I'm a young grandma of 62 years. It's summer and I struggle to pull-on my well fitting girdle. Yes, it's summer and I certainly dislike wearing a girdle. Girdles are still elastic. When I am not doing any of the heavier housework or gardening, I opt for a cotton panty shaper. This is my third year wearing girdles. The wearing of girdles was un-heard-of by me until now. The wearing is now permanent.
European women are more used of this garment. I had to learn to make a girdle wear longer by washing it in the proper way. I now wash them in tepid water with mild soap. A detergent for wool sweaters works. Postively no using the clothes dryer! Although I was fairly careful washing girdles in the beginning, I used the washing machine too much. A couple of quick swishes in the sink basin will do, and then hang to dry.
I had an operation. I have had more than one operation in the same area. I had had an abdominal hernia. In the last operation the surgeon had to come into that area from underneath the muscles. He told me that I would always have a big belly because of the way the operation was done. I have a mesh square inside at the bottom of my belly. I have a character belly. I have marks and lumps of fat. I accept my belly for what it is... that took time.
When I worked through my emotions of how I looked, I looked around and started to notice the many teen age girls of this generation... they look the same way as I do. Their bellies hang-out!
I buy extra large tops so that the material falls gracefully over the pushed-up fat area above my waist. The young girls don't care about that appearance. Above their tight jeans waist they over-hang. With the shorter tee shirts you see naked belly flab. I got used of seeing the older men with their big bellies hanging-out and they are still hanging-out, but I wonder about the young generation.
I was average weight and shape. I changed to pleasantly plump, and had to work on getting-back to average (was near my goal when I aquired the hernia). I walked and walked, did stretch exercises, and I went on a diet. I took those 'eat-up the body fat pills.' Now, I am average with a big belly. I cannot use those belly blaster workout pictures, or the beat the bulge for the Abdominals print-outs that I had saved. I am becoming smaller, gravity is pulling my skin downward. I look down and I see my big belly. I still watch how I pose for photographs. Maybe in a thousand years or so I will get fully used of it!
I'm glad for the firm denim fabric in jeans, it gives me a break from the girdles. I'm glad for the plus sizing for clothes. I'm glad for body shapers, and the wide selection of them. I found lacy as well as elastic girdles the other day, I'm glad to see design is being paid attention to.
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