in detail, and you’ll have a good deal of information if you decide you wish to give this a try.    

I do know that due to my love of fruits and vegetables, this is not a diet that I will stay on for a great length of time. Especially given the time of year when all the best berries are coming into season.   I will most likely alternate this along with a plant-based diet to ensure I am getting all the nutrients my body needs.   I am not the same as my brother.  Our genders alone dictate that we will lose weight differently. Our age makes a profound difference as well.  He is exploring the needs of man entering his 50’s and I am tending the needs of woman mid-50’s in the middle of menopause.   Our results will be different, but the point of this exercise is to break the plateau.    

Would you give up fruits and veggies for a month to break your plateau?  

Drop a comment below and let me know what your thoughts are!  

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Posted in Emotional Well-Being, Food Stuff

Food Noise – Hear me Roar

Posted on by HeatherLynn

When I was young, I remember breakfast discussions between adults about lunch plans and dinner plans.  To me this seemed normal, it would be necessary to have this information so you would know to get things out of the freezer to thaw or to know what time a meal would be served.   

As I grew older, I found myself planning future meals while devouring a current meal.  Often, I would be thinking about it as I drove to work or took a walk.  It was okay, that was the way it was supposed to be. I was being proactive.  

Now let’s go back to those younger days and fill in some time gaps.  When I was offered a baked good or sweet treat, it was GOOD. They made me feel warm and happy inside, albeit only for a short period so I always wanted more and the cravings would become obsessive.   As I gained in years, I also gained in pounds.  I had a yen for the sweets.   Since I lived in an area where fast food was twelve miles away and an absolute special occasion, processed goodies were not yet an issue.   However, I gained my independence and loved the taste of cheeseburgers and fries.    

Adulthood came upon me.  Still planning my meals, thinking about yummy snacks to get at the store, stopping at convenience stores for a quick chocolate bar and then mentally berating myself for being a compulsive snacker with no self-control.  I would become angry with myself and sometimes I would be able to turn away from the temptations, but 90% of the time I would give in.   The underlying reason?   Food had always been a comfort to me and although it was making me miserable physically and mentally, it was giving me brief moments of comfort that I apparently needed as I struggled with life.   

I had no idea this had a name.  Currently its trending as “Food Noise” and I am most certainly a victim of this.   

Food Noise is a preoccupation with food.   For example, after (or during) you’ve had a meal, you may instantly start thinking about your next snack or next meal.  It is an internal dialogue that can be influenced by factors such as diet, mental well-being, and nutrient deficiencies.  

– fixate on what, when, or how much to eat.   

-plan the next meal before having finished your current one.   

-compulsively check restaurant menus or delivery services   

-stress about the consequences of food choices.   

– internally beat yourself up over your lack of self-control but still give into the impulse 

However it manifests for you, the impact on your life and eating behavior can be both harmful and overwhelming to your physical and mental health. 

It is possible to quiet the Food Noise. 

  1. Focus on a healthier diet 
  1. Eliminate the processed foods (no more Fast Food! ) 
  1. Meal Prepping – having the meals prepped makes it easier to not overeat 
  1. Stop buying the unhealthy snacks, get them out of your house, if they are not there you cannot eat them 
  1. Educate yourself on healthy recipes and learn how to prepare them.  Taking this time to prepare your meals makes you more mindful of what you are doing. 
  1. Eat Intentionally 
  1. Make an eating schedule and stick to it.   
  1. If Joe brings in donuts for the office, you don’t have to eat one, you can politely decline and remove yourself away from the temptation. 
  1. Bring healthy snacks for yourself so when you are tempted to give in for that sweet stuff, you have a workaround. 
  1. Exercise 
  1. Its hard to walk and stuff a cheeseburger in your mouth at the same time. 
  1. Find activities that keep your hands busy and your blood pumping, you’ll find that thoughts of food are nowhere in sight. 
  1. Reduce Stress 
  1. What i love about this one is people throw this suggestion out like you are intentionally bringing stress into your life.   Do your best to find ways to reduce the stress factors.  I know some things are not in your control but you do have the power to control how you handle it. 
  1. Get more sleep 
  1. Tired and fatigued equals the desire to fuel up.  If you are rested you won’t feel the extra need to gain energy. 
  1. Look into Medication 
  1. Semaglutide medications tend to activate certain receptors, which promote the release of the hormone GLP-1 which basically quiets your food noise.   
  1. Talk to your doctor if you consider this direction, it is important to make sure you understand all side effects and results of using this method to quiet your food noise.  

