Though I have not yet reached my weight loss goal, a few months ago I passed an important threshold: I was no longer considered clinically “obese.” It is so easy to become complacent when you’re going through big changes, and I didn’t want to come so far only to stay focused on how far I had yet to go. Though there are actually innumerable things I don’t miss about being obese, there are eight specific ones I have been deeply aware of over the last few months.
1. Wearing plus-size clothes
There’s nothing like walking into a store and passing racks and racks of stylish, sassy clothes, until, at the back of the store (I think they assume we don’t want to be seen looking at the size 20s) you reach the plus size rack. Suddenly the clothes are no longer so stylish and not at all sassy. As with pregnant women, clothing companies seem to think that larger-sized women want to look like prissy little girls with high lace collars and empire waists. I mean, a larger woman wouldn’t want to look sexy, would she? Heaven forbid!
But buying clothes in sizes that end in X (1X, 2X, 3X) feels so…shameful. The stores only reinforce this by banishing us to the back of the store and limiting us to infantilized or tent-like clothing. The latest styles are never available in larger sizes and God forbid you want a pair of knee-high boots and happen to have voluptuous calves. (Unfortunately I still had that challenge when I was a size 3. I’m blessed with calves like tree-trunks.)
This situation has been getting better: There are more and more somewhat stylish clothes coming out in plus, mainly because the companies realized how much money they could be making. But we still have a long way to go. I mean, can’t we all be on the same rack? From small to large and beyond? Why must we get ghettoized? Can I get an amen, sisters?
2. My big fat embedded wedding ring
For years my wedding ring was embedded into my body. Literally. I gained weight in and around it, until it was indented into the flesh of my left ring finger. Not only could I not take it off, but it changed the actual structure of my digit. Sometimes I would lie in bed at night in a claustrophobic panic thinking about how that gold band was trapped on my finger. I had no desire to take my ring off permanently, I just wanted the option of removing it during a manicure, for instance, or when putting on hand cream – like a normal woman. I can take it off now, but I find I no longer want to. And it rattles around a bit, as the flesh is forever indented.
Article comments
1 - diana
I really enjoy the articles you've been writing about this. They're very helpful because they're real and sincere. Thank you very much!
2 - Tracy
Excellent! You really are an inspiration and I love being a part of your journey.
3 - Ann Cardinal
Thank you both. I so appreciate your kind words. The fact that they are real and sincere, Diana, is what makes them hard to write, but readers like you and Tracy have been so supportive I feel safe sharing them.
4 - Mary
Just awesome Ann! Love your genuine words. Hoping my darn knee and suddenly crumbling body gets over itself and I can get back to the junkies sooon!
5 - Erin Hagar
Wonderful! It's the emotional aspect about weight loss that makes it so damn hard, and you nail it with every blog post! Kudos, and keep them coming.
6 - Ann Cardinal
Thank you Mary and Erin! It is feedback like this that inspires me to the next post! You rock!
7 - lil
I weigh around 240lbs, and your article is inspiring. I am constantly trying to diet, but never seem to stick to it. Hopefully I'll follow your lead and get my weight down. Well done on your achievement. xo
8 - Ann Cardinal
Lil, in 2011 I was 232 so I was right there with you. You don't even have to eat less, just better! I'm never hungry as i eat every three hours. The cravings for sugar and simple carbs (my favorites) go away, I promise, and from there the weight loss is easier.
You can do it!