What I bought--and what I returned

Banana Republic's tailored non-iron sateen shirt 

I know I sound like a shopaholic these days, but there's a good reason for it. I really need new clothes.

Since June, I've been working out with a trainer at least twice a week. The rest of the time, I've been on the elliptical. Or doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Or running. (OK, that last? Twice. But it counts.)

I've also been tracking my food. (More or less-ish. I've been tracking the same foods for so long, I kind of have a good idea of how much I'm eating.) And I'm weighing myself at least once a week, so I'll know if the weight loss stops or reverses itself.

I'm now at 172 pounds, which is less than I weighed the last time I wasted the internet's time by blogging about weight loss. And my clothes have gotten too big. So I've really needed to buy new stuff.

The thing is, I'm nine years older than I was the last time I weighed this much, and I've ... how should I put this delicately, in case my daughter's classmates are still reading my blog ... forded the Red Sea.

Oh, yeah. THAT was subtle.

Anyway, what with my plunging levels of female hormones, I'm afraid I've developed something of a menopot.

Actually, my problem is more midriff bulge. Which is not something I had bothered my pretty little head about much, until I tried to button the new shirts I ordered from Banana Republic and discovered that while they fit well over the balcony, below that, I was asking an awful lot out of the Spandex.

Nobody talks about midriff bulge any more, but when you're as old as I am, you know that muffin top is nothing new. I remember seeing ads for Playtex Long Line 18 hour bras when I was a kid.



Not to disrespect Jane, because heaven knows, she rocked in Gentleman Prefer Blondes,  but I don't want to wear a longline bra.

But I'll need to wear one if I'm going to be able to button Banana Republic's Stretch Shirt of Evil.

I might even need to wear two.

It's just as evil in navy blue.

P.S. I've decided it's time to bore the internet again with my thoughts on fitness, diet, and My Waistline: Gone, Or Just Forgotten?

So I've agreed to blog about it every day for the month of November, for a second crack at NaBloPoMo.

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Elsewhere:

See Pamela Peeke, M.D.'s article here if you want a quick guide to menopots, how we get them and how to get rid of them.

On LiveStrong: How do I lose midriff weight?

On Women's Health: The Five Rules of Flat Abs (an annoying slide show, but with good info.)

Japanese snacks have destroyed me, and other stories

I continue to chart my daily input and outgo of food and calories expended. I'm seeing results--down seven pounds in three weeks--but I don't feel as sleek as I usually do after three weeks of dieting and walking my legs off. (OK, walking for an hour a day.)

I blame this nagging sense that I still resemble a sea-going mammal on The Menopause, which appears to have developed a strong attachment to my midriff bulge. And I mean that literally.

(Did I say "midriff bulge?" I meant "muffin top." It sounds thinner.)

So. It's all the fault of The Menopause. Although it doesn't help to line up lovely bowls of Japanese snacks for family movie night. Just so you know, this?

Tohato caramel corn

Which I only bought because it's caramel corn that's OK for kids with braces? Is of the Devil. It's that good.

And so while I track and walk and wait for my midriff bulge  whoops muffin top to go away, I'm getting ready to order a couple of pieces to ease me through this transition. I'm thinking easy-fitting pieces that will work both now and when I've burned off the last bite of Japanese caramel corn.

Like this waterfall cardigan from Boden, currently on sale for $62.40.

Look at the easy, graceful, forgiving lines. Notice the strong, but not-too-obvious emphasis on the vertical. Note the lack of ruffles, appliqué, beading, shirring, or embroidery over the balcony--a good thing when one's balcony already calls quite enough attention to itself. And check out the description

The Waterfall Cardigan is in a lovely soft with-cashmere mix, with elegant cascading folds of fabric at the front-making it unusual, without being daft.

"Unusual, without being daft." That's so me!