The Pants Challenge!!

[corinnak]

Are your pants too tight? Mine are. And I am going to USE that to my advantage!

Whether you have fallen off track and your clothes are binding a little or you want a little more incentive to get that next size down to fit, grab a pair of your pants that are too tight and join us! It doesn't matter what size they are, but just make sure it is the next size down from what fits you comfortably now. I am right in between 16 and 14 and I desperately want the 14's to be the ones I'm wearing at the end of the month for my Tower of Terror 13K race trip!

So pick out your pants, choose a reasonable time goal or an event in the near future at which you want your pants to fit and help yourself to the "Pants" clippie! Join us in re-committing to owning that smaller size!

[kimwim8]

Oh, I am SO in!!

Thanks so much, Corinna for starting this challenge!! This is gonna help me get back on track and back into my shorts for my WDW trip coming up in 4.5 weeks! :thumbsup2

[Blueeyes101817]

im in!!! i need to get my pants a bit looser...or even back into the size 8s i want to be in!

[corinnak]

This isn't necessarily going to be easy. I'm so HUNGRY today! What methods are you ladies going to use to get those pants fitting? These are the things I am considering:

Diet improvement? - for me,get back to following WW more stringently. I am hampered by that site being down today. :headache:

Upping the cardio? More frequent weight training?

Is it really possible to make this happen in 3 weeks? I hope so.

[kimwim8]

Ok, I officially start tomorrow. (man, I hate saying that). For me, it helps to be at work when I start, so that I get on a roll (without all of the "home" temptations).

But here's my plan:

I'm going back to the core eating plan that the nutritionist gave me almost 2 years ago. High protein, low sugar, low carb. (exciting, huh? ;) ). I'll be VERY hungry the first few days, but if I can get through that...then I'll be fine. In order to get rid of the initial "bloat" I'll be drinking my green tea twice a day plus 80-100 oz. of water per day. After the first week, I'll probably cut back the green tea to once a day and then once every other day (since it's a natural blood thinner).

What I'm worried about with this is my hair loss. That was one of my main issues when I was seeing the nutritionist. I need to get the hair/nail vitamins and get started on them right away.

Ok, enough about me. Here goes.......

(good luck guys!)

[lil mermaid]

I love this challenge! I really really want to fit into my jeans again. I would love to have the size 8's in my closet fit me when I go back home to Boston for Thanksgiving. I would love it if the 6's would fit, lol but I will settle for the 8's.

Okay, I feel stupid. I want the clippie but I don't know how to get it into my signature. Can someone clue me in?

[kimwim8]

I love this challenge! I really really want to fit into my jeans again. I would love to have the size 8's in my closet fit me when I go back home to Boston for Thanksgiving. I would love it if the 6's would fit, lol but I will settle for the 8's.

Okay, I feel stupid. I want the clippie but I don't know how to get it into my signature. Can someone clue me in?

Welcome lil mermaid!

If you right click on the picture and highlight/copy the url, then you paste it into your signature and add to the beginning of the url, and add to the end of the url. That shoudl work. :thumbsup2

[katerkat]

I'm in! Mine are brown pants, the best brown pants ever. Last year, I switched pants with my sister - I gave her all my size 6-8s and she gave me all her 12s. Evil sister. I want those brown pants back and I'm almost there. I'm flying to Jersey in a month and I'm taking those pants back!! (To be fair, I'm getting her pants tailored so they will fit both of us and she can have any of hers back as well.)

I need to get back into my South Beach - low carb, right carb, etc. And drinking water again - I've been slacking a lot. And more cardio, especially since I'm training for the ToT!

I'm not sure how it will work... Unfortunately my tummy is at the point where there's not really a lot of "fat" - just loose skin from having a baby stretch everything out! So even though I'm fitting into some smaller sizes, I'm not fitting well into them, which is depressing. At least when I weighed more, I had that as an excuse when stuff didn't fit well.

[corinnak]

Fantastic! I feel the momentum building around here!

To make it easy to add the clippie, you can just paste this into your signature under User CP:

[@URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21191518#post21191518"][@IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/corinnak/bluepants3.jpg[/IMG] [/URL]

Just delete the two @ signs in the brackets and it should work. Or does that make it more complicated?

This has the graphic and it links to this page, so - ultra cool, right? Well, I thought so anyhow. :)

[chamonix]

Here's a recent photo of me wearing my "before" pants, LOL. Just a little inspiration that seemed well suited for this thread/challenge! I'm not quite at my goal yet, so I think I will join you--I have lost a lot, but still have a couple pants sizes to go.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/604406/LNBSM-after2007003.jpg

[lil mermaid]

Fantastic! I feel the momentum building around here!

