Dressing for your weight!

Is that show "What Not to Wear" still on TV?  I feel like half my wardrobe would of been trashed by Clint and Stacy immediately!

A couple tips for us all:

-Pick pieces that draw the eye to your best features.  Awesome legs?  Try a dress or long slim pants.  Curves that rock?  Try a top that cinches at the waist!  

-Wear fitted clothing!  Baggy clothes don't actually hide the extra weight and make you look bigger AND less self confident.  Find clothes in the correct size that fit well.  Avoid relaxed fit pants, and darting shirts that give you no shape! Bonus tip: mid rise jeans can flatten the stomach and act a bit like a shaper!

-Don't be afraid of color!  Bright colors attract the eye, so use them on the features you love the best and the parts you want people to notice first.  For example, a bright top with dark jeans will draw the eyes up!

-Don't allow for big patterns.  For some reason, clothing manufacturers like to put big people in huge flowers and dots.  Don't do it.  

-Accessories! Large pieces or chunky chains stand out beautifully on bigger bodies!

-Larger handbags will help balance out a bigger body.  A tiny crossbody might look awkward, where a nice hobo bag is trendy and looks more proportionate

10 Tips for Losing Weight!

Below are some tips that came from "Medical News Today" on tips for losing weight.  I've added in my two cents!

1. Eat varied, colorful, nutritionally dense foods

Hell yes, do this!  But, does anyone else get into a major food rut?  I find myself making the same chicken and veggies on a regular basis.  I recently discovered the https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org page that has searchable recipes that are usually minimal in ingredients and tasty!

I am not endorsed by the Diabetes Food Hub.

2. Keep a food and weight diary

Seriously, my least favorite part of trying to lose weight (yeah, I prefer exercise over this) but during my course at OSU, I was taught about a program called Bitesnap (https://getbitesnap.com/)...this is an app that all you do is take a pic of your food, and the app recognizes it, and adds in nutritional info to your daily log.  Also, super easy to export your info if you like to track your logs elsewhere.  

I am NOT endorsed by Bitesnap, it's just the app I use!

3. Engage in regular physical activity and exercise

Mayo Clinic says to aim for 150 minutes a week of physical activity.  My tip, add in small exercise to everything you do.  Park further away.  Use the bathroom at the other side of your building.  Don't leave items on your stairs to take upstairs later, just do it now.  Extra steps all the time = extra calories burned

4. Eliminate liquid calories

SO easily said, much harder to do!  I LOVE fruit punch and find myself intolerant to no-calorie drink additives you put in your water.  My suggestion is don't deprive yourself completely, cause you are going to regret it later and think about that deprived item.  For me, I water my juice down - 50 % juice, 50% water.  No deprivation and still a good swap.  The only thing I can add in is to avoid diet soda.  It is SO bad for you and straight chemicals.  Try and find an alternative!

5. Measure servings and control portions

Man oh man is it hard to control serving size in a world where servings are huge!  I find that ordering kids meals when I am out, or requesting the lunch size portion, allows me to both save calories AND money.  Most restaurants don't mind, as long as you aren't rude while ordering.  Or, ask for a to-go container when you order and plop half that meal in a box before you even dig in.

6. Eat mindfully

This is a tip I can get behind.  I find myself snacking when watching TV and sitting around, just out of boredom.  So many of us eat in front of the TV.  I find that having a concentrated meal at my dining room table changes my intake dramatically.  Also, I tend to be more in tune with my hunger level when not distracted by the TV.  Bonus, I get to talk with my boyfriend, so we actually get a few minutes to connect each day.

7. Stimulus and cue control

This one is similar to food in front of the TV, but also, how many of us walk past a candy bowl at work and mindlessly grab a piece cause we are nearby?  Or, have a soft drink in excess of 16 oz that we dont REALLY care about, just cause it was included in our meal deal?  Make conscious decisions - order and eat only what you truly want and need.

8. Plan ahead

It's a pain for real.  I absolutely HATE coming up with a meal plan.  This is my goal for 2020, to be better about planning and aim for 2-3 planned meals a week that are hearty and healthy, with at least one meal being a new recipe...which means grocery planning too.  Got tips for this?  I'm open!

9. Seek social support

This one is SO important.  Grab a friend and get active with them.  My neighbor, Danielle, has recently killed it on the Keto diet and looks fabulous.  She has started walking neighborhood dogs mid day to make a little cash, but also put in those steps.  She occasionally comes and "walks me" so that I get my butt out of my office and put in some steps.  

10. Stay positive

This is the tough one.  Keep in mind that pounds were not packed on overnight (even tho it feels like it sometimes!)  Experts say 1-2 pounds a week is sustainable and healthy weight loss.  What a disappointing number though for all the work we put in.  Keep at it!  Some days are harder than others and are a journey vs a fad diet of 30 days, etc.

