I've been intending to do a six month follow-up post to this one, but I never got around to it.  I guess seven months will have to do!  It has indeed been a ride.  I'm currently 31lbs down!  Go me!  Do the happy dance!  Now, let's talk about how I did it:  Lots and lots of cardio!  In the past, I use to hate cardio.  Well... let's clarify:  I use to tell myself that I hate cardio.  It was a mental thing. And one day it just clicked in my mind that if I wanted to burn fat and make the scale move backwards, then I was going to have to do some sort of cardio. I'm not a runner.  I use to be, but I burned my knees and chins out on pounding on pavement.  And I'm not one for the "dreadmill".  So I choose the elliptical trainer to be my new best friend.

I know by now you're looking at the pictures and thinking 70 minutes on the elliptical?  No way! How boring!  But it's not.  Not the way that I do it.  I do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which involves jumping back and forth between relatively low and extremely high cardiovascular workouts. HIIT takes less time than traditional cardio workouts (even though I stretch mine), and provides the same, if not greater, results, such as raising your metabolic rate and increasing your excess post oxygen consumption. HIIT can be done on any machine that allows you to vary your speed or resistance, including an elliptical.  I played with a lot of programs and then I created one that worked for me.  And I've been asked often how I manage to burn so many calories within one session?  Well, this is how!  And I wear a Sportline pedometer which gives an accurate account of calories burned because it's keeping a real account of my actual heartrate since I'm not in constant contact with the elliptical machine.  I find that when I do NOT engage the arms on the machine that I work my legs and core a lot harder and also raise my heartrate quicker.

Now, when I say I do HIIT, this isn't any of that have a conversation with your workout partner while they're on the next machine.  Or flip through the latest issue of Vogue or InStyle.  Or read the latest New York Times bestseller while on the elliptical.  I move and I move fast!  The only thing I can concentrate on is remembering to breath!

And I also do strengthtraining.  I alternate days between upper and lower body.  A lot of women feel that they may bulk up from lifting weights.  Well, some do!  I feel I needed to have a balance of fat-burning cardio mixed with strengthtraining to get me where I needed to be.  Whether you do cardio on the elliptical, are a runner or a swimmer, your body NEEDS strengthtraining.  I especially do as a woman over 40, because there are so many benefits to strengthtraining: 

Things I've learned:  

You can NOT out exercise a poor diet.  Healthy bodies are made in the kitchen and shaped in the gym!  Let's go back to the title of this post about not referring to me as "dieting".  I don't diet. If you want to diet, you go right ahead.  But I needed to change the way I eat and exercise for life.  I'm 44 years old, pretty much perimenopausal.  I can't tolerate a lot of heavy, fatty foods.  And working out 4-5 days a week is just a normal part of my life now.  I see people saying things like they're going to fall off the wagon for whatever reason (i.e. the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday) and get back on.  Enjoy and bon appétit!  I'm not.  I've worked too hard for a 4,500 calorie and 229 grams of fat meal in a single day!  It's not that serious to me.  And in January, I don't plan to add physical fitness to my New Year's resolution once again.

And going on a "diet" will only result in weight gain.  Lowering your calorie intake excessively will only cause your body to go into starvation mode=slower metabolism.  And all of that deprivation eating will piss you off and cause binge eating.  I see and hear about this so much.  And haven't you seen things that tell you that you can lose 30-40 lbs in a month?!  That scares me.  That's basically water weight and muscle tissue.  I lost an average of 1-2 lbs a week. 

What do I eat?

Whatever I want!  As long as I stay within 1600-1800 calories a day!  You know, within reason!  I don't use meal planning... I just use common sense.  I'm not about to go to Five Guys (Nothing against this company.  Just an example of a bad choice for ME!) and order a bacon cheeseburger (920 calories) and fries (1474 calories)!  I'm not crazy!  Nor am I going on a juice or smoothie cleanse for a week either.  I use the My Fitness Pal app to keep up with what I'm eating.  Well, I used it for months.  I don't use it as much nowadays.  I know what I'm eating and how many calories are in things that I eat often.  The only times I pull it out now is when I'm eating or planning something questionable.

Everyone should find something that works for them, but I just wanted to share what I do.  

Coats are something that I've grown to love making.  I'm currently plotting and planning the coats I'm going to make for this season.  

For my wardrobe, I like to balance classic styles with trendy styles because there's room for both.

Take for example, my camel hair tailored coat, made from Simplicity 1756.  When I made this coat almost a year ago, I had envisioned a beautifully tailored, classic coat that I would proudly wear for decades.  Something along the lines of Loro Piana or Max Mara coats.  This coat will NEVER end up in the donation pile.

But I also love this unstructured white blanket coat made from (OOP, but still available on the site) Vogue 8696. This is probably the trendiest outerwear of this season and I made mine a couple of years ago.  I don't want any snow and ice like we had this past winter.  But I love that the mercury dips low enough that I can enjoy these coats that hang in my closet!