To make it easy to add the clippie, you can just paste this into your signature under User CP:

[@URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21191518#post21191518"][@IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/corinnak/bluepants3.jpg[/IMG] [/URL]

Just delete the two @ signs in the brackets and it should work. Or does that make it more complicated?

This has the graphic and it links to this page, so - ultra cool, right? Well, I thought so anyhow. :)


Thanks for your help guys - I am clueless!

[lil mermaid]

I'm not sure how it will work... Unfortunately my tummy is at the point where there's not really a lot of "fat" - just loose skin from having a baby stretch everything out! So even though I'm fitting into some smaller sizes, I'm not fitting well into them, which is depressing. At least when I weighed more, I had that as an excuse when stuff didn't fit well.

I think I know what you are talking about - that thing that you can tuck into your pants?? I call it "the shelf."

I am starting to work out on the Pilates reformer - I am hoping it helps with that, but it may be a lost cause...

[lil mermaid]

Here's a recent photo of me wearing my "before" pants, LOL. Just a little inspiration that seemed well suited for this thread/challenge! I'm not quite at my goal yet, so I think I will join you--I have lost a lot, but still have a couple pants sizes to go.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/604406/LNBSM-after2007003.jpg

Wow - that is awesome! Congratulations. You look great! :banana:

[corinnak]

What an amazing photo, chamonix! That's got to be an amazing feeling. Glad to have you with us!

[bailey2007]

I would like to join this. I am also part of the October weight loss challenge and the 2007 weight loss challenge. I need all of the motivation that I can get! I have been following WW but lately have been sliding right off the program and can't seem to get back on. Maybe this will work- I am also a size 16 who longs to fit into all of the size 14s that I still own.

[corinnak]

Come sit over here by me, Bailey2007! We can do it - I know we can!!! You know what is silly? I still have the 18's in the house as well. I've gone up and down too many times, but I probably really should send all but one pair away, shouldn't I?


My newest wacky tactic - I was looking at November's Prevention magazine which claimed to have a workout to "firm up fast." Now I am not one to go for the get slim quick schemes and scams, but this is a cool little workout using exercise bands (I just bought one last week, coincidentally to help with a particular stretch for my hamstrings!). They tested five ways of getting strong: weights, resistance bands, Pilates, yoga and body-weight moves like push-ups on 18 sedentary women and found that the bands had a clear advantage over other methods because the women using the bands exercised more. This is a SMALL sample size, obviously, but they say you can see results in less than a month, and even tantalize me with the offer to "make zipping you your skinny jeans a breeze in just 3 weeks" Well, perfect, cause that is just what I want! I will keep you posted....I start tomorrow, as I did weights at the gym yesterday.

[corinnak]

OK - I suck because I didn't do that band workout yesterday. :sad2: However, I ROCK because I ran over 7 miles yesterday! :banana:

Maybe it wasn't the smartest move, but I am donating blood today, and wanted to get my LONG run for the week done before I did that.

My pants are feeling better each day. This morning, they buttoned prety easily and the overhang is SO much less than it was. I don't know if they have stretched because I have been trying them on fairly frequently or if I really am that much LESS, but I guess I will take what I can get. I'd better wash them, though - they still have the tags on.

Thanks for jumping onboard this challenge, everyone! It helps so much knowing that I'm not alone in striving for THE PANTS.:laughing:

[lil mermaid]

OK - I suck because I didn't do that band workout yesterday. :sad2: However, I ROCK because I ran over 7 miles yesterday! :banana:

Maybe it wasn't the smartest move, but I am donating blood today, and wanted to get my LONG run for the week done before I did that.

My pants are feeling better each day. This morning, they buttoned prety easily and the overhang is SO much less than it was. I don't know if they have stretched because I have been trying them on fairly frequently or if I really am that much LESS, but I guess I will take what I can get. I'd better wash them, though - they still have the tags on.

Thanks for jumping onboard this challenge, everyone! It helps so much knowing that I'm not alone in striving for THE PANTS.:laughing:


You do rock....7 miles? Holy smokes. I can barely do 3.

Okay, so I can get into the size 8 jeans - but it is NOT a pretty sight. Too tight, but I can get them on, zip them up and everything. I have decided that I am going to try them on every Thursday.

[kimwim8]

Holy cow, girl. (not holy cowgirl :laughing: ). That is an AWESOME run!! And you do completely ROCK! :cool1: I'd say after a run like that, skipping the band workout is totally acceptable. :goodvibes

Great job with the pants! I'm sure you're not stretching them out just by putting them on. Maybe if you were doing squats and waist bends or something. :rolleyes1

Lil Mermaid - great job for you too!! I think trying on the pants once a week is a great way to track your progress.

