I went to the Fuller Woman Expo in Toronto

I went to the Fuller Woman Expo in Toronto a few weeks ago and...
I LOVED IT. I ALSO ENDED UP IN THE FASHION SHOW and....
LOVED THE EXPERIENCE.

But I will start with the next day when I met... Monif C., http://www.monifc.com/ and Laura from Lola & Gigi, http://www.lolaandgigi.com/, at her Warehouse/Boutique (can't decide to call it a warehouse, it is way to nice).
Do you know them? NOOOOO? Well you should.
It felt so good to discover new styles, sexy and chic. At least I KNOW that I have less chance of crossing MY dress on someone else's body!!! And yes I bought the famous Monif C.'s convertible dress.
Monif C. is a designer and has a Boutique in New York. She sells online but I preferred to buy it at Lola & Gigi to save on shipping costs.
Check out their website and I'll hear your Oh Ah Wow.
Oh before I forget, check out my pictures on Monif C.'s website, I am so proud!

Far left: GPS(1) Cindy Bourassa (Miss Canada Plus 2005),
Far right: Monif and Laura from Lola & Gigi in a black dress.
(1) GPS: Gorgeous Plus Size

Have you seen this black coat?

Do you know what I love about that Monif C. dress? It suits Plus Size Women and NOT Small Size Women! This is what we want. Not a small size dress with more material!


It does take a little bit of practice to wrap the dress nicely and... some help at the beginning.

And here is the Fuller Woman Expo
and some of the nice and creative people I have met:

The coat I am wearing on the picture is from a brand new manufacturer from New Jersey, La-Dans Closet.
They have issues with their website right now but check them out regularly: www.la-danscloset.com (I bought that coat, loved the colour, the style).

Here is another coat from Designer La Tresa (left) my dear friend Emilienne on the right (she pushed me to go in the fashion show).
I was really excited to discover new stores and share what I found with you ladies.
Here are a few:
Sexy Plus Clothing, online store, "mobile" store and a location in a flea market in Toronto
Curvaceous Consignments, with 2 locations in the Toronto area.
Full Fabulous Figures, Labrador City, NL (where else could I have found her? Another Catherine.
Oval Clothing, Pittsburgh (carrying Petite Plus Size).

FOR YOU LADIES, I LOVE THIS ONE: MERMAID OR WHALE?

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said: THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.

They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselveswith shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.

They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.

They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis.

Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don't have kids either.

Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes outto the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are Enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, Good gosh, look how smart I am.

Gone – Goooooooooone

Did you notice? I did not change anything on BellesPlus in 2 weeks, nor answer any email.
Well I was gone. And when I say I was gone, I WAS GOOOOOONE. Camping. Just camping. I LOVE CAMPING.
This is the only moment that I forget about everything; I am “in the moment”. My “to do list” seems so far away and useless. You don’t even think about your life because..........
YOU DON’T THINK AT ALL!
The only thought I had so far is about you my Plus Size Ladies; Reflecting about body image and weight loss. I feel so good I forget to think about my body.
I JUST LIVE.
I don’t care about how I look as long as I am comfortable to walk around, go to the beach. And I don’t care about exercising because I walk around and go to the beach. And I see a lot of Plus Size Women like me walking the dog and going to the beach with the kids.

Actually that’s how I met Susan, at the beach, with her dog.
I had seen her many times around and she caught my attention. She was always active, I never saw her sitting. She was beautiful and natural. That's the type of big beauty I like, natural, not trying to be different, not pretending. Just natural.
I was shy (stupid me) to talk to her, but the last evening I could not go without introducing myself.
Susan was so warm; I instantly regretted to not have talked to her earlier. You can tell by her voice and the way she carries herself that she is a strong woman. She has to, with 4 boys and a dog. You see the island in her back, on the picture? She swam there back and force in the afternoon!
She looked so comfortable in her body, I wonder what she has that a lot of big women don't have? A loving family? a husband who would not want her any different? Or is it just IN HER? Susan, please share your secret with us.
You know what? She made me think about Africa. Over there, I was always surprised that Plus Size women would not look floppy and sad. But that’s because they had to be active, go to the market, walk to visit neighbors. And honestly also because it is a beauty asset to be big there (or used to, I haven’t been in Africa for 16 years).
Maybe that’s what life is about.
Having more of those moments.
Enjoy “being” rather than trying to “fit”.
I have found in my trailer an old magazine (body+soul, September 2007), you know the one that you read over and over, rediscover every year. I was reading an article (When less is more by Cheryl Richardson) where she talks about “addition by substraction” to add more meaning in our life.
“We look to improve our life by adding something: a bigger home, more social engagement, a new passionate hobby. But a high-quality life often has more to do with what we remove. A lot more”.