I will tell you this.  My food noise started when I was a child.  It’s lived with me for decades and honestly, it’s like a family member in my head.   Since beginning my journey and making changes in my lifestyle, this family member has become noticeably quieter.   There are days, admittedly, when Food Noise roars and is nearly deafening.  On those days, I have my arsenal of weapons to fight it.  An always available full water bottle, a portioned out healthy snack, and a “Before” and “After” photo nearby to show me what determination and perseverance looks like.   

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Posted in Encouragement/Motivation

Brown Fat Keeping You Warm

Posted on by HeatherLynn

To say that its cold outside is vastly understating the extreme temperatures that have descended this week.   Once you hit single digits and negatives, it’s basically like being in a freezer with the fan on.    

Here is some good news though, you can still drop some weight despite the frozen fingers of the arctic scraping at your windows!   We are all born with something called “brown fat”, which is much different than your everyday white fat.  

White adipose tissue (WAT) is the standard fat that is commonly known. It stores energy in large fat nodules that accumulate around the body. The accumulation of this fat helps keep us warm by providing insulation for our organs. 

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) helps maintain body temperature when it’s too cold.  As newborns, we have a good pocket of this mostly behind the shoulder blades, because infants cannot shiver and this acts as a built-in heater. We lose most of it as we get older and form a shiver response to cold temperatures. 

Brown Fat is jam packed with mitochondria, the main energy molecule used by the cell and that is how it gets its color. When brown fat burns, it creates heat without the shivering in a process referred to as thermogenesis. It is during this process; the brown fat also burns calories.  

Everyone has some brown fat you’re born with, and this form is called “constitutive” brown fat. Another form of brown fat is “recruitable.” Meaning it can change to brown fat under the right circumstances. This type is found in muscles and white fat throughout your body.  

Some ways to increase that brown fat : 

  1. Exposing the body to cool/cold temperatures may help recruit more brown fat cells. A suggested 2 hours of exposure each day to temperatures around 66°F (19°C) may be enough to turn recruitable fat brown.  I’m not suggesting we step out into the arctic air for 2 hours, that feels a bit much to drop a few pounds.  Let’s get the outside temps more agreeable before we consider a two hour venture outside!  
  1. Taking a cold shower or ice bath.   While neither one sounds appealing, perhaps just slowing turning down the hot tap while in the shower and gradually working your way up to the cold would be better than just diving right under a spray of icy water.   
  1. Knock the temp down a few degrees in the house.   The electric bill will at least be lighter!  

Increasing Brown Fat is not a method suggested for weight loss primarily.  Consider it an add-on bonus to what you already have in play.  Acclimate yourself to the cooler temperatures, convert some of the white fat to brown fat.   Every little bit helps on the journey.   

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Posted in Food Stuff

Delivered to My Door

Posted on by HeatherLynn

Losing inches and pounds in today’s world is a task that is much easier than perhaps even ten years ago. In the past we had limited resources to help us on our journey; we had to depend on our own sheer will and determination for most of it. Today our resources are vast and seemingly unlimited. From the helpful apps to put on your phone, right to the meal delivery services bringing the food directly to your home.

I’m not big on the apps, though I preach that you should use them. I have them on my phone and I do dabble with them, but I have never gotten in the habit of being chained to the daily logging. It is one of my weak points.

I have also never taken part in the revolution of meal delivery services; however recently I have needed to research them for my long-term-should-be-married-but-we-are-not-yet-boyfriend. He was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and he is not exactly disciplined when it comes to restricting his diet. To help him out, we decided to get him a meal delivery service and make the new way of life transition a little easier.

I found a great site for comparing different services https://comparemealdelivery.com . This site lists out the top ten meal delivery services and what plans they offer as well as the pricing. There is one for every budget and most give you the option of pausing the subscription at any time.

Why do people choose meal delivery services?

-Time. Schedules often do not allow for you to go home daily and prepare a good meal, nor do they allow the luxury of prepping for the week.

-When comparing the cost to how much you spend at a fast food place – the price per meal beats it out nearly every time and is much more nutritionally geared towards a healthy lifestyle

-A week of meal service delivery compared to a week of groceries is compatible. You may even be saving a bit.

-Instructions on how to prepare the ingredients gives you new cooking experiences and you’ll find many new dishes to please your palate.

-You can opt for prepared meals that have already been portioned out. No guess work involved.

Personally, I enjoy going to pick out fresh fruits and vegetables. I love the experience of pulling a meal together ; including the chopping, dicing, preparing and all the little things involved. It brings me a sense of fulfilment. I love that these services exist for those who do not have that same passion as I do.

In conclusion, I would say, look into the meal delivery system. Its a great resource to assist on your journey to a happier, healthier you.

