Full On Style

Remember the days of P.E. where you were scared out of your wits to hit the showers because you didn’t want your perfect-bodied classmates to see your less-than-stellar attributes? Yeah, neither do I. But, I’ve seen enough episodes of The Wonder Years to understand the humiliation. And the problem, I’ve learned, is that we never stop comparing ourselves even into adulthood. Lately, this is my struggle. Comparing myself. I’m used to being curvy. I have been my whole life. But, lately, I’ve been pushing chunky territory. In all honesty, this is not something I’m used to. I know you’re thinking, Beka, embrace your body…extra love handles and all! Well, I just can’t. No matter how hard I try, I just feel like a big schlub. I hate that my favorite dresses don’t fit, and that I outweigh my boyfriend by 30-pounds. I hate that I don’t feel petite, and when I walk into certain stores, I’m always paranoid that they’re wondering why I am even bothering to look…as if I’d never fit into any of the clothes sold there. (And sometimes, I can't!) Why am I telling you this? Why am I airing my insecure, dirty laundry on the web? Quite simply, because I can for one thing. And for another, because somehow, sharing my most vulnerable moment helps me to realize how ridiculous I am being. The other day I was at an event surrounded by college girls. And sure enough, there my brain went a-comparin’. She probably doesn’t even need to try on her clothes because everything looks wonderful on her. Or Look, her stomach doesn’t hang over her pants. And then there was the I could never wear that dress with my backrolls…and how does one counteract backrolls anyway? I just wanted to run and hide. I felt enormous and unattractive. It didn't matter to me that I had worked my butt off in a cardio class the day before, or that I had on one hell of an amazing outfit! So, how do I counteract my need to compare myself to other women? Well, lately, I've been trying to remind myself of a few things, that get me out of my woe-is-my-thunder thighs tailspin and into feeling a bit more body confident. And so far, these five little bits o' honey have been working just fine: 1) Some of these women are still young, and still have active metabolisms. Wait ‘til they turn 26! (OK, so maybe that isn’t so positive.) At any rate, my metabolism has slowed down, so I just need to work a bit harder than they do is all. 2) Everyone has a part of their body they don’t like. So, what if I have more than one less-than-desirable part? 3) My boyfriend still thinks I’m hot and my dog thinks I'm just perfect! 4) If the Hellenistic or Greco-Roman sculptors considered women with flabby stomachs and thicky-thick thighs to be worthy of art, than why should I feel badly? 5) I’m not chubby; I’m healthy. And if it really bothers me, then I should do something about it! So, in short, if you're like me and you're tempted to put yourself down and to start comparing yourself to girls who, for all intents and purposes, have physical flaws too, even if they're invisible to you in your time of supersize syndrome, stop. You look great, I look great. Nobody's perfect, and it's as simple as that.

For a while, fashion was something I’d run from. Up until recently, I couldn’t completely understand why, partially because since I can remember, I’d had my nose buried in fashion magazines. So, it came as a complete shock to me that upon my move to the fashion capital of the world, this short-lived New Yorker came to dislike all things fashion.

Since I’ve departed that tiny island, I’ve come to realize that my fashion sabbatical had more to do with my insecurity than anything else.

As my social circle in Manhattan grew, so did my waistline—this did not jive with my bank account which dwindled with every passing month. And so, I found that not only was I unable to afford to keep up with the fashion Joneses, I was also unable to keep up with my need to go up a pants size.

I just kept gaining weight. It could’ve been my adjustment to a new city, or New York pizza, or maybe even my homesickness, or lack of fitness routine. But, I found that within six short months in New York, I’d gone from a curvy size 8 to a robust size 12.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d be proud to rock a 12 any day, but such a drastic increase in size in a short period of time was leaving me wanting to hide my body, rather than to adorn it with the on-trend stylish frocks.

And so, I returned to my motherland—Florida, determined to leave the fashion world behind in search of something, more…well, meaningful. (Or so, I had thought.) When I told people in Florida about my New York tenure, their reaction was much like I expected—The fashion world is something shallow and empty. A hobby and not a passionate pursuit. And aren’t you a bit too plump for the world of fashion? Don’t you have to be stick thin?

It wasn’t until a recent trip to a certain fashion chain that I realized how much I missed styling, how much I missed accessorizing, how much I missed walking by a rack of garments, only to notice the artistry in hemlines and embellishments.