This is my story of the day.
Catherine LG
Ottawa, July 18, 2009

The DIET series: #1

To go on diet or not to go on diet: That is the question!
I was reading Beth story on her battle to lose weight posted on her website/blog: www.theplussizemommy.com, sad but oh so common.
Since then I started to reflect on who do I know who have been on a diet (every single person I know!) and who has kept the weight off (nobody I know!)
Quite puzzling, indeed! (I love this word in English, indeed)
Are you like me? Each time I see an add to encourage us to lose weight I get skeptical. Especially those with pictures of a dieter taken before and after. I can't help to look really close to make sure the "before" and "after" person look alike (never too sure) and always wonder if they are still like the "after" or since then went back to the "before". Who knows....
As I said nobody I know as kept it off.
Well... there is actually 3 people who have lost weight that I know or that I can easily verify if they are for real and still on track, which might give us our 3 ways (no magic, sorry!) to lose weight:
- my friend Chantal has gone through bypass surgery and has lost a lot of weight. (I'll try to get from her the "before" and "after" pictures).
- Roslyn Franken (www.roslynfranken.com) offers counselling services based on her own experience(pictures of her "before" and "after" on her website), "Helping you make realistic, attainable AND sustainable changes for Healthy Eating, Postive Living and Effective Weight Management." (I can easily verify that she has kept the weight off, she lives in Ottawa).
and
- Louise' programme (in Vancouver area) at The Body Exchange is all based on.... Fitness (Louise runs bootcamps for plus size people in various locations in and around Vancouver, BC) and her last newsletter features Martin Hill who has lost 85 pounds! (I will tell you later if he kept it off)
Told you, no magic there, it's a lifetime battle and we, deep inside, all know it. Sorry Beth. But interestingly enough I guess a little bit of the 3 solutions used together would probably be ideal.
Ain't you excited? I have found the solutions that will solve our problems...
Okay, I know what you think: no energy to go ahead and do it! Yep that's the first part of the problem. We kind of know that there is solutions out there, that it won't be easy, that we'll have to work on it forever, BUT YET, most of us don't jump on it. WHY? why not take the chance?
Stay tuned, I'll address all that in the following articles.

This is my story of the day.
Catherine LG
Ottawa, June 25, 2009

The Two Rising Suns

Here is a text that I wrote a while ago, but after a discussion with a PS lady, it reminded me that it could be still useful.
Enjoy!

Recently, I received an email that outraged me!
A lady I know shared with me that she is always struggling with her body image.
AND GUESS WHAT? SHE IS NOT EVEN A PLUS SIZE!
In my Plus Size mentality I had never imagined that the “other” women were struggling too! Okay I am naive.
So that’s it, I AM AT WAR.
AT WAR with what we think about ourselves.
AT WAR with our self “Bad Mouthing”.
AT WAR with this idea of perfection.
I wish I had a perfect body too, believe me, whatever it means...
But ladies, today I have looked around and here is what I saw:
On each body I looked at (ladies of course), there was something that I would have exchanged: Too skiny, butt too small, nose too long, boobs too small, boobs too big, nice body but did not like the face, etc.... And yet, the lady with the too small boobs might think that only her nose is too long!
WOW that gets complicated!
Do you get the point?
Okay so stop for a minute and think: What if you had just moments to live and all those moments would form your life.
What it you were wasting all this precious time with your unhappiness.
Remember, as far as we know, we only have one life to live.
So here is an exercise:
Get in front of the mirror (a big one), lock the door and get naked.
I am not joking.
Then just PRETEND that you have the PERFECT body. No don’t close your eyes. Look at YOURSELF and BELIEVE that you have the PERFECT body.
Don’t we usually say that to be loved, you need to love yourself first?
What if all we needed to be loved and desired was to BELIEVE that we are BEAUTIFUL.
If it doesn’t work, go by pieces. Discover which part you really like and let go of others.
And BELIEVE that someone somewhere loves this part of you.
You don’t think so?
Listen to this:
When I was younger, one of my friends already had a lot of stretch marks on her butt. And you know what her boyfriend said? They look like two rising suns....
That was my thought for the week.
Catherine LG

