Faithy's Diary

[Faithy]

Yeah, weird huh??!! Who would have thought.. I hope the scales are a little nicer to me, even though my breath will stink LOL (J/K)

Well today I am somewhat depressed.

I went emergency shopping today for something to wear. I sing for worship at our church (kind of like Hillsong) & I'm on tomorrow morning & I realised when I woke this morning that I have NOTHING to wear. I have a pair of black pants that fit OK, but as far as the top half all I have is jumpers & jackets that fit great, but the weather here is stinking hot.
I have this really pretty green top but it has shoe string straps & there is NO WAY I'm ready to wear it without something covering the top half of my arms. Everything else summery is either a 20 or a 26, all of which now look incredibly stupid on me.

I went shopping with my hubby today & found it so incredibly hard. I bought 2 t-shirts which awesomely enough are a size 16 but as for something a little bit more dressy I had no luck. I'm smack bang in the middle of big ladies clothes & what most people would consider normal people's clothes.

Have you noticed that the big ladies clothes designers just don't know how to design for bigger women? I found all these gorgeous tops with shoe string straps for bigger ladies, but like with arms like mine, as if you'd wear them.

Tomorrow I'm guessing I'll have to wear something in a 20 & hope it doesn't look to ridiculous .. either that or we get a cold snap..

Sorry for the whinge.. I just can't get over how uptight I am about it :P

[Kohinoor]

Hi Faithy,

I sincerely hope you managed to work things out on the weekend. I'm sure you did.....

But I just had a further thought re this (after reading HOW HARD it is to buy clothes "in between" overweight and normal sizes

Just the thought of being able to walk in to any 'normal' clothes shop & buy things that 'normal' people wear is almost too much.. I cant remember the last time I did that.

Well, it just struck me that you are looking down the barrel of a GREAT opportunity .... it's called "after Christmas Sales" !!! I KNOW they may not fit you for long, but then, you could choose to buy up to 3 sizes down - and at a huge discount !!!! Woohoo!!! And that opportunity is less than SIX weeks away now.

I dunno how you will get through between now and then, but DO prepare yourself for "THEN" - you can score big-time.

Hey, I'm a bloke - so it makes sense to me (but then, maybe the sales are all "last years fashions" - I don't know much about that stuff - it just seemed to make sense so I thought I'd share it ..... FWIW)

Koh

[Kristine..]

Originally Posted by Faithy

Tomorrow I'm guessing I'll have to wear something in a 20 & hope it doesn't look to ridiculous .. either that or we get a cold snap..

Hi Faithy

You know what you will look like tomorrow when you stand up to sing - a size 16 person in size 20+ clothes?

A Person of Faith, that's what you will look like!

You will look so amazing, because you will be the living example of what can be done if you will just put your mind to it (and the power of Cohen's genius!)

Wear your loose, too big clothes with pride. Show other people the thrill of what you have done and what you are determined to achieve.

When I was in the final stages of Cohen's, and I was wearing braces to hold my pants up, I used to go up to people and say 'Wanna see how much I've lost so far?', hitch up my shirt and pull out my trousers so they could see how much weight I really had lost.

Any idea of how many people joined up with Cohen's because of me and my baggy pants? Quite a few. Like to guess how many will join up when they realise how much weight you have already lost and what a transformed woman you are?

So don't think that you should disguise what you are doing. Be proud of it and let people know that there are many blessings in life and Cohen's is one of them!

Lotsa love

Kristine

[isha]

I think i agree with Christine dont be ashamed of your bigger clothes wear them with pride you can then show people hey look this is what i've done it ,amazing what belt s,sashs etc can do.
Do you sew, another thing is take them in my mother inlaw is brilliant with a sewing machine and she takes things in for me most time its the waist first, then legs etc. I am abit more fussy about shirts though and tend to get smaller sizes in them unless home clothes than they can hang off me all they like. But i do have a wardrobe that ranges from a 20 - large 26 cause my weight has flauctuated that much over the last 3 years so i've got it covered till then.
But do one thing don't be afraid to try smaller sizes then you are. Most times you think your bigger then you are till you try them on and see the difference. Slightly tighter would not hurt especially with the way the weight keeps coming off 2-3weeks and they'll fit perfectly if not be getting to big.
Congrats Faithy you are doing brilliantly

[pandora]

Hi Faithy, fantastic success so far. I have an even better idea re the fact the no one has a clue how to design clothes for plus size women. Now that sounds like a business opportunity waiting to happen! Maybe you are the one to do it!

Also, have you heard of Undercoverwear? They do party plan fashionable ladies clothes not just nice lingerie (dont confuse with the other co that sells sex stuff etc!!). I used to sell the clothes and they are particularly popular with bigger ladies who couldnt stand having to try on clothes in fitting rooms and couldnt get nice lingerie in up to size 26. . The sizes start at adult size 6 and go all the way up to size 26/28. That means the size 6 - 3/4 jeans i ordered last week (cos they are stretch material and VERY flattering), also come in a size 26 and all sizes in between! Check the co out, dont need to have a party, can order direct through company, can see clothes online now at undercoverwear.com.au. They are Sydney based. You can exchange all clothes if they are not right fit OR style, what is there to loose! I sold the same full length jeans from size 6 right up to size 24 and everyone loved them! I also sold a very pretty white chiffon lingerie set meant for a bride but ok for all, to several women over a size 20, complete with "V" string (a new one on me!) and they were over 60 yrs old, with one lady buying the set for her honeymoon and she was 81 yrs old!! How lovely i thought! Pandora

[Faithy]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions.. they are all good ones.. I unfortunately dont sew.. what I have been doing is selling my bigger clothes on ebay & then using that money for buying new stuff.