Yes, folks…my insecurity about my body coupled with my inability to take hold of what matters most to me caused me to depart from something I’ve loved since the age of 10, since the days of dress up and Sassy magazine subscriptions.

So, now I’m  busy plotting and planning my return to fashion…a return that may not make any sort of recognizable mark on the industry, but that is just as triumphant to me nonetheless. I plan to continue adoring, admiring clothing, accessories, shoes…I’ll try on everything and tackle all things fashion with the gusto of a professional wrestler getting ready for a big meet! (Oh yes, I went there!)

And if I happen to move up a weight class, well then hopefully this time, my silhouette will grow in proportion to my finances!

 

I'm interested in exploring the idea that food is marketed to women as their quick ticket to a sensual, emotionally heightened experience. Have you ever noticed that commercials for food products geared towards women, like those for chocolate and yogurt, are awash in creamy, rich, smooth, decadent, swirling imagery? It's all lips parting and spoonfuls of lusciousness being mouthed with a swallow and a smirk. I'm going to put examples of it here so that we can start decoding the messages together. First up is a commercial for Dove Chocolate that plays on the histrionic relationship between women and their chocolate.

Have a rough day? Moment? Second? Sneak away and soothe it with a piece of chocolate that makes your eyes roll back in your head. Not even having a rough day? Go all postal and create craziness so that you have an excuse to eat that chocolate! I feel like people probably think we do this anyway, get all emotional so that we have a reason to indulge and soothe ourselves with devious substnaces like rich, creamy chocolate. Of course, I know this is supposed to be funny; I think it is funny, but you'll see that it's not alone in its conflation of confections and sensual mood alteration. I wish they marketed vegetables and fruits with as much raw desire as they do the sweet stuff. Maybe then we'd be sneaking deep, red, bell pepper slices and juicy tomatoes.

This is just the beginning, ladies! Next up a yogurt slurp that you will have to see to believe...until next time!

Foodarama! A fridge ad from the 1950s.

Ha! I bet I have all of your attention, don't I? Not to break us down to our stereotype but... most of us curvy girls like to eat, right? I know I do! I'm a major foodie, but I'm a reformed junkie (of the junk food, not the crack, although the two certainly have their similarities!). As a former doughnut scarfer and pizza piggy, I have to be really dedicated to eating healthy so as not to fall into my old habits. I've been eatin' clean for about two years now, so a lot of the changes I've made have been gradual and are so habitual to me now that I barely give them a second thought. But, when people see me bust out my Tupperware containers of veggies and goodness for lunch, they inevitably ask me many questions. So I have a few general tips on healthy eating stored in the F.A.Q. file of my brain.

 

A glorious daily inventory of the magical uses for Tupperware!

1) Eat enough.

Back in the days when I was on the endless yo-yo diet, it consisted of eating things like egg whites and a glass of orange juice for breakfast, a mostly lettuce salad for lunch, and maybe a grilled chicken breast with some veggies for dinner. Can you say hungry? I'm sure I would have gotten really thin on that kind of a diet, but I wouldn't know, I never made it past day four. By the morning of day five I'd be face down in a gallon of cookie dough ice cream before my eyes were fully open. Instead of going the spare route, eat good, healthy foods full of nutrients and eat enough of them to feel nice and satisfied. Hungry is awful. Hungry is your body's first indication that you may be dying. Since I've actually started eating more and more often, I've lost a bunch of weight and felt less homicidal. It's a good thing.

 

Pretty produce can be found at your local Farmer's Market.

2) Make your own food.

My idea of cooking used to be pushing buttons on the microwave. But Hotpockets are so not sexy on my thighs, so I've taken to preparing a lot of my good foods the good old fashioned way, on the stove, in pots and pans. I know, it's intimidating. But, all you really need to get going are some good cookbooks and a few basic kitchen necessities. My favorite cookbooks come from Cooks Illustrated you have to pay to use their website, but you can find their amazing books in any store. The recipes they present are the final result of numerous rounds of trial and error. They focus on providing you with a good, basic way to do a dish, and then offer slight variations on the perfection. Their cookbooks make it so easy and foolproof, also, they include lists of things to stock your cupboards and fridge with so you are prepared to get all Top Chef like.

 

Cookbooks are your friends.

3) Bag it.

