Body Image, Weight Loss & Dressing for your Body

Y'all, I'm going through a fashion identity crisis. I've lost 15 lbs since last year and suffer from a severe case of disillusion. While I KNOW I have curves, I keep dressing like I have the body of Nicole Richie. My inner force wants nothing more than to drape myself in big, shapeless clothes. Case in point: My fur vest.

Left: 15 lbs lighter, but styled wrong

Right: 15 lbs heavier, but style right

Last weekend I was rocking one of my favorite vests, but seeing how it photographed made me think about retiring it. I was like, what the french toast? I felt uber cute in it... but yeah, it wasn't a winning look. Just as I was about to throw it in a fire, I remembered that I HAD actually rocked it with a summer dress and it was the best thing ever. So, I quickly proved to myself that styling is everything and I must always dress for my body... this body... that I currently have.

I'm sure it's common to lose weight, yet be slow to transition into a new, smaller wardrobe... and that's the place I'm in. I'm slowly realizing, or maybe finally accepting that I need to make some tweaks to what I rock. Can Iyanla come fix my closet? Or better yet... I just need a few power shopping sessions with the homie Sexy and the Chi. She would NEVER steer me wrong lol.

Anyways, all of this is to say that ladies, if you've done the work to shed some lbs, the icing on the cake is embracing your body and dressing for it! And by "it" I mean the body you have right now, this very minute. Although I'm not completely done with my fitness journey (I'm still working towards shedding about 7% body fat), the 15 lbs I've dropped so far is a big deal. It's time to really pay attention to what I'm buying, how I'm styling it, and looking my best each and every day. Oh, and I really need a full length mirror lol. Time to make a trip to IKEA.

Losing Weight for my 30th Birthday

A few months ago I decided that I needed to get back on the fitness wagon, but this time not focus on trying to drop X amount of lbs or fit into Y outfit. I wanted to set realistic goals and create a lifestyle change. My good friend Sexy and the Chi told me that things get REAL after 30 and I better be at my ideal weight before I join the club.

I decided that I wanted to reach my target weight by my 29th birthday (next month) and maintain it for a full year leading up to my 30th birthday next year. I knew it wouldn't necessarily be "easy" to drop the extra weight, but I made a commitment to shed some lbs.

I started in December 2012 and as of my last weigh in a few weeks ago had dropped 11 lbs, 3% body fat, and regained my jaw line lol. Operation "save my face" has been a success thus far!

Some of the key elements I introduced to aid in my journey:

1) Personal Trainer
2) Heart Rate Monitor
3) My Fitness Pal app

I'll be doing a few blog posts and probably 1-2 YouTube videos detailing my progress and experiences thus far! Everyone wants to get on their "Kanye workout plan" for the summer, but what about having something well rounded for the entire year? I mean, Chicagoans especially tend to give ourselves a pass at gaining during the winter and then working like slaves to get ready for the few months we have to frolic during the summer. None of that equals a healthy lifestyle.

Have you introduced any new things into your diet/fitness routine?