Feeling Beautiful While on your Weight Loss Regimen
 

i'm a newbie, and i believe there are only females on this site?
forgive me if i'm wrong

anyway I have some advice that I would like to share with you all, and this advice may cost you but i recommend budgeting it out

my husband has noticed a 360 degree change in my attitude and he absolutely loves it! So do my kids!

I have definitely started focusing on me again! I put myself first...
Now normally that would include shopping for clothes but since I'm trying to get my size down by the FALL that would totally defeat my purpose if I went out and splurged on clothes!!!!

So, here's what I do to cheer myself up and prepare for my COL(Change of Life)

1. Make appointments and visit my hairstylist atleast 2 times per month(this may sort of defeat my whole purpose b/c i am in the gym atleast 5-6 days per week but this is a must and has led me towards self improvement)
2. Shop for jewerly (costume ladies!!) I have since bought about 15 different pairs of earrings, bracelets, necklaces...you name it
3. Purse shopping (a girl can N E V E R) have enuf handbags
4. Bi-Weekly Pedicure/Manicure
5. Shoe shopping (now if you expect your shoe size to go down after losing i wouldn't recommend, right now I am window shopping for a good pair of sneakers to wear to the gym because mine are atleast 3 years old and worn down....pumps will come later as the weight loss increases)

:o :) :)

I do believe there are a few guys here too.
You seem to have awonderful attitude towards your chang of life . I Think I will try some of the things you sugest it will definately help me to feel prettier.
I am also putting of clothes shopping as long as I can, I love new clothes so they will be a great reward for me when I get close to my goal. Jewlery sounds nice. and I haven had my hair done in years.

Those are great goals!! Woo hoo to you on staying sunny while losing weight! :D

However, doesn't that add up to a lot of money? Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but it does sound kinda pricey... Just my 0.02

I agree, it's great to put some controls in place to remind yourself that you need to come first some of the time (especially being a wife and mother), but I am far too pragmatic to spend that much time and money on self-care.

I allow myself to buy a lot of used clothing from thrift stores while dropping sizes quickly. Except bras, though. I need to have new bras, and a good bra makes *all* the difference.

Is nice to reward yourself for your effort but i prefer a most economic way. Just to feel like i`m loosing weight and in fiting in my old clothes is enough for me

TAke care

ISa

I don't have any old clothes to fit into! I have been fat too long! I will settle for having my old clothes too big. But since most have elastic waists (ugh!) I can run a quick seam or two to help things out.
My weakness are purses, Stone Mountain leather bags to be exact. My sister and I have the same mania so we always know what to buy one another. We have gotten very good over the years at picking out just the bag the other will love. And it is soooo much fun! :)

slenderapproach,

I couldn't agree more. No matter how you do it, the most important thing to feel, is that you are beautiful and feminine. This is true no matter where you are in your journey!

Cheers,

I'm not buying any clothes, either......but I do get a thrill walking around Kohls and imagining myself wearing those capris or that really cute shirt. I also know that this time around, I will be in that size M :)

What I decided to do is this.....every ten pounds I treat myself to something femine. My first ten I went to Sephora and bought a lipstick. My second ten? Maybe a manicure, I have *never* had one before.

I think a lot of women after gaining weight stop trying to be pretty, or at least that was me. No pretty bras, no makeup, and cute clothes -- Ha! Forget it! Each little thing I do is like reminding myself that I am worth the effort. Frankly, I wish now that I always paid this much attention to myself. I have a sneaky suspicion that if I had, I wouldn't be trying to lose 50lbs now ;)
Nancy

I think what's important is the taking care of yourself. That it needs to be costume jewelry, purses, manicures, and pedicures? No, not for me.

yeah i agree with all of you
actually most of my $$$ use to go to food
so now that i'm eating differently i have somewhere else to channel all that into!

the buffet use to be where i treated myself!!!
now, if i go to a buffet, it's with someone and i don't get more than a plate and a 1/2..... :)

I am a size 18-20 now. I think what I want to do is go to Goodwill (our GW has some really cute stuff, most of the rich people in the area donate to our GW) and buy me one really cute pair of size 16 jeans, and a cute blouse to go with it. Hang it on my wall, and when I can squeeze my butt into that, I want to do the same thing with a size 14, then a 12 and so on... make it like a mini-goal incentive / reward.... What do you think of my idea?

