Nobody told me I'd have to relearn how I shop for clothes. Finding clothes big enough isn't the main criterium anymore, I can actually judge clothes by design and whether or not they suit me.
Well, I'm starting to be able to now, finally reached the upper end of the non plus sizes. Today I had to restrain myself from buying the first pair of jeans I tried on, just because they fit me, and forced myself to put it back on the shelf and find a pair in the style I actually wanted.
Yeah, I had to learn to stop myself from buying an item just because it was tagged "Small" or "Size 8". I mean, it feels good but that alone isn't enough to buy an item. And vanity sizing is definitely a thing.
(But...that Size 8 pair of jeans makes me feel good every time I feel a little crappy about myself too. I know I'm not really a Size 8 and that my self worth isn't based on a clothing size, and so on. But....it makes me happy anyway. And they are a decent pair of jeans!)
For me, the sizing became less important once I knew I'd be able to find my size in store. When the number wasn't the issues insomuch as their XL didn't fit and they didn't have an XXL. The letter is starting to become important again because some stores don't carry below a size 6 or a small, and because of vanity sizing, they are quite big on me sometimes.
To the last: I have sized out of some stores as well, and that boggles my mind. Before the weight loss, not being able to find my size in box stores was a given. Except Lane Bryant. Weight loss, at the time, was key to getting into being able to go to the mall and not spend a brick on clothing.
Never did I ever imagine I would ever reach a point where I would fall off the other end of the Great Ledge of Sizes. Even weirder, it's happening more frequently than just one store (which could have been an anomaly). And I don't really feel that small; a good chunk of the world feels smaller than me -- so where in the world do they go? (In fact, most days, I think my clothing lies to me).
Same here, family was always telling me how thin I looked but then I looked at my cousins and they are rail thin compared to me. I'm petite so I always knew I'd be in pretty small sizes, I just didn't think it'd happen so soon, with 15 pounds still to lose. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have broad shoulders so I can usually fit on top much easier than on bottom.
That your body doesn't turn out the way you expect even with exercise, I'm trying real hard to accept how I look now wrinkles and sags.
Another who was shocked at going down a size in shoes, I thought I'd stretched out my shoes at first.
People can say some pretty hurtful stuff about weight loss and being too thin even though I'm in my weight range.
Trying to discuss weight loss and being told CICO has nothing to do with Keto especially.
People offer food even more now, especially things like cookies and cupcakes in the last week. I'm maintaining but shoving food in my face isn't ok.
I'd become super opinionated and what people do at the gym, like when someone uses the machine directly next to me when there's 20 other machines free, people who talk or goof on their phone for 20 minutes when sitting on a machine, and those that sweat all over machines without drying them off. I never realized how picky I am!
That I'd have to spend more money on electricity between being freezing all the time and washing my daily workout clothes. I also spend way more time in the kitchen making meals.
Nobody told me I'd have to relearn how I shop for clothes. Finding clothes big enough isn't the main criterium anymore, I can actually judge clothes by design and whether or not they suit me.
Well, I'm starting to be able to now, finally reached the upper end of the non plus sizes. Today I had to restrain myself from buying the first pair of jeans I tried on, just because they fit me, and forced myself to put it back on the shelf and find a pair in the style I actually wanted.
Yeah, I had to learn to stop myself from buying an item just because it was tagged "Small" or "Size 8". I mean, it feels good but that alone isn't enough to buy an item. And vanity sizing is definitely a thing.
(But...that Size 8 pair of jeans makes me feel good every time I feel a little crappy about myself too. I know I'm not really a Size 8 and that my self worth isn't based on a clothing size, and so on. But....it makes me happy anyway. And they are a decent pair of jeans!)
For me, the sizing became less important once I knew I'd be able to find my size in store. When the number wasn't the issues insomuch as their XL didn't fit and they didn't have an XXL. The letter is starting to become important again because some stores don't carry below a size 6 or a small, and because of vanity sizing, they are quite big on me sometimes.
