PUT YOUR JEANS ON! Are Your Clothes Helping You Stay Accountable or Helping You Avoid Reality?
PUT YOUR JEANS ON! đź‘–
Are Your Clothes Helping You Stay Accountable or Helping You Avoid Reality?
By Coach Paris | Always On Your Side Coaching đź’śđź’š
I have something I want you to do.
PUT YOUR JEANS ON!
Yes, you read that correctly.
Get out of those stretchy leggings, oversized sweatpants, baggy shirts, and clothes that seem to grow right along with you.
And PUT YOUR JEANS ON!
Now, before you tell me how comfortable your leggings are, believe me, I understand! I love comfortable clothes as much as anyone.
But today, I want to talk about something I see all the time in coaching.
Sometimes the clothes we're wearing are keeping us from recognizing what's happening with our bodies.
And that works in BOTH directions.
They can keep us from noticing weight gain.
But they can also keep us from SEEING and CELEBRATING weight loss!
Let's talk about it.
WHEN COMFORT BECOMES A HIDING PLACE
Think about how much our wardrobes have changed.
Leggings. Joggers. Stretchy jeans. Oversized sweatshirts. Loose-fitting tops.
And let's not forget those wonderful elastic waistbands!
They're comfortable. They're convenient. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing them.
But here's my question.
When was the last time you put on a pair of jeans with a real waistband?
Not the stretchy ones that expand with you.
The jeans that actually FIT your body.
Because something interesting happens when we wear clothes that stretch.
We can gain a few pounds without noticing much difference.
Then a few more.
And a few more.
Our leggings still fit. Our sweatpants still fit. That oversized shirt still fits.
And suddenly, one day, we put on something that used to fit comfortably and wonder what happened.
Well, it probably didn't happen overnight!
It happened gradually.
And our clothes weren't giving us the same feedback they once did.
Sometimes comfort makes it easier to overlook changes that deserve our attention.
YOUR CLOTHES CAN BE A REALITY CHECK
One of the things I encourage my clients to do is wear clothing that fits their CURRENT body.
Not the body they had five years ago.
Not the body they're hoping to have six months from now.
The body they have TODAY.
Why?
Because you need to know where you are before you can decide where you want to go.
If your jeans are becoming snug, that's information.
If your waistband is suddenly more comfortable, that's information.
If your favorite shirt fits differently, that's information too.
And information is valuable!
Now, let's be clear. Clothing fit isn't a perfect measurement of weight or body fat.
Bloating, water retention, hormones, laundry shrinkage, and even the time of day can change how clothes fit.
One tight-jeans day doesn't mean you've gained fat.
But when you notice a consistent change over several weeks, it may be worth checking in with your habits.
Awareness isn't criticism. It's an opportunity to make choices.
THAT CLOSET FULL OF DIFFERENT SIZES!
Oh, how many times have I had THIS conversation with clients!
I can't tell you how many people I've coached who have closets full of clothes in different sizes.
The jeans they wore five years ago.
The pants they bought when they gained weight.
The shirts they hope to fit into again.
And the clothes they keep wearing because they're comfortable, even though they're now WAY too big.
Sound familiar?
Here's something I see often.
A client begins losing weight.
They're doing wonderfully!
They're eating better, moving more, and creating healthy habits.
But they're still wearing the same oversized clothes.
They don't really SEE the changes happening.
Then one day, they finally try on something smaller and discover they've gone down TWO sizes!
They completely missed the size in between!
Now, that's exciting!
But think about what they missed along the way.
All those opportunities to recognize their hard work.
All those little victories.
All those moments when they could have looked in the mirror and said:
WOW! LOOK WHAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED!
Why wait until you've reached your final goal to celebrate how far you've come?
STOP HIDING YOUR SUCCESS!
This is something I feel strongly about.
When you're losing weight, don't keep hiding in clothing that's too big.
Wear clothes that fit!
Try on the next size.
Tuck your shirt in!
Yes, I said it.
TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN!
I know some of you are laughing right now.
But seriously, how often do we hide behind long, oversized shirts?
Maybe we've been doing it for so long that we don't even think about it anymore.
And sometimes, even after we've lost weight, we continue dressing like we're trying to hide our bodies.
We haven't caught up mentally with the progress we've made physically.
So try something different.
Put on those jeans that fit.
Wear a shirt that shows your shape.
Look in the mirror.
Recognize the changes.
Give yourself credit!
You don't need to reach a certain number on the scale before you're allowed to feel good about yourself.
You deserve to enjoy your progress WHILE you're making it.
WHEN BIGGER CLOTHES BECOME A PERMISSION SLIP
Now, here's where I'm going to give you a little of that Coach Paris common sense.
Sometimes oversized clothing becomes a permission slip.
Not for everyone. And not every time you put on a pair of sweatpants!
But sometimes.
A permission slip to stop paying attention.
A permission slip to avoid checking in.
A permission slip to tell ourselves everything is fine when we know we've drifted away from the habits that make us feel our best.
Think about it.
If your clothes continue to fit regardless of how your body changes, it's easy to put off asking yourself some important questions.
Am I eating portions that support my goals?
Am I moving my body regularly?
Am I taking care of myself?
Have my habits changed?
Am I feeling as healthy and energetic as I want to feel?
Those questions aren't about shame.
They're about ACCOUNTABILITY.
And accountability is not a bad word!