I think it's a great idea to reward yourself, and to remind yourself to put YOU at number one for once..
For those of you that were worried about the economics of some rewards, you need not be! I'm a uni student (hence dirt broke!) and I still manage to treat myself without breaking the bank... I've saved my high cost awards for the big milestones and give myself small, often free, treats along the way :)
I have a container in my bedroom, filled with great surprises: when I need a treat, I just stick my hand in and pull out:

candlelit dinners at home (where you don't cook for once! - My partner helps out with this)
massages (even a small foot massage does wonders! - My partner helps out a lot with this too)
going to the library: reading the latest mags without having to fork out the money for them, or getting into the latest great read (Borders are also great for this).
Giving myself a pedicure/manicure
Giving myself a makeover: new hairstyle or try that daring new way of wearing makeup
Having a movie night at home (often with dvds I already own)

Hope this helps some of you to splurge on yourself without the financial burden, and happy losing! :)

PS Heather, I think your idea is fantastic: gives you that constant visual reminder of your goal. I think I'll do that this week!!

xox

I agree, you have to make yourself feel pretty - attitude makes all the difference to weight loss success. Feeling pretty means different things to different people though. For some, it's clothes, shoes, manicures, etc. (ie. $$$). But even simple things like spending a little more time on your grooming can make a difference to how you feel about yourself. Have a long bubble bath, then slather yourself in lotion, do a home manicure (or have a friend over, and do each other's nails), "do" your hair (whatever that involves for you) every day, slap on a bit of mascara, even if you're not going out. Whatever makes you feel good about your body.

It's all about feeling good in your skin. Whatever makes that happen for you, do it!

I like to make beaded bracelets and necklaces. That's a real lift for me - wearing something I made myself. Sort of like wearing the body I made for myself - with exercise and eating right. :D

There are a couple of us guys. :) 3FC is simply the best forum I've found and all the ladies have been quite welcoming.

I have been readin everyones posts in this thread and I soooo agree that we all need to feel nice , it makes te task at hand soooo much easier IMO . But , I do not think it is always about splurging and spending money . I for one can admit that I cannot spen that kind of money on myself for the hair and nails and all . I have three small children and they need things , I always seem to put myself last . However , what I have found that helps me , that doesnt really cost much money ..........I make myself get up and get dressed into jeans and a decent shirt , put on a little makeup and actually just do my own hair . I find that even if I am sitting home with kids , that extra effort that I put into myself , makes me hae alittle more pride . Its easy to slip and eat just alittle of thi or alitle of that when you are bummin around it crappy sweats ......I dont know if this will help anyone ( who like me doesnt have the money to splurge ) . This is a splurge of my time , but the results of spending the time to look nice , make me feel nice .

I agree. When I get up in the morning, get dressed and get myself ready to face the day, I do so much better with my eating than if I'm having a sloth day. :)

wow kind of feel like i'm being attacked? just a little but i can understand where everyone is coming from.
Maybe I should have given more background on where I'm coming from. I have two children, and a husband who for the past few years have received all of my attention, every second of the day......
And it took me to this point, of wanting to take care of myself physically, to start wanting to also do more for myself.
And in terms of spending...I'm a spend thrift.
It's just that in the past all of my $$ has gone to things for them while the only $ i ever spent on myself was for food....my "treats" to myself would be going to the mall for a meal, going to the market to buy my favorite junk foods....that type of thing!
I had almost lost myself and forgot to do things which made me happy OTHER than food.....
so i was just sharing that to anyone who also found that they lost a little of themselves....
this may not apply to you....but when i was younger and much smaller, YES, i didn't mind spending an extra $50 a week on myself.....
i'm not talking $1000s of dollars here.....
but carry on.....

