Skinnyshopping™

My sister and I went out this afternoon so I could pick up some shirts and a new pair of jeans that actually fit me.  And tonight I must report that I have a new favorite phrase and it is thus:  "Hmm, I think that shirt might be a little big on you."  What makes that statement so incredibly awesome is that the shirt in question was a MEDIUM. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not going to be caught dead in a size small shirt at 6 foot and 167 pounds (my nightclub days are pretty much over).  And it wasn't a suggestion that I am getting too skinny (very far from the case, as you will see in my upcoming 90 Day Finale photos).  But coming from having to buy XL and in some cases XXL just a few short months ago, it's an incredible feeling to be able to put on just about any shirt in the store and have it look, well, pretty damn good.  Buying clothes as a chubster was not a pleasant experience, at least for me.  When I was overweight I didn't have the best self-image so I avoided going clothes shopping unless I absolutely had to (I blasted the knees out of two pairs of big-boy jeans.  Repeatedly.  Patch, blast, repeat).  It was depressing.  I looked in the mirror in the dressing room and cringed because I had a spectacular cornice of muffintop blubber hanging over the waisband of the size 38 jeans I was trying on.  Nobody wants to see that, least of all me.  I had to buy the big boy shirts so that nobody could see that curvy silhouette of fat when I moved.  I was THIS close to elastic waistbands.

But tonight I became as a kid in a candy store.  I bought several pairs of jeans and a bunch of shirts that FINALLY fit me just like the guy in the catalog and not like a plump and misshapen blob struggling to cover the rolls with acres of extra fabric.

And yes, the jeans are 32 in the waist (and 32 in length, just so you know in case you are looking for something to get me for my upcoming birthday).  Gloriously loose and very nicely-fitting 32's, thank-you-very-much.  Tony Horton's lunge-squat combos are great for the good old lower body.

So I call all of this purchasing joy Skinnyshopping™.  Finding clothes that fit well is no longer an exercise in grief and suffering that usually ends with nothing being purchased followed by a comforting trip to China Garden Buffet or Pizza Hut.  It's now a wonderful celebration of joy, happiness, and self-confidence.

Also, on pretty much the same note, we had a big pool outing today as well.  I took off my shirt with no hesitation when we got to the pool and wasn't self-conscious walking around in just my Speedos (just kidding, they were board shorts).  I felt like a different person.  [I have a farmer's tan from work but now when I take my shirt off instead of looking like a tan guy wearing a white tee-shirt with nipples painted on it, I look like a tan guy wearing a red tee-shirt with nipples painted on it.  A red shirt that stings.  I guess I forgot about the sunscreen.]

That's what this is all about.  Add to all of the above the fact that I walk up a giant escalator at the mall taking two steps at a time and find that I am not breathing heavy at all when I get to the top, I play for hours in the pool giving dolphin rides to a 3 year-old without tiring ("no, swim THAT way, Uncle Bubby!"), I have people tell me that they think I am 24 to 27 years old, and I can do more push ups than my waist size or, hell, my AGE (which is higher than 24 or 32, by the way).

"Things are happening," as Tony says.  Yeah, things are getting good is what's happening. 

I knew this was a good idea.

Comments

[Force Trainer]

Very nice job Prophet. I'm sure picking up what appeared to be teeny tiny pieces of clothing and having them still be big on you was really nice.

I'm having the same issues as well - my belts are running out of holes :)

[Prophet]

That's the first sign right there: "whoa, hey, I seem to remember there being an extra two holes to go on my belt. Where's my leather punch?!"

[dan]

finally my inside the belt holster fits with plenty of room to breathe.