Unlike the vain emperor in the classic children's tale by Hans Christian Anderson, I don't have a different outfit for each hour of the day. But what I did have to wear wasn't fitting me any more. Losing 21 pounds will do that to your wardrobe. I'd put it off long enough though, it was time for some new jeans.
The jeans I've been wearing are all size 36 and I was really ready to move to 38s. The belts that held them up on me were size 36-40 . So I've been walking around in jeans that were way too big on me, practically falling off of me even with the belt on. And the belts didn't have enough holes to do any more good. As much as I wanted to hold out just a little longer, it was becoming impossible.
The reason I was holding out was that my ultimate goal is to get back into size 32 jeans. I know I'm not there yet, but I will be by summer for sure. It didn't make much sense to me to go and buy a couple pairs of jeans that were just going to be tossed aside after 3 months. But with my jeans literally falling off of me, I had no choice.
Now I know I've trimmed a few inches off of my waist, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I got to Target (I'm a Wrangler jeans man) and started looking through the jeans. I figured a size 34 would be possible, if not a bit snug. Grabbing a pair of 34s, I headed off to the fitting rooms, my two sons in tow, hoping against all hope I'd be able to get into them.
As Zach and Alex played in the mirrors (family changing room), I shed my old jeans and slipped on the new 34s. Besides the new jean stiffness, they felt alright as I pulled them up. When it came time to button and zip them up, they actually fit! My shirt wasn't tucked in, so playing the devil's advocate in my head, I said "sure, they fit with nothing else, but what about with a shirt tucked in, you're a tucker now you know?" Good point I responded to myself and proceeded to tuck in my shirt.
The jeans still fit! And not tightly either, they felt perfect. I didn't have to suck it in and when I looked in the mirror I saw a slim guy in nice fitting jeans!
That moment was worth the price of all the pairs of jeans in the store to me. I liked what I saw in the mirror. No muffin top, just a slim(mer) version of me in a pair of jeans I wouldn't have been able to put on just 2 short months ago. The results of all my hard work was made manifest in that one moment. I was so happy and excited, I couldn't wait to go home and get rid of my old jeans and get my new ones washed.
Clothes used to be fun for me, but when I put on all the weight, I tried to hide myself under baggy shirts or sweaters. There's no way I was going to tuck, because my fat belly would just pull the shirt out from my pants any ways.
That's all changing. While I won't have an outfit for each hour in the day like the Emperor, I'll sure have much better fitting clothes that help show off the new me. But don't worry, there's no chance you'll catch me parading around town in my birthday suit!
