From Loose Fitting to Form Fitting

The National Organization for Women has recently stated that "Eighty percent of women are dissatisfied with their appearance, and a startling 49 percent of 3 to 6 year old girls worry about being fat. By the fourth grade, more than 80 percent of girls have tried a fad diet."

That's insane!

Of course, I am one of the health and fitness countless women who struggle with their body image. I have struggled with it ever since I can remember myself. At a US size ten, and with a small waist and large hips and thighs, I don't really fit into the extremely thin female "ideal".

During my twenties, I was into wearing large, shapeless clothes, especially on the bottom. I desperately wanted to hide the fact that I did not have slim thighs and long, lean legs, so I got into the habit of buying loose pants that were always a couple sizes too big.

Then, last winter, I discovered shape wear, and everything changed. It was health and fitness . A friend who has a body shape similar to mine had worn a beautiful sweater dress and knee-high boots. She looked amazing! Now, if you have a body shape like mine, you know that sweater dresses are a big no for us gals with a curvy bottom! They're very unforgiving. But she looked fabulous, and when I complimented her, she smiled and said: "It's Heidi." I was confused. "Heidi?" "Yes, it's my new body sharper!" she said. "It smooths out everything. Finally I can wear knits, sweater dresses, whatever I want to, without worrying about bulges!"

Discovering shape wear was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. It's freeing, you know? With the right shape, I am free! Free to wear whatever I want without worrying about unsightly bulges, and without being self-conscious.