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Posted in Emotional Well-Being, Encouragement/Motivation

2025 The Pilgrimage Continues

Posted on by HeatherLynn

It is the final day of the year marking the end of one of the many legs of the journey to happier, healthier lifestyle.   To say it has been fraught with mishaps and complications would be dead-on accurate.   This journey, like life itself, will never be problem free and I accept that.  The unexpected will happen, the diversions, the temptations, the doubts and misgivings.   All that matters is that I have emerged at this end better than what I plunged in at!  

I am looking forward to continuing this journey.  Can I still call it a journey or is it something more epic now?  Should I call it more a like a personal pilgrimage?  Whatever I refer to this as, it is certainly a new way of life.     

What does the next twelve months have in store for me?  I honestly cannot tell you.   I can share with you my hopes, my goals, my intentions, and then life is going to step in and let me know what really is going to happen.   I accept that, this is why I do not make New Year’s Resolutions.   I understand there are just too many variables in my life that can throw me off track.  

This is what I’ll do :

  1. Recognize my weaknesses –   when I travel/visit relatives/ social gatherings   I have a lot of trouble staying on point with my eating habits.    I also found that I like to bake, but cannot resist the temptation of testing my results so I need to refrain from that activity.    
  1. Keep my Focus –   remind myself daily the reasoning behind my journey and the way I feel now verses the way I felt before starting.   
  1. Use the Apps – there are apps to help with Fasting, Tracking Exercise, Logging Food, and nearly anything you can think of.  USE THEM RELIGIOUSLY 
  1. Exercise at minimum 15-20 minutes a day.   This means a brisk walk if nothing else.   You should be trying to do more a few times a week, but the daily 15 is better than nothing at all.    
  1. Adhere to your schedule –  I drifted from my fasting schedule a few times and I’ve paid the price with a stubborn plateau.   Stick to your schedule.  
  1. Don’t let other people’s bad habits take you off course. –   If you live with someone who isn’t 100% supportive,  that is on them.   Stick to your guns and if they wish to eat and practice habits that do not coincide with your journey, do not enable them by getting them their “fixes” { junk food; processed food; candy; etc }  
  1. Look in the mirror every morning and give yourself a smile and say “Good Morning! Let’s do this! “  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

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Posted in Emotional Well-Being, Just a Thought

Learning to Redress Yourself

Posted on by HeatherLynn

At one point in the past, I was pushing past 400lb. mark on the scale, which meant that my clothing was not only plus-sized, but it was also super-plus-sized to accommodate the extra bulges.     I have wardrobe of clothing which reflects this very fact.    This brings me to the dilemma I now face.

My clothing is no longer suitable for the body I have now.    I’ve dropped a significant amount of weight and gone down several sizes.  This equals out to every piece of clothing I own looking baggy and unkempt when I put it on.  Shirts fall off my shoulders, pants constantly slip from my hips.  What continues to surprise me is when I pull a shirt from the realms of the dresser.  Those dark depths contain the shirts I liked but they were simply not big enough for me and I was unwilling to toss them.   I put them on now and they drape across me like a hastily hung blanket in the window.   It’s a refreshing surprise and one I am secretly loving every time it happens.     Motivation comes in all forms!

However, I had no choice but to return to the stores to rebuild a new wardrobe.

It started about four months ago, my rebuilding phase.  I held it off until then, knowing that I was still on my journey and numbers and sizes can still change.   I was clueless on my size at this point, so I decided a trip to Lane Bryant for new undergarments would be my first stop.   The ladies there took my measurements and let me know that I had indeed lost inches around the waistline, but my chest stubbornly remained the same robust size it had been for years.     With this information, I went to the local Walmart and bought a pair of inexpensive jeans, and I hit up Amazon for a few t-shirts.   It was summertime and those were the basic items that could get me by.   

What I am learning as I continue my journey is this, when it comes to your wardrobe:

1. Assess your current wardrobe. Put aside all clothing you know is way too big on you now.  Donate it or sell it.  Get it out of the house and make it so it is no longer an option.  We don’t save the close in case we get big again.  We are NOT going back.     Personally, I am hanging on to my jackets and hoodies, and a few heavier shirts for the Winter so I can layer properly.   

2. Choose correctly sized undergarments. I’m sure there is a scientific reason to do this, but I say do it because its far more comfortable.   Saggy underwear is uncomfortable and feels weird, a bra that is too big will make your shirts look lumpy.   Besides, new undergarments always make you feel good.

3. Grab essentials and staple pieces. Get a few things that will get you by.  A couple pairs of jeans, a few t-shirts, a nice dress shirt or two.   You’re still on your journey and clothing costs no matter what size you are.

4.  Look for sales.  Especially this time of the year.   Frequent the thrift shops and the discount stores.  You do not need to be spending hard earned money on clothing that is only going to be used for your transitioning period.   

5. Congratulate yourself for a job well done, but don’t stop moving, this is now your life!

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