So fall has finally fallen here in the South.  Anytime the mercury dips below 50 degrees, that means it's chilly weather and time to break out the real outerwear!

Something about wearing a cape makes me feel like a super hero.  And with all I have to do during my daily routine, I need all of the help possible to make me feel like I have super powers.  And my Vogue 8776 cape made in camel wool gives me a classic elegance that will allow me to play the super mom role for many years.

I've had this cape for a while now and I've already worn it quite a few times. For this tailored length, I find that it pairs best with skinny, tapered pants -- preferably these McCall's 6404.  And today I added tall boots.  Underneath I'm wearing my New Look 6083 faux suede top.  And I've really grabbed a hold of the blanket scarf trend with this great tartan find from Target.  And I topped off the look with a hat from my husband's closet.  

Who:  Marjorie Harvey

Who is she:  Wife of Steve Harvey

Today's style crush is the fabulous at 50, yes 50 year old grandmother.  Marjorie hosts "The Lady Loves Couture" blog because well, this lady LOVES couture!  And is always front and center at Paris Fashion Weeks.

What I love about Marjorie's style is that even though she's 50, she's not afraid to flaunt it!  She's clearly a woman that has always taken good care of herself and it shows.  And she does fashion in a way that a confident woman of means does it without having it come across as "mutton dressed as lamb".

Her casual looks are just as fabulous as her couture looks.

And she also does edgy in an effortless way.  Check out this high-low skirt and the boots!

Not only is Marjorie a style crush, but she's also my "GlamMa" crush.  Grandmothers are no longer little old ladies these days!  What a fabulous inspiration to aspire to as I head closer to 50!

This is yesterday's look:  Urban Equestrian.

I saw this look on YLF and immediately walked into my closet and started pulling pieces to create my own version.  Urban Equestrian is not a literal equestrian look, but an "inspired" version created from combining a tailored wool or tweed blazer, sleek bottoms and boots. 

The key piece for my look is my tweed Vogue 8601 blazer.  I paired it with a denim shirt, white jeans and a pair of Sam Edelman lace up boots.  And for fun, my ponyhair leopard print belt.

I love so many of my clothes dearly, but this blazer is something that I would NEVER part with!

Vogue 8939 is an interesting pattern, being that if you weren't looking for this design you would totally miss it on the pattern envelope.  This dress is such a wardrobe staple that I feel it should've been it's own pattern with different length variations.

My version of this pattern was inspired by designer Rick Owens' Lilies Midi Turtleneck Dress.

My fabric is a black modal rayon ponte that I found at my local Joanns.  It was a great find and the fabric feels very luxurious.

I cut the size 14 and I had to make a couple of modifications to achieve the look of my inspiration dress.  I added 12" inches to the length.  The original pattern is pretty short.  I added 2" to the sleeve.  

I had to take in the collar so that it would be fitted.  I hate having a turtleneck that's not fitted when it's supposed to be.  

I ended up having to run 1" seams down each side.  The dress hung like a sack.  I should've cut the size 12.  

Love the simplicity and versatility of this dress.  And I love that it gave me a reason to pull out my corset belt from Asos.com that I haven't worn in a long time.  I'm hoping that I find a cream colored ponte and a heather grey one so that I can add 2 more of these dresses to my wardrobe.

I have an affinity for black.  I usually have to show self-restraint in order to not stock my sewing studio with black fabric.  So when I came across this gorgeous navy blue, I awarded myself a reprieve.  I mean, it's dark but it's not black so that makes it okay!

This Mood Fabrics fabulous find, a dark navy woven is from designer Theory.  And just as stunning as this fabric is, it's equally unusual.  It's a woven with 2-way stretch that feels and sews like a neoprene.  It's magical when used on a structured garment as my skirt and also has an incredible drape.

My top is Simplicity 1283.  With the mass appeal of this particular pattern line, I was surprised by the lack of pattern reviews when I googled it.  I was practically on my own with what to expect.  It's a crop top for sure and being that I'm pretty tall with a lot of torso, I added 3 inches to the length. Had I not, I would have had practically a sports bra on my hands because it's that short. Please be aware of that.  And this top also has an inch of negative ease.  I needed a size 12, but due to the figure hugging design of this top, I went up to the size 14.  (Some may need to do a FBA.)  But the fit still worked well with my fabric choice.  And surprisingly, the sleeves are drafted with a generous amount of length.  I didn't have to add any additional length to them.  I wanted my version of a crop top to hit at the natural waist and meet at the top of the skirt.  It's a really cute design, easy to make, quick to sew with the mock turtle neck style and an invisible zipper closure.  It could easily be turned into a longer top or a dress.  It's worth having in your collection as a base pattern even if you're not into crop tops.

The pattern design, which is designed for a knit worked well my stretch woven.