To the last: I have sized out of some stores as well, and that boggles my mind. Before the weight loss, not being able to find my size in box stores was a given. Except Lane Bryant. Weight loss, at the time, was key to getting into being able to go to the mall and not spend a brick on clothing.
Never did I ever imagine I would ever reach a point where I would fall off the other end of the Great Ledge of Sizes. Even weirder, it's happening more frequently than just one store (which could have been an anomaly). And I don't really feel that small; a good chunk of the world feels smaller than me -- so where in the world do they go? (In fact, most days, I think my clothing lies to me).
Same here, family was always telling me how thin I looked but then I looked at my cousins and they are rail thin compared to me. I'm petite so I always knew I'd be in pretty small sizes, I just didn't think it'd happen so soon, with 15 pounds still to lose. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have broad shoulders so I can usually fit on top much easier than on bottom.
Yeah. Same. I have about 15-25lbs to lose myself (to get to the middle range of my BMI -- my only answer for this is I am shaped like a noodle XD). I'm a mixed bag of size types. Petite tops generally fit, but sometimes I need longer pants than average, though I'm of average height. It's crazy that I spent so much of my time believing it would be so easy to find clothing once I got into the general size pool... but that is so not the cause. No matter what the size, clothing can still win a skirmish in the dressing room!
1. that your armpits will go from being convex to concave
2. that those double knees you got so used to (you bend your knee and all the extra "meat" bulges out on the inside of your knee) are NOT normal.
3. That you're usually the last one to notice the actual weight loss in the mirror, hence you beat up on yourself WAY too often.
How you can reach your goal weight and still want to lose more...and more...and more. And pretty soon you stop setting a weight goal because you are never happy with what you see.
Then realize you have an eating disorder. Yep. Because that's what happened to me after obsessing over calorie counting and perfecting my body.
How you can reach your goal weight and still want to lose more...and more...and more. And pretty soon you stop setting a weight goal because you are never happy with what you see.
Then realize you have an eating disorder. Yep. Because that's what happened to me after obsessing over calorie counting and perfecting my body.
Be wary, folks.
Reminds me of my experience trying to eliminate all the "bad" foods. Eventually I had a mild mental breakdown over my "lunch": a mozzarella cheese stick wrapped in a slice of deli turkey all wrapped up in a romaine leaf. The culprit? You know deli meat has a lot of sodium... And that mozzarella stick was full fat. Here I was, trying to be healthy, and I was about to eliminate yet two more foods and add them to the ever-growing list of food that I couldn't eat.
I did lose weight, but, like you implied, at what cost? I'm sorry that calorie counting caused you to have an eating disorder. Elimination diets caused the same thing for me. Just goes to show you--not everything works for everyone.
I learned a lot getting to the place where limiting calories would not in and of itself trigger a binge. One was that fat is useful when you diet. Our brains like fat. They light up like crack for fat. So a little bit of butter here and there in my diet or a teaspoon of heavy cream in a sauce means that I'll eat my portion and no more, because my brain thinks we ate, we're good. Extra fat? Nah, cause of the density of calories. But a little lets me do this and not binge.
Things I learned as I've lost weight so far: I didn't know 20 pounds was going to make such a visible difference so early on, when I still have 114 pounds to lose. I didn't know reshaping myself was going to involve such emotional vulnerability, because this changing is scary. I don't know what's under the fat. I've never been thin as a grown woman.
I've never been so aware of my own bones. I can feel them in my shoulders and hips. I can see them in my hands and knees. Sitting on the floor without a cushion is just awful and I think I'm gonna have to buy one for my office chair.
I don't know who I am anymore. My entire adult life has been rotating around shame for being big and struggling to shrink and disappear in public so as to not be an annoyance, and hide myself in baggy clothes. What if I don't need to do that? What do I do then? So much personal identity is tied up in appearance.
