Monserratt:
There is no question, life has changed during the pandemic. We have had to adjust to spending more time indoors and at home, commute less, reduce our in person social interactions, and the resulting rise in our level of anxiety as we try to navigate this situation.
To cope with this new lifestyle, some of us have adopted new eating habits, incorporated new foods, explored new flavors or maybe resourced to comfort eating as a means to temporarily escape from our reality. Whatever the reason, some of us have gained some weight.
Believe me, I’m right here with you! Some of my clothes don’t fit comfortably any more, so I’ve stopped wearing them.
What should I do? Should I throw them away?
This feels like an unreal situation and a part of me hopes that things will go back to normal. I wonder what life is going to look like at the other side of the tunnel. Should I evolve with the situation, or should I keep resisting it?
It would seem sometimes like my mind wants to go back to the past and keep the things the way they were before change happened. It sometimes feels like my mind just lags and drags the denial for as long as possible, while my body knows better, moves on, evolves and adjusts.
It’s my choice, and it’s your choice too.
The reality is, things are not going to go back to where they were before, so I’m deciding to make lemonade.
I choose to believe my body is wise, to believe that my body, my health and my well being can adjust to this new life and reach a new balance. I believe that I am so much more than my body, I’m also my emotions, my spirit and my mind. So I will do my best to care and nurture these parts that make me up. I will accept and meet myself where I am at, because only that way I can move towards creating an environment in which I can feel at peace in my body and my life again.
Whether it is a walk in the park, a breath of fresh air, a day away from my phone, singing my favourite song to the top of my lungs, a meditation session, an early sleep night, a sexual experience, a new pair of pants, a cookie, or a nutritious meal, I’m here for it. I’m deciding to cultivate an environment of wellbeing for myself, around myself and in whichever way and shape it looks like for me, and I invite you to do the same for yourself.
Chris:
As I’m writing this I’m wearing a me-made shirt that’s a few sizes too small. It rides up my stomach, is a little tight, and the shoulder seam is a suggestion at this point.
My body’s made more than a few changes this year. I’ve found comfort in endless rest whenever I can find it. Food’s also been comforting for me this year, eating from new places and trying new flavor combinations has given me something to look forward to.
I think it’s important to remind ourselves that our bodies our trying to keep us alive during a global pandemic, and that looks differently for everyone. For me that’s been weight gain, wearing stretched out jeans, and small shirts, but I’m ok with that.
Which isn’t to say that I’m never hard on myself.
But, I think one of the best parts about sewing is that we get to make clothes that fit our individual bodies. The size I was when I first started sewing isn’t the same size as I was earlier this year before the pandemic. I was a lot kinder to my body then, and I need to remember that I need to be that kind to my body now. Even if I can’t go out, or enjoy the same things I used to do, I can at least do that.
Thank you for this thoughtful post!
Thank you for the kindness and positivity of your post. Some days it is hard to accept that since I’m home all the time I’m not cleaning more, exercising more, sewing more….It is very helpful to hear that other people are having a hard time adjusting, too.
We can sometimes be so hard on ourselves. When what we really need is to be kinder.
It’s hard out here <3 Know that there's a bunch of us feeling the same way, but hopefully we can all get through this together, even if its just one day at a time.
A lovely thoughtful post. I’m dressing now, and this now-me gets comfort and style. I wouldn’t try to wear the shoes that fit me when I was younger, and pants/tops are no different. It takes effort to control a body’s shape and effort to love a body, and I would rather spend that effort on the latter, since my body will continue changing my whole life. It’s a better investment!
I love your comment!! Oh gosh! THE SHOES I tried to wear when I was trying to impress my in-laws! It was just ridiculous! No more dressing for others. Vive la liberté!
Oof yes. I’ve donated some things that no longer fit and were worn and faded, but I kept a couple tops that don’t fit. I need to let the waist out on a couple skirts. I’m glad I started making allowances when making my clothes in the last couple years – slightly bigger side seams, gathers or pleats when attaching skirts to waistbands… It’s made a difference for me as I can alter and then don’t feel I’m wasting the effort I’ve put in to creating my wardrobe.
great idea! 💕
Oof yes. I’ve donated some things that no longer fit and were worn and faded, but I kept a couple tops that don’t fit. I need to let the waist out on a couple skirts. I’m glad I started making allowances when making my clothes in the last couple years – slightly bigger side seams, gathers or pleats when attaching skirts to waistbands… It’s made a difference for me as I can alter and then don’t feel I’m wasting the effort I’ve put in to creating my wardrobe.
My Winslows have a hard time fitting now a days. I love them so much since they’re so comfy. But at least now I can try making a better version!
You have both said that we should be kind to our bodies and that we can cope with what is. I’m totally here for that.
👏 👏 👏 👏
it’s sometimes hard to accept, but this is the way it is for now. 💕 take care Daisy
<3
I have the original concertina body which means that at any given moment half my wardrobe doesn’t fit me, being either too big or too small! Thank goodness I can make clothes to fit me wherever my body is at!
that sounds like a good problem to have, except when you really want to wear the clothes you can’t 🤭
True! 😂
Loved, loved, loved this! What a beautiful contribution from the two of you!! Thank you so much for reminding us that our bodies are indeed wise and worth listening to and cherishing 💜
Hi Maggie, Sometimes I feel like I need a reminder myself. I hope we grew up and learned this in schools. The world would be so much better.
It’s definitely hard to remember that sometimes. But seeing everyone online and their journey of what they’re going through (positive or negative), and the way a lot of people support each other, it helps : )
I’ve been thinking about this a bit too. While some of my clothes are a bit tight right now (which might be lockown-related or might pre-date it), I’m pretty sure the changes to my lifestyle haven’t levelled out yet (I gave up dieting and its associated culture around a year ago and haven’t missed it one bit). My weight might go up or down or stay the same, but I don’t want to give up my sewing or knitting in the meantime.
I’m curious to incorporate clothes that can accomodate a few changes in size and shape into my making plans (either because they’re stretchy or can be easily adjusted to fit- for example, wrap dresses or skirts). Vicky at Sewstainability does this very well.
I’ve been gravitating more towards more clothes that fit several sizes myself. Mostly because I don’t want/have the energy to churn out clothes at the rate that my body is changing but also there’s a ton of great patterns out there that fit my personal style and are also in this category.
I really appreciate your honesty in talking about bodies changing, during the pandemic and otherwise. It’s weird to say but I also appreciate you talking about comfort eating – as a (quite) fat person I feel like there is such stigma around talking about our coping mechanisms to do with food.
I also teared up a little when Monserratt spoke about our bodies being wise. I think I’m really starting to learn that this year – and to believe it.
I wish you all the best in your journey with eating. I know how traumatic it can be. I wrote another post about mindfulness an how my journey started. If you want, you can take a look at it. I send you hug!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thesewcialists.com/2020/06/08/fat-mindful-and-happier-than-ever/amp/
I send you a big hug dear, we’re all in this together, and many of our coping mechanisms look alike for people larger bodies. You are definitely not alone. 💕
Thank you! I’ll definitely check it out 🙂