PLEASURE PLEASURE PLEASURE
I feel guilty! I have not even visited BellesPlus for weeks. I have abandoned my creation.
So wrong. But I was just so tired.
Or maybe you know how sometimes life seems stagnant but YOU KNOW that something is going to come out of all that “just living” moment.
You can’t think for days, your brain feels empty and then, it strikes you. The “OF COURSE” moment. Everything comes clear.
It came a few minutes ago, as I was reading a small article: Plus-Sized Yoga Classes -- Seriously?!
Life is too short, I don’t want to feel uncomfortable anymore and if it takes to go to a plus size yoga class, why not? I personally won’t go because at 46 (my point is coming) I HAVE DECIDED THAT I DON’T CARE ANYMORE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
I always say that the only thing I look for in life is FUN.
Well I have discovered that I look for more than fun, I LOOK FOR PLEASURE. Every single minute of my life. PLEASURE PLEASURE PLEASURE PLEASURE (Sing it and Dance it to make it real).
No more of stopping my PLEASURE because of what people think. I DON’T CARE, now that I am on the other side of life.
I started reflecting on pleasure last week when at a conference with my coworkers, I had a blast dancing with one of my a little bit older than me coworkers (I am trying to be polite in case he reads it although just the idea of him on BellesPlus makes me laugh). HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DANCE AND HE DOESN’T CARE. We danced with others all night. But you should have seen the young ones, dancing precociously to maintain their image. Oh gosh, I would not like to be 20 again! (I swear)
I probably made a fool of myself (although I think I am a good dancer), but I had so much PLEASURE.
And in all faith I truly believe that PLEASURE is bringing me LUCK. Everything I have asked the Universe (seriously have you read The Secret?) is happening since that evening of pure Pleasure. You know the type of moment where you forget that you exist, you just ARE and LIVE.
A bit too.... psychic for you? I can be like that some times, but you know what I think? No matter what you say, what’s important is to believe in it.
This is my story of the day.
Catherine LG
Ottawa, June 11, 2009

Living Your Dream Without Borders!

I just met Andi (by email) when she contributed a great addition to our stores, Equestrian Collections.
I figured she was riding if she was so interested in this store! Dah!
Well, I want you to discover Andi and her passion. I find that truly inspiring.
You know what the lesson is, right?
Live your dream and don't look back, nothing must stop you and certainly not your weight.



I will let you read what Andi sent me, it says it all!


"The spotty one in the pic's is my old guy, now 27, who I've had since he was 2 - and I'm still riding him. I started riding very early - I remember having riding lessons before I remember starting school (and I'm now over 60).
I used to do more competitive stuff like showing and I've done both English and western riding, trail riding, cattle penning, driving, some eventing and jumping but now mostly like just trail riding, doing clinics and generally messing about with the horses.
I've been a samurai rider in a Japanese movie and have had riding holidays in England and in Spain.
Am I obsessed about riding? Well maybe.
Before buying Bar all those 25 years ago, I'd be cleaning my tack that I still owned and my son would tease me, singing "A dream never dies, just the dreamer..."
I've always been a "traditionally built lady" (as they say in "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books) and for years had to suffer through trying to find suitable riding togs, but then I discovered 1824 - and Kerrits (my all time favorite riding pants - they fit, are comfy and wear forever! And come in cool hound's-tooth patterns and colors, and in both winter and summer weight.) Anything else you want to know?"

Well if you do want to know more about riding, send me an email and I will forward it to Andi.

And THANKS ANDI for sharing your passion with us.
So long..

This is my share for the day.
Catherine LG
Ottawa, May 20, 2009

Carole and Cora’s diet!

I know, I know. This is pure jealousy! What can I say, I can’t help it.
I’m sure all of you have gone through that “moment” in the past:
2 ladies at the office decided TO GO ON DIET.
YET YOU ARE THE BIGGEST PERSON IN THE OFFICE.
You look at them, look again and think: WHY?
Yeah, yeah, I know, to be healthier, to feel better (have you noticed that no woman would say to look better?). At their previous size I would have felt better already.
NO
I’ll tell you WHY they did IT:
To annoy you.
To make you feel ashamed.
To make you feel that you should be THE ONE doing IT.
To make you feel bad when you eat your CHICKEN & FRIES when they are eating SALAD.
Cora even brings SALAD at lunch for the both of them!
I am telling you, THEY GET ON MY NERVES!
And the COMPLIMENTS? I could die!
Oh you look good!
Oh look at her!
WOW you look incredible!
Even me I say all that good stuff. And you know WHY?
BECAUSE IT’S TRUE!
CORA, CAROLE, YOU LOOK GREAT!
And I love you.
And Yes, I am jealous but I KNOW it has nothing to do with YOU.
Of course, WHY you did it has nothing to do with me.
YOU DID IT FOR YOURSELF.
And WHY I don’t do it has ALL to do with me.
But your diet reminds me everyday that I don’t know WHY I AM NOT GIVING IT A TRY although I KNOW that I would feel so much better.
Carole, Cora,
YOU GO GIRLS!

This is my thought for the day.

Catherine LG
Ottawa, May 1st, 2009

Krista Henderson

Meet Krista. I found her website www.plusperformancefitness.com while surfing the internet.

She is impressive and I must admit that I feel a little jealous. Krista is a Personal Trainer & Online Fitness Coach from Toronto.

She is a plus size full of energy and truly passionate about fitness.

Her philosophy is simple:

She believes anyone can start being fit and active right away, that you don’t have to wait until you’ve lost 15 lbs!

While going through her website, it reminded me that I have so much my priorities in the wrong place.

When I had planned to do my 10 minutes on the treadmill, I thought: Oh, I need to finish to wash dishes before I go, let me clean the table, it will just take a few minutes. Yes, I KNOW you understand what I mean.

Comfort me and tell me I am not alone. Why do we put everything before ourselves?

I have asked Krista a few questions and here are her inspiring answers:

1. When you are exercising around smaller people, how do you live through the way they look at you? I know that a few of my friends would not join a gym because they are scared of the looks they would get, or wear a bathing suit.

I wrote an article on this topic called “Surviving the Gym as a Plus Size Woman”, in which I identified 3 tips: Setting Goals, Find a Fitness Mentor and Dress the Part.

You can view the article here:

www.plusperformancefitness.com/Articles____Books.html

I wrote the article over a year ago, and after re-reading it, I still believe in my approach. I don’t believe that gym members really are “judging/looking at you”, if they are, it’s because they are drawing motivation and inspiration from you. Most people are focused on their own workout. On the off chance, someone is judging you, take comfort in knowing that they are ignorant and misguided, and you are not like them.

I strongly encourage everyone to have a Fitness Mentor when starting out – someone to guide you, ask questions, help you through plateaus etc.

2. How do you keep going everyday? when most of us give up and regularly have to start all over again.


I am a big believer in setting activity goals i.e. walking your first 5km, to keep you motivated. If you don’t put the time in, you may not be able to successfully complete your activity goal, and that would be a huge disappointment.

It’s best to be self-motivated, but sometimes we need a kickstart and that’s where a little external motivation is helpful. Signing up for a charity 5km, bike ride etc. where you fundraise and keep people updated on your training progress gives you some accountability and the desire to follow through because people have sponsored you.

By the time you have completed your fundraising activity, you’ll feel so amazing, physically, mentally & spiritually, you’ll have developed your inner self confidence to want to maintain a daily fitness routine, and even take on other bigger challenges.

On days when life is a bit stressful my inner voice starts chatting away and I could easily talk myself out of not going to the gym. In those instances, I remind myself that when I workout, I physically feel better, and it’s time to start breaking the workout into small little steps, and only focus on one step at a time.

Step 1: get to the gym
Step 2: get changed
Step 3: do the warm up
Step 4: do the first 5 minutes of the main set of the workout

By the end of step 4, I’m usually fully focused on my workout. If not, I just break it down into 5-10 minute intervals. It’s easy to create a lot of unnecessary stress when we start thinking ahead of what needs to be done, rather than being present in our workout.

3. What are your favorite equipment for cycling or running (and to prevent injuries)?


I have 3 key pieces of equipment for all my workouts:
- Polar Heart Rate Monitor – I workout smarter when I use heart rate training, instead of perceived exertion. Heart Rate monitors come in all models and prices, but you can find a good basic one for under $100.


- Enell Sports Bra – the best bra around, no chafing and it works well in the water when I’m swimming in triathlon races


- DeSoto Power Shorts - they are available up to size XXL, which fits size 24. They are compression shorts that are used to support groin and hamstring muscles (yes women have a groin muscle). They also provide warmth to the muscle which makes them less prone to strains and pulls, protection against chafing and rashes on your inner thigh, and helps keep the sweat away from your body.

Last week, I have reached 46!

SCARY! SCARY AGAIN! AND EXHILARATING.

I feel that I can’t make mistakes anymore; I have to get it right at first try. I can’t jeopardize the time that is left to me. I have to realize every dream that I have or at least take the path and see where it takes me.

I have to live FULLY every single moment of my life.

That’s how I have decided to do it:

I took a Socaramba class Saturday morning and I enjoyed every (painful) minute of it.

SO SOCARAMBA IT WILL BE

EVERY SATURDAY FROM NOW ON.

I have promised myself to let go of my inhibitions and enjoy life as much as possible. Finished the shyness (nobody believes me when I say I am shy).

It took me 46 years to understand that I won’t procrastinate if I am passionate about what I do.

So far so good, I have had an extraordinary “REBIRTH” week.

I am now doing what I have preached (including my kids) for so long:

I take my life and what I have done with it up to now as a starting point, recognizing that it is not so bad after all, instead of wanting always more. I will continue building on it by just enjoying every moment. Opportunities will come by themselves.

Have you read The Secret? It basically says that whatever you want you can get.

Sounds easy? You might be surprised to learn that the most difficult part is not what to do to get what you want but from far getting to know exactly what you want.

For the most part it took me a year to decide what was to be more important for me and where I should put my focus. Believe me it is far from a goal achieved, it looks more like a continuous process with doubts all the way.

Life is to complicated!!! HAVE FUN WITH YOURS.

That was my thought for the week.

Catherine LG

Ottawa, February 18, 2009