Accountability means being willing to pay attention to your choices and make adjustments when needed.
You don't need to beat yourself up.
You don't need to start some crazy diet on Monday.
You just need to recognize what's happening and decide what you're going to do about it.
THE SCALE ISN'T THE ONLY WAY TO MEASURE SUCCESS
Now, here's something else I want you to understand.
Your weight is only ONE measurement of your progress.
And sometimes the scale doesn't tell the whole story.
For example, if you're strength training, you may be building muscle while losing body fat.
Your weight might change very little.
But your clothes?
They may fit completely differently!
You might notice your jeans are looser around your waist.
Your shirts fit better.
You feel stronger.
You have more energy.
And you're feeling more confident.
That's progress!
Body composition, posture, and changes in measurements can affect how clothing fits, even when the scale doesn't move much.
That's why I encourage my clients to pay attention to more than one measurement of success.
The scale can provide information.
So can your clothes.
So can your energy, strength, sleep, and daily habits.
Don't let one number determine whether you're succeeding.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR GOAL TO BUY CLOTHES THAT FIT
Here's another thing I hear all the time.
"I'm not buying anything new until I lose another 20 pounds."
WHY?
Why spend the next several months wearing clothes that are falling off you?
Why hide your progress?
Why wait until you've reached some future goal before you allow yourself to look and feel good?
I'm not suggesting you go out and buy an entirely new wardrobe every time you lose five pounds.
Let's use some common sense!
But having a few outfits that fit your current body can make a tremendous difference in how you recognize and enjoy your progress.
And you don't have to spend a fortune.
Shop your own closet first!
You might be surprised at what fits.
Try a consignment store.
Pick up a couple of basics.
Have something altered.
Or simply start wearing the smaller clothes you've already been saving.
Your current body deserves clothes that fit comfortably and make you feel good.
Not someday.
TODAY.
BUT WHAT IF YOUR JEANS ARE GETTING TIGHTER?
Well, first of all, don't panic!
And please don't decide that you've failed.
Remember, we're looking for patterns, not reacting to one uncomfortable afternoon.
But if your clothes have been getting consistently tighter, let's ask some questions.
Have your portions gotten bigger?
Have you been snacking more often?
Are you moving less?
Has your sleep changed?
Are you dealing with more stress?
Have you stopped doing some of the things that helped you feel your best?
Maybe you discover something that needs attention.
Maybe you don't.
Either way, you're learning.
And if you recognize that your habits have slipped, you can start making adjustments TODAY.
Not Monday.
Not next month.
Not January 1st.
TODAY.
It doesn't have to be dramatic.
Go back to tracking your food.
Check your portions.
Plan your meals.
Get back to your regular activity.
Focus on the simple habits that work for YOU.
Small corrections are often much easier than waiting until you feel you need a complete overhaul.
YOUR JEANS ARE A TOOL, NOT A JUDGE
I want to make one very important distinction.
I'm not suggesting you squeeze yourself into clothes that are too small.
I'm not suggesting you keep uncomfortable clothes around to punish yourself.
And I'm certainly not suggesting that your clothing size determines your value.
It doesn't!
Your jeans are simply another way to notice changes.
Just like your food tracker.
Your activity tracker.
Your measurements.
Or your journal.
Some people find clothing fit helpful for staying aware of their progress. Others may prefer different tools.
That's perfectly fine.
Remember, my philosophy has always been about finding YOUR easiest way to health.
But I do want you to think about whether your clothing choices are helping you recognize where you are today.
Because we can't make informed decisions about our future if we're constantly avoiding our present.
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU: PUT YOUR JEANS ON!
Here's what I want you to do this week.
Find a pair of jeans or fitted pants that comfortably fits your body right now.
Put them on.
Try on a shirt that fits instead of one that hides you.
And yes, maybe even TUCK IT IN!
Take a good look in the mirror.
Not to criticize yourself.
Not to search for flaws.
But to see yourself as you are TODAY.
Then ask yourself:
Am I recognizing the progress I've made?
Have I been avoiding changes I need to acknowledge?
Am I wearing clothes that fit the person I am today?
What is one thing I can do this week to support my health?
And if you've been losing weight, take a little time to shop your closet.
Try on those smaller sizes.
Celebrate when something fits that didn't fit before.
Don't miss those victories!
THE BOTTOM LINE
I believe living a healthy lifestyle comes down to common sense, awareness, and consistency.
And sometimes the simplest things can make a difference.
Like putting on your jeans.
Like tucking in your shirt.
Like recognizing when your clothes fit differently.
Like being willing to acknowledge where you are instead of hiding from it.
And most importantly, recognizing and celebrating the things you're doing RIGHT!
You don't need to have the perfect body.
You don't need to wear a certain size.
And you certainly don't need to spend your life worrying about how your clothes fit.
But I do want you to be AWARE.
Because when you know where you are, you can make choices about where you want to go.
So here's your reminder for the week.
PUT YOUR JEANS ON! đź‘–
And don't forget to tuck in that shirt!
Ready for Support?
If you’re ready to simplify your routine, clean things up, and finally build habits that stick…
💜 Visit AlwaysOnYourSideCoaching.com or book a consultation here: https://www.alwaysonyoursidecoaching.com/service-page/1-1-coaching-consultation
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I am Always On Your Side,
Coach Paris đź’śđź’š
Helping you find your easiest way to health—because there is no one right way.
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