I'm sorry that you feel attacked.

Your original post seemed to me to be a suggestion to everyone ("anyway I have some advice that I would like to share with you all, and this advice may cost you but i recommend budgeting it out"), and probably that's why some responses said "no, that doesn't work for me."

It's great that you've found incentives that work for you.

I decided a long LONG time ago that I would NEVER "let myself go" - so even when I'm "dis-enjoying fat time" I am still taking care of my hair, my skin, dress nice & wear jewelry & do my nails (peddy & manny!) and so forth. Being fat is icky & uncomfortable & very very unhealthy... but it doesn't cancel out looking your best, IMHO!

I just spent $300 on capris & skorts & sleeveless blouses for the spring/summer season. There was a big sale, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE skorts! Can't find them much anymore! - so there they were, all lonely on the rack... and there I was, with a checkbook & a pen.... so...... :D

saturday i slipped into a pair of pants that i bought when my daughter was first born. i haven't been able to even get them over my thighs, it was a tad tight but felt great that i could button them up :carrot:

I love skorts too. Target had a bunch of cute ones a few years back and I stocked UP. I feel all cute wearing what looks like a short skirt, but I don't have to deal with the fear of showing the world what I've got. It's a win/win! :D

Senderapproach - please don't feel attacked. I think a lot of us totally agreed with you, but acknowledged that there are ways to treat yourself that are a little more economical, if you don't have the budget for "professionally done" pampering.

Here's a suggestion for some personal pampering that doesn't have to cost money. Make an appointment at a local beauty counter (Merle Norman, Clinique) and get a make-over. You don't have to buy anything and since there are various cosmetic lines you could "treat" yourself sever times.

Absolutely!!! - I do my own manicures & pedicures - I've been doing my own nails since I was in 6th grade. Occasionally I get a "professional mani/pedi" ... but to be honest, they don't do a better job than I do, and it's waaaayyyyy cheaper if I do it myself. Also, when I'm feeling "in the need" for clothes, especially during those times when I've lost or gained weight & I really can't afford to shop, I have no shame in going somewhere such as Goodwill or other 2nd hand stores. I often find GREAT BUYS there! - many times, brand new clothing at a fraction of the price, simply because Aunt Betty didn't know niece Sally's taste or size or whatever.... I once spent about $55 in a 2nd hand store & walked out with 24 outfits that were NOT "2nd hand".

Sometimes it's all in how you work it! ;) :D

Just wanted to quickly reply and say that I was not trying to "attack" anyone . I was just simply stating that we can do things for ourselves without spending money because , I for one , and I am sure I am not alone , do not have the money for beauty salon and manicures weekly . I made the choice to only work part tim to be home with my kids during the day and so I have to go without some things that if I worked fulltime would not be a problem . I think that we all need to feel beautiful and everyone has a different way of feeling that . No one is wrong , just different choice is all .

Senderapproach - I understand the heart of your suggestion and I think your ideas are great. I guess the bottom line is appreciating the journey and enjoying who you are TODAY. Pampering yourself is a great way to look your best at any size. I tend to dress like a "slouch" when I'm unhappy with my weight ... trying to hide the added pounds behind extra fabric and not in the mood for a mani/pedi.

I generally reward myself using some of your ideas. And sometimes I take the inexpensive/free route and reward myself with a new book, visit or lunch with a friend or bubble bath with a ridiculous amount of bubbles.

it feels good!
 

takeing care of your self helps you keeping loseing wt. and never forget to reward your self. I think if you have mini goals and rewards it helps. it does not have to cost a lot of $$$ just a little something to say I DID IT:carrot: