Weight Loss | BulgingButtons

December 1, 2013
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

Scrapbooking and Fitness – When Worlds Collide {plus Fabulous Freebies}

Happy December! How odd to wake up with no pressure to post anything, no word count to worry about, no impending deadline looming. Yes, there’s lots of schoolwork to be caught up on waiting in my every present tote bag, but I’ll get it done. I aways do. Still, I had a few extra minutes to take my time as I read email, and I came across a gem by one of my favorite scrapbook divas of all time, Cathy Zielske. If her clean lines and graphic style aren’t enough to hook you, maybe her tag line on her blog will, “Taking the crap out of scrapbooking since 2001.” I love that.

Cathy has taught classes for quite a while, and I have been fortunate enough to take some of them. She has published books, and done all sorts of other super cool projects over the years. Well, this year she designed some terrific subway art printables for Christmas and Hanukkah (yay, cool Hanukkah stuff!) that she’s giving to her subscribers. In the email she also mentioned a class she’s teaching online at Big Picture Classes in January. The class? Move More Eat Well Jumpstart. Does the woman know her demographic or what?

Of course I had to click the link to check it out, and I have to say, for the $31 sale price I’m seriously tempted. It’s good eating, sensible movement, and cool scrapbooking in a motivating online community with a super cool real woman spearheading it. I could forgo a couple of Starbucks trips for that.

Here’s the thing, though, even if you don’t take that class, they have others, and some of them are FREE. How can you beat that? If you don’t like it or life gets in the way and you don’t finish it, NO GUILT. I love that! With holiday season here, maybe a quick class on organizing or streamlining techniques might be for you. There are also tons of e-books, and I downloaded a FREE one of those, too. Love it!

I swear, I get nothing for telling you about this super cool stuff, just the knowledge that maybe you’ll find something that tickles your fancy over there.

If anyone does sign up for the Jumpstart class, let me know. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a little group doing it together? I would like my buttons to bulge slightly less, and this might be a fun motivating way to get going again.

November 25, 2013
by BulgingButtons 11 Comments

When Pigs Fly

Flying pigs are kind of my thing. I have flying pig socks, flying pig yard art, and flying pig salt and pepper shakers. My Christmas tree has a few flying pig ornaments, there is a flying pig nightlight in my hallway, and there are flying pig magnets both on my fridge at home and my whiteboard at school. I even have a flying pig cookie jar and flying pig duct tape. Lest you think my home is terribly tacky, I assure you it is not. My flying pigs are refined and tasteful, and if you don’t like them, well, frankly I don’t care. They are for me, and I love them.

I don’t love them because I’m a particular fan of swine. I love them for what they represent. The old phrase, “when pigs fly” is a phrase of negativity. In other words, whatever you’re trying to do is impossible. For example, “I’ll get my novel finished when pigs fly.” Here’s another, “I’ll lose the weight when pigs fly.” Those little pigs with wings represent the squashing of all that negativity. Why not? Why not get that novel done? Why not lose that weight? Why always focus on what we can’t accomplish, and start believing in what we CAN accomplish. Pigs can’t fly? Rubbish. Have a little faith. They are flying all about us, if we take the time to notice them.

November 24, 2013
by BulgingButtons 18 Comments

Loving Leggings

Who says fat girls can’t wear cute clothes? We can, it’s just a matter of finding them, which can be quite a challenge. I’ve had some luck with Dress Barn for Women and Old Navy online (no plus sizes in the stores as far as I’m aware, still). Last month I was out of town and needed an outfit for a college reunion event. I headed over to Dress Barn and was pleasantly surprised to find a few pieces I liked that fit well. On a whim I grabbed a pair of black leggings, expecting to feel something like a sausage being squeezed into its casing. Surprisingly, I did not. I bought the leggings, along with a few other items, with the idea that I can wear them around the house during the cooler winter months.

Fast forward to now. The cooler weather has begun and I’m in the leggings. Yes, they’re great for lounging around the house with a giant t-shirt, but they have so much more potential than that. I’ve discovered that they look great with a long sweater and my cool ankle boots with the buckles the are usually hidden under jeans. Sometimes I even pull on a short black skirt over my leggings. That look takes me back to my college years, but I don’t think it looks too young for me now, as long as I don’t put a giant bow on my head and layer 23 black rubber bracelets up each arm. The leggings also look really good with a long coral peasant top and a pair of ballet flats. Finally, the cute v-neck swing style t-shirt and a pair of sneakers makes a sporty casual outfit. Woo hoo! I’m getting way more wear out of these than I anticipated.

The keys for me (and I would think for most fat girls) are as follows:

1. Make sure your leggings fit properly. Too tight and they may try to roll down, too loose and you’ll look wrinkly and weird. Either way you won’t look right and you’ll be uncomfortable.

2. Don’t wear leggings if you have giant legs. I’m fat, but I carry the majority of my weight around my belly. My legs, while not tiny, are shapely and not particularly jiggly.

3. Wear a long top. Yes, cover your entire butt. Even if you have a cute butt. Leave it to your jeans to show it off, not your leggings. They are meant to let your legs pop out from under your top, not expose every curve you have. Girly bits are not meant to be paraded around in public. If your top isn’t up to the challenge, go put on some real pants. Nobody wants to see that much of you, even if you aren’t fat.

4. As an alternative to wearing a long top, wear a short skirt. This will still cover up the butt and girly bits, and make the leggings look cute.