La Gordis

Hola! I am Clemencia, the face of Gordita Pero Cute. Most people call me Cleme, Clems, Clemie, Clem or some other variation! My family has always called me La Gordis or Gorda. (I even have a brother whom we call Gordo!) It's not a bad thing; more like a term of endearment because we were "bien gorditos" when we were young. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas in a typical Mexican family. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters and have always been the chubbier of all the siblings. Growing up I struggled with my self esteem because of my weight. As an adult I've learned to embrace and love myself to the fullest. That's where this brand comes in. Through this medium, I will share with you everything from food with family, modified workouts, body positivity, and ways to love and care for yourself. 

Through this brand, shop + blog, I want to try and remove the negative stigmas associated with overweight people. F*** those beauty standards that say you have to be thin to be beautiful, thin to be healthy, thin to be strong. Just because we're chubby doesn't mean we're lazy, or sit and eat chips and ice cream all day. It doesn't mean we don't exercise or move our bodies. And it surely doesn't mean we don't love ourselves. No matter how healthy I eat and how much I exercise, I will never be 125 lbs. I never have been and never will be. That is not ideal for me. I embrace my curves, love myself, and work on myself for myself. You should too!

Some background info on me: I received my bachelor's degree from the University of Houston (2002), and my master's degree from University of Houston - Clear Lake (2010). I became a teacher in 2005. I taught 2nd grade before becoming an elementary librarian. I am currently a school librarian at a 9th grade campus and absolutely love it. I have educated students in grades K-6 and 9th. 

In January of 2019, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was shocking, devastating, and life changing. I had surgery, went through treatment and came out stronger than ever! As preventive measures, I am on a mild form of chemo that is administered through an injection every 4 weeks. I also take daily medication. Both of these treatments will be a part of my life until summer 2024. Both of these treatments also cause weight gain. Which is why on July 1, 2019, I started really working out with a personal trainer. I train 3 days per week and walk 2 days per week. I also incorporate healthy meals but still enjoy all my Mexican staples: tortillas, arroz, pan dulce, raspados, fideo, tamales, tostadas, tortas. You get the picture! 

Welcome to Gordita Pero Cute! I hope you find something in my story that you can relate to. I will post on Instagram when a new blog post is available, so make sure you are following me @gorditaperocute !

Much love, besos, y abrazos, La Gordis Cleme

Fun Facts About Me:

• I am the youngest of 6 in my family
• I exercise 4-5 times per week
• I am a full time school librarian
• I'm a dog mom to 3 spoiled chihuahuas
• I am a breast cancer survivor
• "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can." ~~Frida Kahlo