That’d you’d be really grateful that a particular monthly social event you grossly overindulge at would come below your goal, because, god bless her, the hostess, who is sweet as she can be, is a terrible cook.
...I don't know who I am anymore. My entire adult life has been rotating around shame for being big and struggling to shrink and disappear in public so as to not be an annoyance, and hide myself in baggy clothes. What if I don't need to do that? What do I do then? So much personal identity is tied up in appearance.
I just love that you wrote this, @Terytha . It's just so profound and something I struggle with as my own journey progresses. It's a struggle, but in a way I love this particular struggle: am I discovering who I am, this new me, or am I creating the new me? (And is it dangerous to mix philosophy with weight loss?)
I Have lost 80 Lbs Feeling Great! And then.... I noticed it! Losing weight at 50 years old was quite the challenge! What I noticed was my Face. use to look younger than my age. Now, Older! I drink lots of water and do my best for nutrition. Guess U have to sacrifice one for the other. But, Really? Any Ideas? Anyone?
Sorry @got2bjb you will have to go with the 'feel younger' bit. When I was fatter I used to look in the mirror and only see my head and I was quite happy. Recently I looked and, despite being several stone lighter, saw the wrinkles that were now more prominent and felt a bit down. I told my SO that I thought I now looked older than I was and could she tell me something nice about my body to make me feel better. She said "well at least your eyesight is spot on!"
Nobody told me I'd have to relearn how I shop for clothes. Finding clothes big enough isn't the main criterium anymore, I can actually judge clothes by design and whether or not they suit me.
Well, I'm starting to be able to now, finally reached the upper end of the non plus sizes. Today I had to restrain myself from buying the first pair of jeans I tried on, just because they fit me, and forced myself to put it back on the shelf and find a pair in the style I actually wanted.
Agree. I've been in more or less maintenance for a year. When I first got to my current weight I bought some very odd outfits. either blowsy and big like I used to wear or silly tight and fitted. Neither style really suits me. It has taken a while but I'm finally settling into a style that I like and suits me. Oh and I have about four pairs of jeans that I never really wear but was just so delighted to find fit me in a regular size.
That you exercise to get energy. Not waiting around for the energy to do it. It’s becoming a good habit for me and I already start looking forward to working out no matter how tired I am because I know good I’m gonna feel.
@got2bjb I'm not sure if it's influenced by age, but I'm my experience from losing weight before at 28, your body takes fat from the easiest places for it first, which is really noticeable when it's your face, where looser skin is really easily seen. I have some properly haggard pictures from then including my passport photo But I did find that six months into maintaining that had sorted itself because I believe your body sort of shifts the remaining fat around after a while to get supplies back in an easy to reach spot. And skin takes time to shrink anyway. So give it time.
I Have lost 80 Lbs Feeling Great! And then.... I noticed it! Losing weight at 50 years old was quite the challenge! What I noticed was my Face. use to look younger than my age. Now, Older! I drink lots of water and do my best for nutrition. Guess U have to sacrifice one for the other. But, Really? Any Ideas? Anyone?
This was so true for me at first but, either I'm now more used to looking at the 'new' me or my body has settled into the new weight and, to me, I look a lot better. A short while ago I was at a wedding and saw someone I hadn't seen for 15 years and they were shocked by 'how much I had turned the clock back' If you're recent to the new weight give it time, keep well hydrated and properly exercised and nourished and you may well find the same. Regardless, huge congrats on the 80lbs - got to be good for your health!
Have I mentioned the neverending laundry before? Because I'd like to mention it again!
I'm now working out in some form or another six days a week. That's a lotta workout gear to wash...
I am so absolutely thrilled for you! What a great problem to have. I get all my workout clothes at WalMart. . .I know I know some people frown at shopping at WalMart but it works for me. I played sports in college and I personally can't tell the difference between expensive workout brands and what I get at WalMart.