Once you make you lovely homemade food, pop it in some Tupperware and take it with you. Picnics are the new "dinner with friends". It's so much friggin' cheaper to prepare and pack your own food than it is to go out or order in. You'll be surprised. I've cut my food budget down by a third just by cooking at home more than I eat out. There are, of course, some logistical factors to keep in mind: Don't forget a fork. It's not fun to eat spaghetti marinara with your fingers. Also, don't panic if you are on the go and need to heat up your meal. Many food stores, including ever present Whole Foods have microwaves for customer use. I'm not saying they will love you bringing in outside food, but I've never been reprimanded. If you do get yelled at, smile and act dumb. Or blame me. Tell them Anna said to do it.

 

You need a vintage lunchbox from Etsy.

4) Shop fresh and freeze it.

'Tis the season for fabulous produce. Farmer's Markets and great produce sections all over the country are teeming with fresh fruits and vegetables at lower than usual prices. So, do what humans have done for centuries: gather in bulk and store for later. While I suppose you could can things and make jams, for me this means taking a day to wash, cut and store fresh food in the freezer. It takes some time, but it saves me so much money and keeps me eating delicious, like-new, ripe produce long after tank top time has given way to cardigans.

 

Farmer's Markets have great spice assortments as well. (pssst...spices have tons of flavor and almost no calories!)

5) Leave the junk to the junkies.

I'm not a doctor, a preacher, or a farmer, so don't listen to me if you don't want to. But, if after that warning your ears are still open, here's my pitch for cleaning the junk out of your diet (and your trunk!). Processed, packaged, prepared foods are chock full of chemicals and crap. Your body doesn't need crap, in fact it tries to get rid of it all the time. Your body wants food to nourish it. If you eat simple carbs (sugar, white flower, etc.) you might get stuffed, but you won't get nourished. Your body will still be hungry for nutrition even though you've given it tons of calories. That means you'll be packin' it in and packin' it on. Not cool says your heart and soul. Not cool. Instead of the junk go for fresh foods with fiber. I know, it sounds like stuff you would find in the back of your Grammy's kitchen cabinet, but not true says I. There are so many healthy options out there that taste great. Have you had fresh blueberries yet this summer? They taste like a picnic in your mouth. Ever try making oatmeal with soymilk, cinnamon, vanilla, and a touch of cocoa powder? Um, you won't regret it!

Just remember that if you are a junk food junkie, your taste buds are used to being assaulted with all kinds of zingy chemical flavors and sugar and a sea's worth of salt. So, give yourself some time to adjust back to the earthly flavors of the real world. It might not be fun at first, but when you do truly taste your fist fresh herb salad with grilled balsamic chicken and roasted peppers that you made yourself, (um, yum) you will thank me!

Mmmm... (Real) Food.

And Finally...

Please remember that a happy tummy doesn't have to be a flatter tummy. Love yourself no matter what! Focus not on getting thin, but on eating healthy and taking care of yourself, then your body will be exactly the size it needs to be! Love it and it will love you back (and probably, maybe, possibly--only if it needs to--even lose a little weight too).

 

All images from Flickr. Click for source information.

 

 

 

Here at Full-On Style we are all about body acceptace, no matter what your size. But, there is no denying that there are healthy limits to our waistlines. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but heart health, vitality, and joy come with being a healthy weight for your height. We want to encourage all of our readers to get healthy and happy in mind and body. So what's healthy? There are many tools online to help you figure that out for yourself.

The BMI calculator at MyOptimumHealth.com.

One of the most widely used systems of body size evaluation is the Body Mass Index, or BMI. BMI is a measurement that creates a ratio of your height to weight to determine a healthy range of body size depending on how tall you are. As with any stadard measure, there will always be limitations to the accuracy of this system. And, we always like to emphasize that the true test of health is how you feel. However, the BMI is  good place to start with facts and figures about your figure. Click the pic above and plug in your numbers to see the range of healthy BMI's for your height.

My BMI results. Putting it all out there for ya!

Turns out I'm officially overweight according to the BMI table. Hmmm, well, rather than obsessing over the label of being overweight, or the numbers in the chart, I'm going to use it as good motivtion to continue to get more active and more conscious of the foods I eat. That's it, I'll just step up the gentle reminders of physical health. I'm done overthinking the weight issue, but the better I feel about myself, and the more I love and accept who I am, the more I want to take care of my beautiful body. I say that with warmth and compassion for myself, not conceded pride about how I look. We are all beautiful, now let's make sure we are all healthy!

Yoga and Whole Foods, here I come!