My number one tip...adjust goals and recognize your victories.  Goals don't need to be drastic and extreme, they just need to be measurable and attainable.  Start simple, like committing to parking one row further away from your building at work, and build up to parking in the back of the lot.  Were you previously winded after a flight of stairs, but now you glide up with ease?  SUCCESS!  Previously when you needed a quick breakfast, did you end up with McDonalds McGriddle, large orange juice and a hashbrown, and now you get a large water with just an Egg White Delight McMuffin?  Thats a positive change. Don't be hard on yourself.  We often think the worst...picture the things you say to yourself and ask yourself....would I be friends with someone who speaks to me this way?  Probably not!  Be kind....to those around you and yourself 💜

Story of my life!

Plus Size Fashion - This Industry Sucks

How many of you are online shoppers?  I have an addition to buying things online...mainly because the options are better!  I'm tired of the bold large patterns produced by Lane Bryant at absurd prices.  I'm tired of bras with thin straps and huge thick underwire that stabs my armpit (no matter how many times I get fitted).  I'm over being charged more for a shirt that is bigger.

But mainly, I am tired of inconsistent sizing!  Anyone else walk into three stores and pick up the same size and in one store, the jeans won't button and in the other store you could fit you and a friend?

According to an article I read on Glamour - plus size shoppers make up 68% of all shoppers.  However, there are very few plus size people working IN the fashion industry.  I'm wondering if this is why we end up with fabrics covered in large flowers, horrifically placed lace, pastel colors and no real embellishments beyond stupid words like STRONG and POWERFUL placed across the front.  It feels as if some 5' 6" 125 pound girl thought putting me in a workout shirt with strong splayed across the front is suddenly going to get my ass in the gym.

We are starting to see more brands pop up that help plus size ladies own their size and give us outfits that flatter our figures.  The challenge remains, the pricing is outrageous.  I'm all for paying top $ for quality, but we are paying extra for Wal-Mart shirts.

My goal, soon, in cohesion with the blog, is to start a plus sized boutique that does online sales as well - where real plus size ladies help me model items and truly determine what is "true to size!"....fashion at reasonable prices, good quality and good fit.  What kind of pieces would you like to see in quality, appropriate sized styles?

Weight Loss - the neverending cycle?

Where are you at emotionally with your weight? I currently am on a journey to lose weight, but haven't been 100% taking it too seriously.  Which is ridiculous because I am legit worried about my future health, but also am currently paying to participate in an intensive program at Ohio State Medical Center where I subject myself to weekly weigh ins, reading a guide book full of facts I already know on how to improve my weight (eat smaller portions!  Use a smaller plate!  meal plan and prep!  less carbs, more protein and fiber!  take a walk!), and an hour log session where myself and other fat people sit around and talk about our week.  Some weeks, I just can't stomach walking into that room and talking about why I'm fat.  It's a constant opportunity to look at your same failures in the faces of other big people, that in many cases, you realize you don't really like them.  I'm not sure if I don't like them because they have similar characteristics as I do and I am being confronted with the fact that I too am lazy (in some aspects!) and have a lack of self control.

So, my hopes with this blog is it becomes also a chance to track my future weight loss and efforts.  We'll see!  Have a non-typical tip or trick?  Let's hear it.  Have you had incredible weight loss?  I'd love to see your before/current.  Need someone to provide you with encouragement?  Hit me up.  I love to give positive pushes to those around me.

Welcome!

Welcome, friends, to Pfeisty Curves. Thanks for giving me a chance to turn you into an interested reader.

What can you expect here?  Short stories of nonsense in my life, tips and tricks for life as a plus sized female, deals related to plus size clothing, or accessories/jewelry that I just like, recipes and photos of delicious "healthy"-ish foods, and God knows what else.

Who am I?  My name is Beth, I am a 35 year old female living in Columbus Ohio.  I am an employee of Nationwide Insurance (all opinions expressed in the blog are my own and NOT the opinion of Nationwide in any way) working in subrogation...it's my job to get deductibles and Nationwide's money back when someone else is at fault for a claim we paid out.  I'm one of the good guys!  I live with my b/f of (almost) 3 years, Jay, in a 1600 sq foot house I bought on my own.  We spend our free time watching TV, geocaching, fostering dogs (specifically, Dobermans.  Although, we are open to other breeds as well), spending time with family (I have two kick ass twin nephews that are two that I am slightly obsessed with), shopping for deals, bargains and freebies, and existing.  I am the president of my neighborhood HOA, work with our pet focused associate resource group on our events committee and also babysit in my free (ha!) time. No kids currently (maybe in the future?)

Why am I starting this blog?  Really, I need a place to express my words sometimes.  Also, I recently learned about affiliate marketing and the potential for a little bit of a side hustle.  So, I wanna be on that bandwagon.  But - I don't want to provide you with the nonsense referrals and products I don't believe in, so expect blunt honesty on any of my posts!