After we came back from church yesterday morning, John said, “That skirt has a belt. You never would have worn a skirt with a belt when you were heavy.” I agreed with him, because of course that was true. First of all, I’m not sure I could have found a belt over 50 inches long, and second of all, the thought of belting anything around my middle was a little bit scary back then. (This is the skirt.)
Although many styles these days don’t call for belts, the concept of being able to comfortably wear a belt for ladies and not have your belt slide down under your belly button for a man is important. Medically important as well as aesthetically important. There have been several studies that draw the correlation between waist size and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Dr. Oz, women should have waists under 35″ and men under 40″.
As I lost weight, wearing a belt was one of my goals. The first belt I wore was an old one of John’s. I slid it through my brand new pair of size 18 pants and buckled it up. I was amazed how a small piece of leather made me feel more put together and smaller. I eventually got too small for John’s belts and had to buy some of my own. Each time I buckled it around my waist I felt a little bit happy.
When I bought this skirt last year, I was reminded how proud I had been of myself when I could buckle a belt and wear a shirt tucked in. It’s a feeling that is still very present – even after almost 13 years of weight maintenance.
Belts, more flattering clothes, increased self-confidence and reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases are all great reasons to never give up on your quest to get healthier. As these holidays come closer and closer, think about using some of these tangible measurements to help you stay focused on your long-term goal. Really think whether those extra treats are worth the possibility of adding extra inches onto your waistline and all the other ramifications of gaining weight.
What tools will you use this week to keep you focused on your health? Ever had a new belt experience? Diane
I can’t wait to experience the joy of wearing a belt. I’n not there yet but I’m sure that it will come soon. I’m working towards this goal aswell.
You look good in this photo and thank you for the info from Dr Oz about how big a woman’s waist must be.
blackhuff´s last fabulous musings ..Remembering how I got here
To help me through the holidays, I started working on cultivating the habit of asking myself, “am I hungry?” and “what am I hungry for?” prior to putting one bite of ANYTHING in my mouth. I’m hoping to eliminate the practice of stuffing myself and then realizing that I’ve done that AFTER the fact. This is much harder than I thought it would be and has reminded me how much of a mindless eater I really am.
Sharon´s last fabulous musings ..Blue Moon
For me it is going to be a reminder of how food was treated n the days before rampant obesity and an epidemic of other modern diseases. Thanksgiving as a harvest festival rather than a food orgy.
Diane´s last fabulous musings ..Fruit from the past
I will use the same tools as always exercising, measuring what I eat, daily weigh ins wearing clothes that fit and are not baggy keeping the focus on gratitude and not the food.
your post made me smile.
I remember, vividly, the first time I was able to comfortably wear a pair of ‘real’ pants with a belt and my shirt tucked. And really, that feeling never goes away, it is still there each time I dress in ‘real’ clothes.
vickie´s last fabulous musings ..Monday Quote and Thanksgiving hints
Diane, you look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I usually don’t have probs anymore with holidays.. years of practice!
I plan for what I really want, a treat, and eat healthy the rest of the time. I don’t miss my workouts either.
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Travel-Carry Baggage
I like your skirt!
Several years ago, I stopped wearing baggy clothes (so I could eat more) to holiday parties. Wearing form fitting clothes really helps me to not overeat…
Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last fabulous musings ..Weekend Fun and Tasty Salmon Salad
This post and its reference to wearing belts really struck a chord with me. I feel like I have spent most of my adult life not being able to wear what I would like to wear. I love the belts that are so in style right now! It may seem like a small thing, but having to dress to camouflage weight is so exhausting and depressing, and EXPENSIVE! I’m often looking for something that is just right for a particular occasion, with the added pressure of having to choose something slimming. I buy more clothes now that I would if I were thin! The positive–I’m working on this, and going in the right direction! Great post!
Jane´s last fabulous musings ..My Hot 100 Update and Some Things I Learned This Week While Traveling
Diane, you look smashing in that skirt!
I think the biggest tool I’ll use to keep myself on track this week is my schedule. I’ll keep doing my scheduled workouts and having my usual scheduled meals and snacks as much as I can. Thanksgiving will be just one meal. The rest of the meals this week will be as usual.
Desert Agave´s last fabulous musings ..Social Sunday
The belt experience was one of my first NSVs. As a man, I always wear a belt with dress clothes, but with a big belly, I rarely saw it. One day, I was wearing an outfit I’ve worn many times before, but somehow it looked more coordinated. Then I noticed that my belt and shoes matched…and that you could see them!
Oh, that is just too true! I was so happy when I could wear belts again!
Stacy´s last fabulous musings ..The white-trash fish tank
What a great story, and you look fantastic in that skirt! I totally get the whole belt thing, or even the tucked-in shirt idea. We tend (I tend) to leave my shirts untucked when I’m feeling especially chubby – I mean who wants to accentuate that, right? Right now, I have a pair of old jeans hanging on my curtain rod waiting to be worn once again. I’ll probably only wear it once or twice before I buy something that doesn’t scream “out of fashion!” This week, I am mentally treating Thanksgiving like any other meal, so I won’t gain weight. I am right on the cusp of a number, and my goal is to break through it by the end of November, and a big meal is not going to get in my way (weigh, har har).
