Jeans

Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since the gondola. - Diana Vreeland

 I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes. - Yves Saint Laurent

I have a favorite pair of jeans that I have a love/hate relationship with.  I hadn't tried on those jeans in a while.  The first time I tried them on this year was January.  The weather was chilly and I needed to wear jeans so I decided I would attempt to wear my favorites.  Much to my chagrin, they didn't button or zip.  They weren't gaping open but still, point is, they weren't wearable.   I got annoyed and threw the jeans into a dark corner of my closet where I couldn't see them.  The hate part of the relationship was in full swing.

February rolled around and as I was organizing my closet, I found them.  I pulled the balled up denim out of the corner, shook them out and tried them on.  They zipped and buttoned but they were tight. I had more than a muffin top. It was like a giant wad of bread dough had been wrapped around my midsection. It was puffed out over the waistband and there was no disguising it even with a big sweater over the top.  I tried to look at the positive - at least they closed this time - but again, unwearable.  I hung up the jeans and forgot about them...until this past Wednesday.

I was going to a co-working luncheon and wanted to wear jeans.  I opened my closet door and rifled through to see what I had.  Nothing seemed right for my outing.  That's when I saw THEM peeking out from behind some dresses.

Reluctantly, I pulled the jeans off of the hanger and held them out in front of me. I pursed my lips and thought "what the hell".  Expecting a repeat of the January or February fittings, I slipped my legs in, slowly zipped and buttoned.  I was surprised and had to double check to make sure I got THE pair from the closet.  No sucking in of the gut; no laying on the bed to zip 'em.  They fit.  Not only did they fit, they were loose.  And better still, I wore them with a tank top...and had no roll over . Major progress! It was pretty exciting.  I strutted my jean covered butt into that restaurant and felt pretty damn good.  I was in love again.  

The coolest part is that I haven't starved myself to make it happen.  There has been no deprivation, insane workouts or long miles.  It's getting done with consistent, moderate activity combined with eating clean and healthy.  I believe the biggest factor has been that I am eating unprocessed foods.  Very few prepackaged, prepared foods make it into my house.  Cooking at home helps me to know what is in the meal I'm eating.  No surprises or weird things I can't pronounce and it's making a difference.  It's all in the jeans!

Happy Trails!

Valeka