My skirt is Vogue 1296.  This fabric was the perfect match for this skirt.  I love how it works so well for a structuced garment, yet has such an amazing drape all at once.  I cut the size 14 for my skirt and added 3" inches to the length.  I omitted the lining.  The fabric is beefy and opague enough to where it holds its own.

After wearing this outfit which included entering and exiting my vehicle; standing and sitting, it has wonderful recovery.  

There was no stretch out or sagging.

Here's Monday's look which I was inspired by Pinterest! 

After years of seeing everyone wearing painted on skinny jeans, the universally flattering style of flares is back.  

And they look amazing paired with a peacoat (Vogue 2873).  I also added Breton stripes (McCall's 6964) to play up a nautical look.

And speaking of the flares, I am so glad to be able to slide into my Jalie 2903 jeans!

Who:  Shiona Turini

Who is she:  Fashion Market Director, Cosmopolitan

Some people gush over celebrity style.  Me?  Not so much.  Celebrities have glam squads that pull them together.  I love fashion editors!

No one has a wardrobe like fashion editors, especially this Bermudian beauty who is one of my favorites!  And when wearing this fabulous Ungaro coat, why wouldn't she be?

Shiona always wears striking statement pieces that are to die for! 

One of her signature looks is a crop top, and I love it here juxtaposed with a leather accent and a high-waist, lady-like full midi skirt.

Don't get me started on her accessories!  She stacks and layers jewelry like nobody's business!

The Fashion Market Director is constantly being snapped outside of Fashion Weeks all over the world and I see why.  Shiona's tip for pulling together an outfit:

I've been such a lazy blogger.  So I've decided to participate in the November challenge from See Jane Write - "BlogLikeCrazy!  It's a new post, every day for 30 days!  So here is my first post for this month.  I'm going to recap my favorite #OOTD (outfit of the day) looks that I usually share on Instagram and Twitter -- on the days that I actually get dressed!

I loved this look so much.  I love the idea of mixing prints.  Now, I'm no Solange Knowles and even though I love the look of mixed prints, I really don't feel that I have an organic knack for it.  I know my limitations.  So I kept my look simple with a McCall's 6964 striped tee and a New Look 6107 brocade skirt.  

Leather and tweed are the epitome of Fall Fashion.  How can one dress for fall without these two fabrics?  I paired my version of the luxe sweatshirt (Vogue 8670) with (OOP) Vogue 1066 tweed pants.  Can I tell you about these pants?  This fabric has absolutely NO stretch!  They're lined with China Silk.  I only wore these pants maybe twice at the most since I made them back in 2008.  They're so beautifully made, if I do say so myself, that I couldn't part with them even if I couldn't wear them. Well they currently fit perfectly and I've become reacquainted with them and we're about to make up for lost time! If you're into making tailored trousers with really well-made interiors, be sure to read the review I did for these pants.  It's good tailoring porn!

I absolutely love separates.  Dresses can look beautiful, but I never get bored with separates because the re-mixing possibilities are endless.  Take this outfit for example:  When I pulled these pieces from my closet, I was forcing myself to "brighten up".  I tend to default to wearing lots of black.  Black is easy and I don't have to give it a lot of thought since there's so much of it in my closet.  I love these (OOP) Vogue 1143 emerald green pants.  They're gabardine and seasonless.  My top is this awesome silk blouse (Vogue 1387) that I wished I'd made in every color of silk crepe de chine that I could've gotten my hands on.  I really love wearing it.  And I topped off the look with what's probably now considere a classic, my (OOP) McCall's 5190 military-style jacket.

The weather had warmed up, but it was October and I still wanted to represent a fall look.  So wore my McCall's 6885 leather-trimmed shirt dress (which is one of my favorites that'll probably wear out), unbelted with a pair of lace up boots. 

This was one of my favorite looks for the month.  I love a pulled together outfit and this Simplicity 2446 - cobalt blue blazer is one of my favorite jackets!  Every wardrobe needs great white shirts.  I need to make another one soon.  But this white shirt is Butterick 5526.  This pattern has been around a long time.  I guess the company realizes that it's a classic and a great wardrobe staple. And to make sure that my look was jazzy and contemporary, I wore a pair of printed pants (Simplicity 1696).  

And my final look for October is amazing Vogue 8921.  I'm not much of a long printed dress kinda girl, but when I find a great print -- it's an epic moment!  And that's how I felt when I discovered this ikat print.  I hadn't worn a maxi dress for the entire spring or summer.  Look, hot flashes are REAL!  I just couldn't be swathed in head-to-toe fabric during hot weather.  But now the weather is perfect.  So why not add a fur vest to enhance the boho-chic look that I was going for!

This post wasn't just for the self-gratification of "look at how I dress".  It's to drive home the point of something I'm extremely passionate about:  Building a well-thought out wardrobe of well-sewn garments that stand the test of time.