James Perse canvas pants | at the outlet
James Perse casual tee
Everlane cashmere sweater
Alexander Wang Rockie satchel (gift from Azalea) | Rockie w/rosegold studs available at Azalea for 25% off with code GRECHEN25
No6 Clog wedges
Remind me why I’m doing this challenge again?? Already I want to quit. No, I don’t, I actually like having my wardrobe planned out for me the next two weeks, and there’s nothing else I want to wear, so I don’t know what I’m complaining about. It’s just my usual rebellion against any sort of order or discipline in my life 😉
I also chose this week to start a new “lifestyle” (it’s kind of a diet, but not really – I want it to be my life, for the rest of my life), so I’m heavy into change mode, or getting my shit together mode as I like to call it. Today, I’m doing my first “fast” as part of the “diet” plan in the Fast Diet. I’m going to follow the 5 days “regular” eating 2 days “fasting” plan until I lose my last 25 pounds, and then maintain with 1 fast day a week.
I use the term “fast” loosely, because I’m going to eat about 500 calories, so it’s not nothing, but it is a little less than half the calories I eat normally. I’ve been reading a lot lately about fasting and calorie restriction for a healthier life overall, and I’m pretty convinced that there are great benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer. Nothing is perfect, and nothing is going to keep me alive forever, but I do want to do all I can to decrease my likelihood of dying from a horrible disease.
Anyway, that aside, as I drink my coffee and try to keep busy not thinking about food – which isn’t that hard in the mornings – I only had one issue with my outfit yesterday: I would have worn a crew neck t-shirt under the sweater if I could have. I didn’t choose a crew neck t-shirt as part of my 10 items because I don’t normally wear them alone and I preferred to have the scoop neck for wearing under cardigans, or alone if it’s warm enough.
I quickly got over the fact that my necklines didn’t match up, but you can see that’s the sort of thing I do think about as I’m getting dressed. Obviously it ended up not mattering, and I think it did make me realize that for travel, since I do tend to bring multiples of the same item, just with different necklines or sleeves, etc., I need to pick one white t-shirt and be done with it. And now I know I can do that. Mission accomplished 🙂
Oh, and I did shop yesterday, and plan on shopping today (did you see the Shopbop code??), but I will not add those items or swap them out with my 10. I’m going to stick to plan. But I did get a great James Perse cap-sleeve tee at Last Call yesterday and then learned that they’re offering $50 off $100 today only. My tee was on clearance so it’s not eligible for the discount, but now I think I must go back…or not.
I have been doing the Fast Diet for 6 weeks and find it a good diet to stick to. If I really want something the day I am restricting calories I use the mantra “I can have it tomorrow”. I have found this works and usually I don’t want it the next day! It makes me think about my food choices. This is a lifestyle I can see myself sticking to for the rest of my life. I have lost weight and feel so much better. This is my first comment and just wanted to say I enjoy your blog.
If I hadn’t just splurged on a gray cashmere hoodie from J Crew (https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/sweaters/jcrewcashmere/PRDOVR~34051/34051.jsp — in the heather dusk color, on sale for $112), I would totally go with this one. It looks like good quality (maybe thicker than some flimsier brands?), and I love the slightly extra long sleeve length. And the color.
Hmm, maybe if the hoodie is too juvenile on me, I’ll return it or ebay it and go for this one instead. Are you happy with it?
Looking forward to hearing about your new lifestyle change. My eating habits are all over the place, so maybe you will inspire me!
Hello, Grechen! I just want to share that I truly enjoy reading and receiving your daily updates! I look forward to them everyday. I love reading your “journey” and I truly relate to your style and your “path”. You are a delight and an inspiration. Your FAST DIET caught my eye! I am always struggling with these issues. I can truly relate. Thank you so much for what you do. It really is something I look forward to on a daily basis.
I am not shopping much since the holidays, but I look to you for inspiration and will shop in the future!! 🙂
Many thanks!
Kim
i love all my everlane pieces, they’re very “basic” but good quality and great prices. i do find it to be a nice medium weight cashmere – maybe slightly lighter than some of my inhabit pieces, but that’s the only other brand i can really compare it with. and my arms are exceptionally short, so all sleeves are long on me; i’m not sure they’re necessarily long in general 😉
i love that j crew hoodie though…but i hear you on hoodies. i feel weird when i wear one anymore.
thank you for your comment maryann! i will admit, i’m finding it a little more difficult than i thought i would – or maybe just more annoying. but then again, it’s only my first day. i’ve done calorie restriction before, and am good at it, but get really tired of it quickly, so i think this will be the best long-term solution. and you’re right, you really think about your food choices when you have to restrict. you also start to realize you won’t DIE if you don’t get that chocolate or jelly beans RIGHT NOW 😉
hi kim!! i’ve missed your comments.
you should check out the fast diet – it’s an easy read and very interesting. i really think it will lead to meaningful change for me. maybe for you too? 🙂
I wish you well on the journey to a lifestyle of healthy eating. It’s one of those things that I struggle with minute by minute, day by day. I mean, we can do without certain things in our lives and it’s fairly easy to accept self-denial. But food? We have to have it, and so we try and try again to make the right decisions. I have fasted before as a spiritual discipline, but I’m such an “immediate gratification” junkie that I found the fast itself was the only thing I could think about!
Hurray for Day one of your 10-item dressing challenge! (That sounds easy compared to fasting!)
i struggle a lot too, with food. reading WITHIN (another goop rec. sorry!) really helped me to see WHY i eat the things i know i shouldn’t eat (the things that make me feel TERRIBLE after i eat them, but i do it anyway) – it’s all about self-love…and the fact that i tend to sabotage my happiness by not allowing myself to do a lot of the things i WANT to do. that sabotage leads me to food. because i don’t allow myself to do one thing i want, i do another thing i want, but that is unequivocally bad for me…
anyway, both within and the fast diet have been life-changing for me – short-term at least. hopefully long-term as well!!
Thx, Grechen, for being so open and honest with us. Yet another reason we relate to you so well.
What you said resonates with me. My therapist once said, “Every choice we make means we’re ‘renouncing’ something else,” and I’ve come to see the truth in that statement, whether it’s a gut-wrenching choice or just a simple one.