Song of the Week:
Strawberry Shortcake by: Goodie Bag
Story Time
Have I told the story of how I broke my first waist bead band because I literally over-ate? It was 2022, and waist beads were all the rage—at least on my timeline. I first saw them at a food festival (because where else, right?). The vendor had the most beautiful beads I’d ever seen—so stunning, I still think about them. Sadly, I can’t remember the name of the business, probably a consequence due to what happened next. When I was getting fitted, I was feeling like a skinny queen and insisted on a size that would barely let me breathe, let alone eat. The vendor asked me three times if I was sure, and in my delusional confidence, I said yes.
So, mistake number one: beads too tight. Mistake number two: proceeding to devour pounds of greasy food and sweets immediately after getting said beads. Yes, I went to a food festival and decided the best time to get waist beads was before stuffing my face. Hindsight, am I right? Shockingly, I survived the night, and those beads stayed intact. But a couple of weeks later, after a few more indulgent meals and being a couch potato, those poor beads finally gave up and popped, forever lost to my overeating habits.
Next, a good friend of mine gifted me a gorgeous carnelian waist bead chain for my birthday. This one was different from my last because it could come on and off whenever I wanted (basically, it let me cheat the system). I wore it every day, even taking it off before showering—I was in love.
Then came one fateful day on campus after hours. It was getting dark, I had to catch the last bus home, or face a long walk in the night, but of course, my bladder had other plans. The walk from class to the bus was only 3 minutes, but sometimes the bus was late, so I had a “generous” 5 minutes. I thought, “I got this!”—until my professor decided to give the longest conclusion ever, leaving me with exactly 2 minutes to make it.
Desperate, I sprinted to the bathroom, barely making it to a stall, only to realize I was wearing jeans with a belt. Time was ticking, and I really couldn’t hold it in. So, I panicked, ripped my belt off with the strength of ten men… and sent my beautiful waist beads flying all over the bathroom floor like confetti. Did I have time to mourn? Nope. I still had to catch that bus. Moral of the story? The bus ended up being 10 minutes late. So yeah, I destroyed my belt and my beads for no reason. Classic.
So, mistake number three: don’t get beads that can pop off. And mistake number four, which everyone can learn from: use the bathroom the first time your body says so! Don’t wait. It will do more harm than good.
I Overcame All That
All of that leads me to where I am today. Now, I wear three different waist beads that not only honor the “ghosts” of those lost but also symbolize my weight loss journey. When I decided to get new ones, I wanted to be intentional—about why I was getting them and where they’d sit on my body. So, I chose beads in three placements: one below my belly near my hips (the largest), one at my belly after eating (regular size), and one just before my belly (my goal size—the smallest). This placement was significant because I wanted to lose weight, and these waist beads became a form of accountability for me.
Like many, when starting a weight loss journey, it’s a constant uphill battle—mentally and physically. There’s so much conflicting advice about how to properly lose fat, and at the time, I was still figuring things out. Even though I was going to the gym every day, I wasn’t serious about my diet yet. I’d come home and eat cereal, chips, and chicken nuggets and call that a meal. I had a lot to learn about nutrition, but the waist beads helped me refocus on my diet.
One of my biggest struggles was the urge to eat when I wasn’t actually hungry—I call it the munchies. I’d just want to munch on something, usually chips, cereal, or something sweet, and I convinced myself that since I wasn’t stuffed after dinner, it was fine. Keyword: convinced. In reality, I was full. That’s the point of dinner, but my brain would tell me I needed a treat to seal the deal. Thanks to my waist beads, though, I became more mindful of my habits. I could physically feel myself pushing the two smaller sizes and creeping into the territory of the third (the one around my hips). This feeling, not going to lie, is uncomfortable. Now, I’m not saying there’s scientific data backing this method, but from personal experience, it kept me in check. I realized I was being gluttonous—eating more than I needed—and if I wasn’t full after a meal, I needed to adjust what I was eating, not just snack more. I know, easier said than done. I come from a snacking family of the highest pedigree; I had to overcome a lot.
Where does that lead me?
Recently, I noticed something surprising—I lost 15 pounds while gaining muscle in the process. Now, I know as women, talking about weight can feel… taboo? But at my heaviest, I was 165 pounds, and I’m 5’5” for reference. According to those outdated BMI charts, that put me in the “extremely overweight” category. But I’d argue otherwise—I didn’t feel or look that way. Still, as many American girls know, no matter what the scale says, there’s always that nagging feeling that it’s “too much.” I’ve struggled with my body image for years, and I finally decided to do something about it, because I was the only one feeling that internal battle.
It’s taken over 5 years of dedication—weight training, wearing waist beads, and learning to stay consistent—but now, I’m finally seeing the progress I’ve been striving for. My internal battle has become the motivation I need to further my growth. I’m happy to see where my waist beads sit on my body now, as they’ve become a visual reminder of how far I’ve come. And I am left with the question, Do I cut them off to start anew?
I go back and forth with my decision. I love striving for progress and new growth but sometimes, I do cling to past they are reminder of where I’ve been. Not to mention, I get so many compliments on them and the history we have together is beautiful and meaningful. I would feel naked if they weren’t there. Is it weird to profound this much love to inanimate object?
I don’t believe I will come to a solid conclusion on this journey on my own accord. And to be honest, it’s not the most pressing issue. It can wait till I can’t wait no more. That is the cycle of life.
Sweet Addict
If you know anything about me let it be, I love something sweet. Candy, cake, mousse, pudding, fruit, cereal, this list can go on. I have learned to live with it. Learning when and what to indulge in has been a lesson I believe everyone can benefit from. Why did it take me just now to realize, God was right to put gluttonous as one of the deadly sins. But you can see why I chose Strawberry Shortcake as this week’s song right?
If you have noticed a pattern with my music choice that one key element, I love is a woman who can sing. And I mean sing! Then paired with a funky, amazing beat and tempo you got me hooked. This song has all the correct checks, and the title fits this week’s theme as I wish to eat a strawberry shortcake soon. Before you get mad at me, I know it’s another love song. But if you visualize her sings about diet and the evil of being junk food it still makes sense! Maybe only to me…
Either way stick around with me on this journey so we can figure it out together. Join me next week as we dive into another taboo topic about America…and our spending habits.
Thank you for joining me on a full one-year journey at The Unfinished Times! OMG I can’t believe that we have made it here! I have been dreaming of this day and it has finally arrived! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! <3 See you in the next post~ XOXO
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