So why are you making a blog about one body type?

The motivation behind an action is worth examination, if it's worthwhile.

I'm a thinker and an introvert-- if I don't know why I'm doing something, than maybe it's not worth doing.

Like almost every adult alive, I have virtually no free-time. I work full time at a mentally demanding job. I have friendships and a fiance who are incredibly important to me-- those relationships are important to me and regularly take precedence over alone time (i.e. time spent typing while not at work). I have pets that need interaction and attention, for their quality of life and to improve my own. I need to cook and eat healthy meals, exercise regularly (at least three times a week) for my physical health, I need to keep the house maintained and the chores done, and I also need to spend time with my family.

So why do I think this blog is worth the time?

It's generally very difficult to find flattering clothing for an hourglass figure, at least in the United States. Clothing is designed for the "average woman"-- more an amalgam of the characteristics of so many women that it fits almost no one correctly-- but this is especially true of the hourglass shape-- supposedly only 8% of the world's population has this characteristic shape. Most tops are designed for women with smaller breasts, and show rather more bust (or worse, undergarments) than most professional women would prefer. The other alternative is to get clothing designed to fit around the bust that is far too large everywhere else-- unflattering, and looks unprofessional and unattractive, since now the rest of the torso looks the same size as the chest.

I define an hourglass figure as such:

• Almost exactly the same bust and hip measurement at the widest part (perhaps an inch or two difference).
• The waist measurement is at least 10 inches smaller than the bust/hip measurement.

There are other characteristics that are found in most hourglass figures-- for example, almost all hourglass figures gain weight equally over the entire body, rather than having a slender upper or lower body. Some (including myself) tend to have thicker and more muscular or sturdy arms and legs, and generally muscular thighs.

Pants seem to fall into three categories for me, and these seem to vary by manufacturer:

1. Pants designed for pear shaped women with a very large difference between their hip measurement and their waist measurement (if it fits in the waist, it's huge around my hips and butt). You can generally tell what companies use a fit model like this by looking at their measurements-- a few examples are Gap/ Banana Republic/ Old Navy and Express.
2. Pants designed for rectangular shaped women with not much measurement difference between their hips and their waist (if it fits the butt, it's huge in the waist and falls down. A lot). Examples are the majority of "juniors" clothing brand, especially Unionbay and original Levis.
3. Pants that fall in the middle of these two extremes that fit pretty well (other than the length, which is a whole 'nother issue for me, at 5 foot 3 inches). This is a very short list. I like American Eagle's Hipster Flare fit, but it's only rarely in trousers.

One of the hardest clothing items to find for an hourglass figure is a properly sized and fitting bra. In the United States, there are very few retailers that offer a size range that will fit an hourglass, especially a slender hourglass. Many bra manufacturers stick to an outdated sizing methodology, that results in the majority of women wearing ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and unflattering bras.

Before my 40 pound weight loss, the best size for me was a 36F or a 34FF. Now, my proper size, at least in one brand, is a 30G, which can only be found in bra specialty shops or at Nordstrom (but you have to ask at the counter for them to bring out bras in that size-- if you don't KNOW you are wearing the incorrect size, or are sized by someone unaware of correct sizing-- which is likely-- you will probably be stuck with the wrong size anyway).

It's hard to dress well, without a lot of effort, if you are an hourglass. It's also hard to find other women to discuss the difficulties of an hourglass figure in real life, even with well-meaning female friends-- when it comes down to it, the majority still will feel that all your difficulties with clothes and underwear shopping are minor complaints because, after all, you've got a nice rack and a curvy figure, and therefore you are lucky.

In addition, it's hard to find other women interested in strength training, and even harder to find other women who have an hourglass figure and the experience to tell you what works for them, and what areas are difficult and require special effort.

Dealing with my figure is a fact of my life-- I don't believe in plastic surgery for myself, because I think that ultimately plastic surgery is not going to make me satisfied with my body, and I want to love myself for who and what I am.

Becoming strong is an important goal for me, and something that I want to prioritize more in my life.

Why not combine these two related things into one blog, where I can talk about what I've learned, and hopefully learn from others?

Here we are. I'm ready.