Kristine, you made me laugh.. sorry :P/.. I was just imagining myself walking around with braces & showing everyone how big my pants are.. it's a pretty cool idea though.. I've been told my pants look like I've had an accident in my rear end, they hang down so low in the butt ..

Koh.. I was blessed with cooler weather that day, so my trusty black pants (which aren't too bad) & a gorgeous cardigan worked wonders.. I had HEAPS of people come up to me afterwards.. it's pretty awesome, but at the same time I'm beginning to wonder if people can hold a conversation with me other than my diet )
I know you're 'ONLY' a guy, but I appreciate your advice.. fashion does play a small part, but I'm not a slave to it.. seriously, being so incredibly big for so long I wasn't able to choose the "in" fashion.. but I always tried to look nice.

Pandora.. Yeah I have heard of them.. they have some pretty cool stuff.. I have thought about designing clothes for bigger ladies.. I just wish I could sew.. maybe I should get my daughter to help:P

Isha.. I have NEVER thought of wearing belts, but perhaps I should.. why not??!! All of a sudden all these different doors are opening..


Oh one thing.. don't know if you guys will find this funny or not.. I reealised today I still walk like a fat person .. even my hubby made a comment (lovingly of course)..

I'm guessing that when you've been big for so long you're not going to change that part of yourself over night.... it's hard to explain but I kind of get around looking all clumsy like..

Anyway...

[Faithy]

I had my weigh in today. I lost another 6.1 kilos.. WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ropemaha]

whoa faithy, that is fantastic. you have lost so much, you must feel like a brand new woman

yr an inspiration mate.

cheers penny

[hexi2]

WOW 2/3rd of your journey completed!! How fantastic are you!

[Faithy]

Thanks Hey ..

I do feel like a brand new woman, pretty much every week

Nearly there

[Kohinoor]

Hi Faithy,

I had my weigh in today. I lost another 6.1 kilos..

Woohooo !!! You are giving yourself the BEST GIFT, Faithy - so well done you, not long to go now....

Koh

[Faithy]

Thanks Koh
It feels so good

[meagain]

Oh my goodness - you go girl!

[mamabear7]

You are an inspiration to us all. Your before and after shots are going to be amazing.

Kate

[Faithy]

Thank you

Yeah I'm tempted to put before & after pics up.. I dont think I'm quite ready yet..

[ropemaha]

oh do post the photos, everyone is so amazed at yr efforts.

truly i just am stunned at yr progress.

i really cant wait to post something like you just said....'nearly there'

oh yeah thats gonna be a good day.

way to go faithy

cheers pen

[pandora]

Remarkable success Faithy. And would love to see yr pictures. Why not do what i did, before and "almost after" shots. That way you can update when you are at goal and we can cheer you on from now until the soon to be end! Pandora

[HAILS_WANTS_2_B_THIN]

I agree photo are great inspiration for all of us and help you visualise the end result. I am planning to put some up but havent had a chance to take photos yet.

[Faithy]

OK, I just 'might' ..

I have before photos & half way so this weekend I'll work on taking 2/3 of the way there pics.
I was a little upset, my hubby had taken before shots loaded them on to the computer & then about 2 weeks later the computer died, we lost them all. I do have a few pics of me on the beach but they aren't the best, but you do kind of get the gist.

I bought my first 'official' normal size clothing today. I bought this gorgeous kaftan type top in a 16. I actually thought that there was NO WAY it was going to fit me, especially around my hips.. but once I got home & tried it on I found much to my delight that it does fit!!!!!!!!!!!!

I manage to wear 16's from the big lady's clothes shops quite easily, but the 16s from 'normal' clothing stores have been a long way off from fitting me.. till now!!!!!!!

This is a HUGE milestone for me.. I'm sooooooo excited!!!!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Faithy,

I bought my first 'official' normal size clothing today. I bought this gorgeous kaftan type top in a 16.

.....the 16s from 'normal' clothing stores have been a long way off from fitting me.. till now!!!!!!!

This is a HUGE milestone for me.. I'm sooooooo excited!!!!

Awesome stuff, Faith - you, that is - you are such an inspiring girl. You may need to recheck your height - sounds like you are ten feet tall today ;D

You are staying true to yourself, Faith, and are reaping the rewards. In so doing, you are keeping that "calendar" right on track too (how good is THAT going to be in March 08??? Exciting like today, but even better? !!)

I just love reading your posts, Faith - you just keep going from strength to strength - onya girl. At the rate you are going, you may even get a bit AHEAD of the calendar

Wheee !! What if you DO get ahead of it? How would THAT be? It is possible, especially with you pumping as you are. Keep those spirits high girl and we may need to upgrade the calendar to KEEP UP WITH YOU !!! Woohooo !!!!

Keep on girl - you are nearly at the stadium now (you are starting to hear the crowd in the distance - they are waiting for you..... )

Koh