 

You turn on light switches all the time, right? Well, maybe it's time for them to turn you on!

Artist/baker/happy home-maker Julie Tew crafts and vends gorgeous pin-up girl light switches featuring curvaceous beauties and pretty patterns through her Etsy shop, Hot Tramp. They will both light up and heat up your rooms with their hot bods and bold backgrounds.

I've always been a fan of the decorative switch plate cover. It just adds such a nice creative, inexpensive ($5!) touch to one of the more mundane facts of life. And, I've always loved pretty, pretty, pics of pinups. Put them together and I'm all lit up. (Did that step into corny territory? I think it did, but I think I'm okay with that. I think.) Also, their maker is a beautiful, curvy woman herself. She's on a weight loss mission to get fitter and happier and details her progress, as well as the rest of her cute-as-can-be life, on her blog The Terrible Tews. Here's a picture of Julie with her mom back in 2007.

And here she is in a more recent shot minus over 54 pounds.

She is gorgeous at any size, but I give her major credit for choosing to  get fit. Her slimming down is especially remarkable considering her passion for switch plates is second only to that of baking. Her blog regularly features her homemade sweet treats, including these purdy little rainbow cupcakes with buttercream frosting, and I'm tempted on this side of a computer screen. I can't imagine being in the same room as those sweet, warm, freshly frosted bad boys and not pounding a few. But, she says she still indulges-she just has one cupcake instead of the five that used to be the norm. Smart, Julie, very smart!

When I was growing up, Kate Dillon was like a superhero. She brought the big girl curves to the party and plumped up the volume on size matters in the fashion industry. As an adult (really, am I a grown up? Oy vey!) I can truly appreciate Kate's frank discussions of her struggles with her weight and eating issues. And, I still get a thrill stumbling across photos of her that show just how gorgeous and beautiful a little meat on the bones can be. The Matt Stone images below appeared in the July 2007 issue of French Elle. These pics may be a few years old by now, but they are just as esteem building as ever.

 

 

I'm pretty sure that is kind-of-sort-of-maybe-possibly-a-wee-bit like what I look like naked. Don't worry, I'm not going to be posting any comparison pics for your assessment, but please revel with me in the idea that my body type could be celebrated in the pages of French Elle. My favorite real body photo of Kate from this shoot is an outtake that's a little NSFW, so I'll let you decide to click this link or not. Pssst...she's nakey! And, she looks soooo good to this here curvy girl. Look, her thighs are touching! Her boobs show signs of gravity! It's amazing! My question...where are the Kate Dillons of today? Come out, come out wherever you are!

 

 

Here at Full On Style, we want to be clear that our appreciation for the natural curves of real women is not a love of sloth or a pardoning of unhealthy habits. Beka and I are healthy girls who eat right and exercise, and are still naturally a lil bigger in the booty than the fashion world lets us think is acceptable. But, it's not for lack of effort. I for one don't eat sugar (yes, sometimes I miss cupcakes but not the crazy it brings!) or white flour and eat reasonable portions of nutritious foods (read: not cheese doodles). I also exercise at least three times a week. Things used to be very different here in Anna Land. I used to go doughnut diving and ice cream scooping on the daily. The most exercise I used to get was the lifting of things to my mouth. I swear, it was not fun. When I decided to get healthy, I had to learn how to eat healthy. That meant I had to learn about portions and good foods and healthy amounts of sweat-inducing activity. I used to keep a food diary to help me keep the calories counted and the activities tracked, but now I've found a little helper that I don't know how I ever lived without.

I recently got an iPhone which iLove. I will not sing to the choir of Mac geeks who I know share my obsession with the handy gadget, but I will tell you girls that the Lose It! app has become my buffer self's best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With it I can search for any food I stuff into my gob- including store brand items and even some restaurant dishes- and immediately log the amount I've eaten for a pretty accurate record of the calories I've consumed. I can also browse a super comprehensive list of exercise (sexual activity, vacuuming, and line dancing are all accounted for) and track how many calories my booty shaking or love making has earned me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love it. It is super easy to use and ever so discreet and handy. Also, the progress tracking feature lets me feel accomplished with every day of healthy living I complete.

This totally beats the Kanye's Get Fit For The Summer Work Out Plan that I had been using to lose weight. What's that you say? You don't remember Kanye's Workout Plan? Here, let me refresh your memory:

Terrible, I know. But ever so funny. Stay happy and healthy everybody!