The other day I went to the doctors and found out I had gained more weight. I was crushed! Never in my life had I ever thought I’d weigh the weight I am now, and yet, there it was… staring me in the face with ten more pounds than last month. The doctor was concerned and again quizzed me on my eating and exercise habits. Yup… still working out, still trying to keep the carbs out of my diet. Surely, there is something anatomically going on inside my body… What? I have no idea, but here’s the thing….I believe my stretch pants have made me fat!
I’m not sure when it happened, but in the last ten years, clothing manufacturers have put spandex in just about every form of pants. Jeans that never stretched suddenly can fit both of my thighs in one pant leg! Do you know
what I’m talking about? And if it’s not jeans, it’s leggings or workout pants. Now, I’m not a legging girl, but I do wear workout gear just about every day because I am, in fact, working out. But, if you have ever worn leggings or exercise clothes, you know that these articles of clothing can stretch two or three times the size of your derriere. So, IF you should put on some poundage because you are working out and your muscles should expand, those favorite pants can still be worn. But the same is true if you eat ice cream every night and fail to exercise!
I have a favorite style of pants I wear that have spandex in them. They are light weight and do not wrinkle. I like them because they usually have a
nice panel of material that cuts across the abdomen that flattens the tummy and smooths out the little bulges that may have accumulated over the years. But here’s the rub… they stretch so much that one might not even notice a size change! Which of course, is what has happened to ME! Here I am, thinking I’m looking good (because I’m feeling good and healthy) and all the while my ass and thighs are charging towards the seams of my pants! Then one day, I go to slide on these comfortable and sophisticated looking pants and I can barely get past the opening with my hips! Which is where I will be tomorrow now that I know that I have put on another ten stinking pounds!
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not upset about the weight because of the way I look. Although, I wouldn’t mind looking 
better… BUT, I’m a short woman and short women can’t afford to put on excess weight. Excess weight puts on added pressure on the joints, the heart, and the body in general. So, I need to do something about gaining weight! So, what am I going to do, you ask? WELL…The first thing I’m going to do is STOP wearing those darn stretch pants that have caused this mess in the first place!!! Sorry clothing manufacturers… I’m moving on! Who’s with me?? Anyone? Anyone? No? Still able to get both thigh’s in one pant leg? Go ahead, rub it in. But I’m telling you now your day is coming, and I’m going to say, “Told you so!”
I loved reading this. First, there’s so much truth here! And, second, I think stretch pants can be thy enemy if worn all the time – same with sports bras! Truth is, this past spring I started wearing denim shorts. I loved them, but it was a hard switch because they don’t give like yoga pants. And, you are right – it’s not so much about looking good, but rather about being our healthiest self. I’ve gained what I call the mainland 10 pounds. It’s definitely due to a more sedentary life I have here than in Hawaii. So, between my husband and I -following holiday festivities of next week, wear are moving carbs out, and more veggies in! We are removing bloating legumes too and making room for proteins that don’t bloat, are free of antibiotics, hormones and are grass fed. We are going to slurp clear alcohols, and desert on fruit like berries and pineapples, and finally we are saying good bye once again to cheese. But we aren’t stopping there – we are kicking our workout times back up with HIIT sessions, yoga, hot cardio yoga and elliptical or rowing! You with me? 30 days – and I know I will not only lose that 10 pounds but I will have a new level of comfort in real JEANS!