BlessedMama´s last fabulous musings ..Pumpkin and Kale Quesadillas
My strategy for this week is to not make too much more than we need for Thanksgiving dinner. There will be seven people at our table and I’m trying to only cook enough for that day and maybe one or two days of leftovers (my husband loves leftovers of Thanksgiving for a bit). Used to I cooked WAY too much, but not this year. We are also going to do some baking early and make packages up for some single men in our church who enjoy baked goods, but don’t get them too often. Again, though, I’m not making tons – just enough.
Great story! I know buying a 16 skirt recently and having it fit was a “belt moment” for me. The day I’m comfortable tucking in a shirt and wearing a belt will really be a joyous occasion!!
Have a great week!
Leah´s last fabulous musings ..Thankful Days – Womanhood
What a great reminder. You look awesome in that cute skirt by the way. I can’t wait to get out of these “fat” clothes and into something cute.
thin100´s last fabulous musings ..A REAL treat
I would never have thought about a belt being such a wonderful thing to be able to wear. It makes perfect sense though and I love the confidence it brings out in you!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun´s last fabulous musings ..back to life with good surprises
I remember the first time I wore a belt. I was shocked that it stayed on and didn’t cut off my circulation.
Now I love being able to wear those cute belts across shirts just for the heck of it and enjoying my WAIST!!!
Cute outfit! I am curious about the waist sizes that Dr. Oz mentioned. I understand that a larger waist size is in correlation to heart disease. However, I would question the range he has given. Women are supposed to have at least (but could have more and still be healthy) 10-13% body fat and men are supposed to have 2-5% body fat for living and reproduction. If men are supposed to have less fat than women, I am not sure the waist size should automatically be smaller. Also, height should be taken into consideration as well.
I am not questioning you or this post; I think it’s a great reminder and a valuable lesson. But maybe Dr. Oz may have skewed his numbers a bit!
Shawnee´s last fabulous musings ..Date Night Giveaway
You look terrific in that outfit! I actually had to give away a couple belts I bought in the middle of my weight loss as they no longer fit.
I do have a side note. I see evidence that America is getting heftier when I buy belts. I’m five feet tall but even post-weight loss, I’ve thickened in the midsection thanks to being in my 40s as opposed to 20 years ago. I have a 24 inch waist, 25 around the navel…. in my 20s, I had a 22 inch waist. (I’m not complaining–30 pounds heavier, I had a 30 inch waist–scary!)
And when I was in my 20s, with that 22 inch waist, I would buy a size small belt and the holes I used were in the middle of the holes. In my mid-40s, I’m having to punch extra holes in size small belts to make them fit–with a larger waist. This tells me that the average waist size has gone up so the “small” waist of today is probably a medium from 20 years ago. And so on…
Note to Shawnee: A woman’s “waist” and a man’s “waist” are at different points on the body. A woman has a naturally narrowing part of the body below the ribcage, above the navel, where one “nips in” if one has an hourglass shape, where we measure our “waist.”
A man doesn’t have that–they measure where the waistband/belt of the pants goes, BELOW the navel, at around the pelvic bones. If a woman measured there, it would be several inches larger than the waist–in fact, my below-the-navel belly measurement is 4 inches larger than my waist (and I’m petite) so I think the around-the-bones measurement would be larger.
More useful than the absolute number (since what’s appropriate on someone five feet tall and six foot five is very different!) is the waist-hip ratio–
Men should have a ratio of 0.95 or below, and women should have a ration of 0.80 or below, measuring the waist below the women’s usual point, at the navel itself, and the hips at the largest point of the buttocks (which may NOT be the larges point of your hips if you’re a woman–do not measure where the “saddlebags” are).
Belts are terrific! I think they can also help you to gauge fullness. Who wants to have their stomach squeezed as they try to eat more food?
I don’t have any belts currently, but I’m going to start looking for some–even if I can’t wear them all the time.
Michelle´s last fabulous musings ..Pumpkins
You are so cute! I love that you can now wear a belt! I enjoy wearing fitted clothes that show off my figure. I am pretty short waisted so belts are not so flattering on my body. However since jeans are now sitting lower on the hip if I wear something tucked in it works for me!
I plan on enjoying my holiday meal within reason, taking a little bit of the foods I truly enjoy, including a slice of my lower fat pumpkin pie and a dollop of real whipped cream! One meal does not make one fat! It is what you do before and after that meal that counts.
I intend to exercise as usual that day, eat in moderation and make the next day a normal healthy eating day!
I am only going to wear pants with a fitted waistband. That way, I’m reminded of exactly where my body is, and what I am doing to it!
JourneyBeyondSurvival´s last fabulous musings ..Grateful
Kudos on your skirt/belt ensemble.
It was really cool when I could wear the belts that I had because they were useful holding up my newly too big pants.
Love the belt!!
Staci´s last fabulous musings ..Changing It Up
For me it has been just the opposite. Because of my body shape while fat, I had to wear a belt to keep my pants up – even when they were tight. It is nice to not have to wear a belt now.