The Big Fat Summer Challenge: DONE!!!
Here were the challenges:
- Wear shorts (NO LEGGINGS, NO TIGHTS!)
- Wear something without sleeves
- Wear something STRAPLESS
- Rock a bathing suit
- Wear a bodycon dress/outfit
- Go SPANX/shaper free (might be harder for some of us..ahem…ME)
- Rock a maxi dress or something similar
- Wear something structure-less
- Wear a short skirt/dress
- YOUR CHOICE: Something you normally wouldn’t wear/do – BE BRAVE!
Here’s my pics: Death Fattie Ahoy! (I’m 5’4″, 32 years old
#1 Shorts: WOW! I did this? Um, okay. I think they don’t show as well in this pic, but when I walk they were above my knees. Scarily so! I paired them with this top because it’s cute, comfy but also strappy! Again, mega-scary, but also so glad I did it! I felt 14 again! Ha-ha!
#2 Sleeveless: As featured in this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/fun-fatshion-friday/Very empowering! I’m so glad I went out and about. I felt all classy with my pearls. I should really wear them more often.
#3 Strapless: from this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/big-moves-bay-areas-go-big-or-go-home-7-10-2010/ What an incredible night that was. I’ll never think of dance the same way again! Thanks to my two fabulous BFFs for supporting me, taking the picture and attending such an incredible event. Y’all rock my socks to no end!
#4 Bathing Suit: This is my oh-so-comfy Junonia suit from last year. Got rid of my old too-much-cleavage-I’ll-never-be-able-to-swim ones. This one keeps my ladies zipped in, for your safety! And finally at a length I can deal with. It’s such a soft and fun, ribbed, fabric. Love it! But this was a hard shot to take, too! I had planned a pool visit, but it was freezing out! Yeah, in California, I know! So I grabbed some props and did what I could.
#5 Bodycon dress/outfit: THIS DRESS! You guys? You have no idea. When I saw it at Ross weeks ago I thought A.) it will never fit me (tag says 3X). B.) it’s so very sort! C.) it’s so clingy in a not-very-obvious but still very conscious way. BUT? I love this dress!!! I feel awesome in it and can’t wait for an event to make en entrance with it to go to.
#6 Go Spanx/Shaper free:
I never wear ’em! So what you see is all me.
#7 Maxi Dress: This was that Ellos maxi dress that was sold out over and over again last year. It’s this thick jersy cotton…so comfy & I love it, but it is sometimes too hot for such heavy fabric. But again, the comfort! Woo! (And bonus, back of my pug’s head! Ha!)
#8 Structureless: Not sure if this qualifies, but it’s all I had. Very slouchy top from Target last year and a “skirt” also from target that can be worth thusly or as a tube top dress thingy. I’ve worn it both ways, but this is the comfy-est non-skirt ever! And watch out: Fatty wearing a belt! Run Will Robinson…RUN!
#9 Short Skirt or Dress: from this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/bfsc-an-evening-at-the-theatre/ I had no idea I still harbored so much shame about my legs. WOW! I learned a lot about myself that night.
#10 My choice, Be Brave: My Legs! YIKES! In the shortest thing I own at that! WOW! I actually like this pic even though you see my legs!!!
This whole challenge has me feeling so strong and brave and…just..GOOD!
And my ankle tattoo since some seemed interested. It was 8 hours of horrible pain, but totally worth it! While it made me reconsider ever getting another, I am already plotting & planning! =0)
Thanks for following along with me on this adventure. It truly was a challenge and taught me things about myself I never would have imagined. And all thanks to this gal & her lovely blog: http://www.tabayag.com/
Did you do the Big Fat Summer Challenge? Send me a link, I wanna see!!!
You *are* strong and brave, and good too!! I’m really proud of you for going out of your comfort zone. Hopefully your increased confidence will help you keep showing yourself off 🙂
WOW! *blush* Thank you! I think the increased confidence and support I get from my readers and friends has truly made all of the difference in the world. Thanks again!
Love the tattoo! And the outfits- you look so radiant, I’d never guess you were anything but ultra-confident 🙂
Wow, this is awesome! Sleeveless and going with spanx are mighty intimidating things for me, but I might have to try this. Thank you!
I guess I just missed the Spanx train or something. I’ve only worn a shaper once, under my wedding dress, and it was awful! The old fashioned girdle-ish kind with built-in shorts. UGH! NEVER AGAIN! The moment I could I ripped those things off and threw ’em away! I do wear cotton bike shorts under dresses, but only for the chub-rub issue. I heard on another blog that “Luveess” are good, but at $27 a pop, I just can’t swing it at the moment. They look lovely though.
I guess I just never was one of those ladies to worry about panty lines and ripples and such.
Sleeveless was very tough at first, but once the feedback started coming in? I won’t ever look back! You can do it! =0)
You and your pictures are beautiful and I applaud your bravery. 🙂 However, pic #9 isn’t showing for me. I’m sure it’s great too! but the link might be broken.
Not sure why you can’t see #9. It’s in this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/bfsc-an-evening-at-the-theatre/
For some reason that dress brought a lot of shame back for me. It just goes to show that no matter how long you’ve been accepting of yourself there are still those things or moments in life where you just get shaken up a bit. Ha! Thanks so much.
I think you look fabulous – and like you’re having so much fun! – in all of your pictures, but I love that strapless dress the most. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure – it’s very inspiring!
Oh my gosh, thank you! It was difficult, but it is for other fats that I did it. Okay, myself too, but when I saw the other fat at the mall while I was wearing the sleeveless purple dress/top? We locked eyes. She was wearing a tank top. We had a moment. It was amazing! I am so glad to have done this. Thank you for reading and commenting.
You look gorgeous in these pictures, especially your smile! I love the strapless dress too. It is mid winter here in Australia so I amnot about to do the challenge but what you said about leg shame really hit home with me. Mine is more knee shame and I rarely (if ever) wear anything above the knee. I need to work on that! I have the upper arm shame licked but still a work in progress when it comes to the upper calves/knees/thighs.
Yes! The arm thing I thought was the hardest, but once I started to feel more confident about my arms and I wore that short dress? Oh gawd, it all came back to me. The shame, the self consciousness, the worry…UGH! Not worth it. I’m not over it yet, but working on it. FA is a long and personal journey, but so very worth it! Thank you for reading & commenting. =0)
These are all great. But that strapless dress in # 3 is FAB. U. LOUS!!
You should wear that one A LOT!
Also – love that tattoo! So pretty!
Wow! Thank you. I did get a ton of compliments that night. Once my v-shaped sunburn fades I will for sure be wearing that dress out again! Thanks for reading & commenting!
you look so hot! AND like you are having fun!! Time for me to haul out some belts
Wow! Thank you! And yes, please get those belts out. It was such a step for me to even attempt a belt and while I had some missteps, I have two now that I love (sold the failures so no loss really). Yay!
You look great in all of those! #9 is my favorite on you so I’m sorry it causes you trouble but you 100% rock that dress.
Wow! Thank you. You’re too kind, seriously!
LOVE number 6!! So Valley Girl. HA HA look who I’m talkin’ to. Number 1 is great as well.
Nice job!!
Ha-ha! Thanks!
[…] and beyond! From sleeveless to strapless, it was an amazing journey. You can read my final post here. I was asked to tell my story and how I got where I am today. It was a bit bizarre to have someone […]
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