So the other day I posted on Facebook and asked the question of which one do you prefer or wear. First, let me explain. I own leggings. I have at least 5 pairs. Yes, I love them. Yes, I wear them. Yes, I even sleep in them during the winter. I am NOT against leggings or anyone who sells them. They are wonderful.
Lets get back to the point of the question and why. I posed this question mostly out of curiosity. You see there was a time that I wore "leggings" but at this point in time, they were not called leggings. I had an entire wardrobe of "Links" that were sold by Hamricks. If you are from the south, you know what Hamricks is as well as probably know what Links are. Links were made from knit and were elastic waisted pants that were worn loose fitting and VERY COMFORTABLE!!!! Yes, I loved them. I had them in every color and the different shirts, whether solid or print. This was also a time in my life when finding clothes was VERY difficult for me. I was in a state of denial and didn't want to look at clothes that had a waist or buttons, or zippers or were fitted. That was unbearable to consider going to a department store and trying to find them. It was just easier to wear these LINKS. I could basically hide in them if you will.
When I started on the running journey, I realized that I had finally lost enough weight and I could go and get a pair of jeans. I went to Old Navy. I grabbed about 6 pairs of jeans. I thought I would at least try and see what happened. I quickly realized I was VERY concerned about the SIZE-THE NUMBER!!!! That is so not what I was expecting but I was there and this was actually going to happen. I tried on a 14. They fell off. I tried on a 12. They fell off. I tried on a 10 and they were very loose but not falling off. I tried on an 8 and they were AWESOME!!!! I was so excited I could not stand it. Only problem.......they were about 6-8 to long and the ones I wanted, they didn't have in my length!!!! I ended up at Wal-Mart of all places. They had Levi's. I LOVE LEVI's!!!!!! I went and found some "short" jeans and went through the same process because after all this was a different brand. Same scenario. I ended up in an 8. I was STUNNED! I bought 2 pair and I was in heaven. I was so excited. No more stretchy pants. I could wear fitted pants!!!!!!! WHO KNEW!!!!!!! I immediately bought them and can remember going to Paul and Michelle's house (my running family) and showing them what I had accomplished. It was just amazing.
I vowed at that moment that I would NEVER go back to stretchy pants and the hiding again. That was not an option. Fitted pants were all I wanted to ever wear again. I was afraid that if I went back to the stretchy and the comfort that I would slip on other levels and that was not an option for me. In today's world, there are "Leggings" like you can get in department stores. Yes, I have some that I wear on a Sunday morning or for a dinner out with strappy shoes or boots and a dressy top. I do have to be careful because it would be so easy to go back and wear them again because they are so readily available! The main lesson that I learned is that while they are comfortable, I can easily gain abut 5-10 pounds and it's not nearly as noticeable because I am in stretchy comfortable clothes. Then the moment comes when I get ready to wear my fitted pants and they are tight or worse, won't button. Then I'm in trouble and have to start all over again.
Why am I sharing this? I'm sharing because this is my struggle. I was curious to see if there was anyone else that had the same struggle. It's super easy to hide behind the clothes and layer them to cover up. I've been there. I don't have any desire to return. I do love my leggings. I do love my jeans and my fitted pants. I'm not hiding behind to layers or the stretchy. It's not an option to go backward. I'm moving forward!!!!!!!
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