Replies
Same here, family was always telling me how thin I looked but then I looked at my cousins and they are rail thin compared to me. I'm petite so I always knew I'd be in pretty small sizes, I just didn't think it'd happen so soon, with 15 pounds still to lose. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have broad shoulders so I can usually fit on top much easier than on bottom.
Another who was shocked at going down a size in shoes, I thought I'd stretched out my shoes at first.
People can say some pretty hurtful stuff about weight loss and being too thin even though I'm in my weight range.
Trying to discuss weight loss and being told CICO has nothing to do with Keto especially.
People offer food even more now, especially things like cookies and cupcakes in the last week. I'm maintaining but shoving food in my face isn't ok.
I'd become super opinionated and what people do at the gym, like when someone uses the machine directly next to me when there's 20 other machines free, people who talk or goof on their phone for 20 minutes when sitting on a machine, and those that sweat all over machines without drying them off. I never realized how picky I am!
That I'd have to spend more money on electricity between being freezing all the time and washing my daily workout clothes. I also spend way more time in the kitchen making meals.
Yeah. Same. I have about 15-25lbs to lose myself (to get to the middle range of my BMI -- my only answer for this is I am shaped like a noodle XD). I'm a mixed bag of size types. Petite tops generally fit, but sometimes I need longer pants than average, though I'm of average height. It's crazy that I spent so much of my time believing it would be so easy to find clothing once I got into the general size pool... but that is so not the cause. No matter what the size, clothing can still win a skirmish in the dressing room!
2. that those double knees you got so used to (you bend your knee and all the extra "meat" bulges out on the inside of your knee) are NOT normal.
3. That you're usually the last one to notice the actual weight loss in the mirror, hence you beat up on yourself WAY too often.
Then realize you have an eating disorder. Yep. Because that's what happened to me after obsessing over calorie counting and perfecting my body.
Be wary, folks.
YES. My coworkers tell me they refuse to adjust the temperature due to my "low body fat percentage...."
Reminds me of my experience trying to eliminate all the "bad" foods. Eventually I had a mild mental breakdown over my "lunch": a mozzarella cheese stick wrapped in a slice of deli turkey all wrapped up in a romaine leaf. The culprit? You know deli meat has a lot of sodium... And that mozzarella stick was full fat. Here I was, trying to be healthy, and I was about to eliminate yet two more foods and add them to the ever-growing list of food that I couldn't eat.
I did lose weight, but, like you implied, at what cost? I'm sorry that calorie counting caused you to have an eating disorder. Elimination diets caused the same thing for me. Just goes to show you--not everything works for everyone.
Things I learned as I've lost weight so far: I didn't know 20 pounds was going to make such a visible difference so early on, when I still have 114 pounds to lose. I didn't know reshaping myself was going to involve such emotional vulnerability, because this changing is scary. I don't know what's under the fat. I've never been thin as a grown woman.
I don't know who I am anymore. My entire adult life has been rotating around shame for being big and struggling to shrink and disappear in public so as to not be an annoyance, and hide myself in baggy clothes. What if I don't need to do that? What do I do then? So much personal identity is tied up in appearance.
I just love that you wrote this, @Terytha . It's just so profound and something I struggle with as my own journey progresses. It's a struggle, but in a way I love this particular struggle: am I discovering who I am, this new me, or am I creating the new me? (And is it dangerous to mix philosophy with weight loss?)
Agree. I've been in more or less maintenance for a year. When I first got to my current weight I bought some very odd outfits. either blowsy and big like I used to wear or silly tight and fitted. Neither style really suits me. It has taken a while but I'm finally settling into a style that I like and suits me. Oh and I have about four pairs of jeans that I never really wear but was just so delighted to find fit me in a regular size.
I am so absolutely thrilled for you! What a great problem to have. I get all my workout clothes at WalMart. . .I know I know some people frown at shopping at WalMart but it works for me. I played sports in college and I personally can't tell the difference between expensive workout brands and what I get at WalMart.