I wore a pair of 6's today to work that are definitely cut WAY TOO slim. I have some 4's that fit better than these. :headache: But they buttoned & zipped easily so I put them on. I do have a bit of a muffin top going on..but I wore a blousy shirt. ;)

Corinna - You're the best. Thank you SO much for starting this challenge. It's absolutely what I needed, in order to mix things up. :hug:

[OKWAnneMarie]

Here's a recent photo of me wearing my "before" pants, LOL. Just a little inspiration that seemed well suited for this thread/challenge! I'm not quite at my goal yet, so I think I will join you--I have lost a lot, but still have a couple pants sizes to go.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/604406/LNBSM-after2007003.jpg



What a WONDERFUL picture!!! You are an inspiration.

[lil mermaid]

Here's a recent photo of me wearing my "before" pants, LOL. Just a little inspiration that seemed well suited for this thread/challenge! I'm not quite at my goal yet, so I think I will join you--I have lost a lot, but still have a couple pants sizes to go.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/604406/LNBSM-after2007003.jpg

Again, amazing - how did you do it??

[bailey2007]

This past weekend I was able to comfortably wear two pairs of jeans that 6 months ago were too tight to sit down in. :cool1: They are still size 16s but fit me much better. Hopefully I will eventually get down to the 14s that are in my closet.

[corinnak]

way to go, Judy! That is great news! You will make it to those 14's - I just know it.

I tried mine on this morning and noted that the muffin top is drastically reduced. It is now the kind on the little muffin that was made of the remaining batter and not quite as full as the others. :laughing: I'll take it!

I am doing the band workout on the days that I am not running, which seems to work out pretty well. The band I have is probably not the ideal amount of resistance for me, though - it's a little light, but I'm working around it.

My best friend said I was looking "skinny" this weekend. Well, I don't think I'd go that far, but it's nice to hear anyhow. The scale isn't going down, but maybe I am reshaping anyhow.

I lost my focus a little over the weekend, but I think I've got my eyes back on the prize, once again. :eek:

[kimwim8]

What is it about weekends?? I struggle so much with being good on the weekends. :headache:

Back on track, though.

Although...I haven't tried on my clothes yet. I think I'm scared to know. :confused3

[corinnak]

My theory, Kim, since you asked, is that it is not only the change in routine from the usual weekday thing, but there is also a sense of kicking back and relaxing a little in general OR ELSE a frantic going from event to errand to event sort of thing, neither of which is conducive to just plodding along with any kind of food plan.

I think you should go ahead and try your clothes, Kim! I bet it won't be as bad as you think, and if it is, that is a kick in the right direction, right?

Last night, I was at a meeting and there are always lots of snacks for the break in the middle. Last night there were brownies and a pumpkin cake and I had decided before I went that I was going to pass on all the goodies this time, and you know what? It was hard, cause that crusty corner brownie looked so good, but I didn't have any! It was a small victory in favor of the pants, but a victory nevertheless! I always kind of scoff at that feeling terrible when you give in and feeling good when you don't - cause wouldn't I have enjoyed that brownie? But I do feel kind of good for passing on it.

Pants, here we come.

[corinnak]

Hey there - it's Thursday! Did anyone try on their pants today?

[corinnak]

Hey there Pants friends! Today in my mailbox, I got a message from Sparkpeople about the challenge of the weekend, so I thought I'd pass the link along.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=466

[kimwim8]

I think you should go ahead and try your clothes, Kim! I bet it won't be as bad as you think, and if it is, that is a kick in the right direction, right?


Ok, I did it. Today. Got that kick in the right direction I need. :guilty:

Time is of the essence for me. Pressure's on. I know for a fact (proven by history) that if I am GOOD with my eating, then I will lose a few pounds the first week, and probably another 1 or 2 the second week. That would put me 2 days away from my trip. This is it, girls....do or die. (I guess I don't have to be that dramatic...how about do or "be uncomfortable and squish myself in my shorts while at WDW". :laughing: )

I see the ortho on Friday, so no running or even walking for me this week. But my plan is to hit the Bean every day (I mean, come on, it takes me maybe 5 minutes), do arm weights every other day, and do a pilates or yoga workout at least 3 times/week.

WISH me luck.

[corinnak]

Somehow, I've managed to miss something - what is the Bean?

I went to the preschool camp out last night and have been exhausted and munchy all day. And then I uploaded the photos from the camera. Some of them are ones my 4 year old took of me about a month ago, and I can not believe how blobby my torso is when sitting down. It is unreal. I can't tell if I still look this way or not. I should post it, but it is just too horrible.

On the PLUS side, I decided to upgrade the resistance band portion of my workout lifestyle and got a full set of them (plus a DVD that I haven't looked at yet) and I can sure feel the difference with the heavier bands. Now it really feels like a WORKOUT.

[corinnak]

Oh, and Kim, one more thing. It's tough without the running and walking, I know, but you can still do this. The food is more than half of the challenge, for sure. Hang in there. The prospect of being squished into shorts....I am sure you could still have fun, but man, that is an uncomfortable way to spend a vacation. Ask me know I know. :sad2: I don't want to leave this on a fat note - You still have time. Let's rock these pants!

[katerkat]

Corinna, are those pants going to fit on Friday? ;)

I don't know how I've been doing since The Pants are at my parents'. Of course, my sister had to ruin it for me by telling me she hates those pants and they have a tapered leg. How would I know? I haven't worn them in three years!

I'm taking a lot of the same clothes to WDW this trip as I did in December, so I hope I'll see some difference in the pictures! I know one shirt is a LOT less clingy at the waist.

[corinnak]

Yes, I don't have much time left. The pants fit better than they did when I started, so that is something. I'm not sure they are looking great yet, but better is better. I guess the test is to put them on along with a snug shirt and have my preschooler photograph me sitting down. :rolleyes:

[kimwim8]

I guess the test is to put them on along with a snug shirt and have my preschooler photograph me sitting down. :rolleyes:



:eek: Now you've taken it too far. I thought it was about the standing up fit of the pants. :laughing: You're a brave, brave woman. :goodvibes

I'm just joking around. Seriously, you've been doing GREAT! And yes, fitting better is wonderful!!! No one said you're pants had to be falling off of you in a few short weeks.

[corinnak]

Oh, but wouldn't it be NICE if they were falling off after 3 weeks? Yes, the standing up fit of the pants is what I have been going by, too. I hadn't thought that I might look truly, truly scary when sitting down. :scared1:

[kimwim8]

I hadn't thought that I might look truly, truly scary when sitting down. :scared1:


Awww, that's not what I was insinuating. :hug: I just know that's the last position I'D want my pic taken in. :rotfl2:

I'm SO jealous you guys are leaving me!!

[corinnak]

I'll be here a few more days, and really, I won't be gone long at all. Kat, on the other hand, seems to be already on her way. Usually I bring a computer along, but this trip is sooo short for me, I don't think it's worth the trouble.

[corinnak]

Well, I wore the pants yesterday. I don't know about "no overhang" but I got through the day without unbottoning the top, so that is a victory of a sort.

[kimwim8]

Well, I wore the pants yesterday. I don't know about "no overhang" but I got through the day without unbottoning the top, so that is a victory of a sort.


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

That's a victory!!! :goodvibes Congrats, girl!

I have some on today that are almost "too big" for me to wear anymore. Probably just the timing of the week of the month I'm in. :laughing: But I'll take it!

Have a GREAT trip, girls!!

[corinnak]

Nice to have pants that are getting too big, Kim!

My shorts are fitting GREAT, which will be nice for the weekend. I have been in and out of these shorts a couple of times. That's how bad things have been. Now they fit and are comfortable. Not sure if I am going to bring THE pants on the trip. I am wearing 14's today that fit a little better than those, so I may go with these instead.

[lil mermaid]

Okay, so I took the pants out and they fit. In all actuality, they could be a little bit looser, but they fit!!! Unfortunately, part of that is due to a nasty stomach bug that hit our house last week...

[corinnak]

lil mermaid, I'm sorry about the stomach bug, but at least something good came of it. Congratulations on your pants FITTING!

I have been wearing THE PANTS, though they are still on the slightly snuggish side. I am not ready to move on to another pair of "goal pants" by any means.

I am, howver, thrilled that I am feeling like I am moving solidly out of the XL size - they are just looking all huge on me (running clothes excepted - those things tend to run small) and the L's are looking pretty good!

[corinnak]

OK - today is the day! With much fanfare and excitment, and with the full realization that tomorrow may be a different story:

The Pants FIT!!!!

No overhang when I am standing up. Of course they feel looser in the legs now.....It is going to be a little while before I feel like it's time to buy a size 12 to aim for, as I get the sense that if I wash these or eat something salty, I am going back to that little muffin top, but for today, THEY FIT!:cool1:

[corinnak]

Here's a joke for you. These pants that now allegedly fit? They are too SHORT. I bought the wrong length. They aren't WAY too short, but they just stop at the top 1/4 of my shoe. Ugh. I am wearing them anyhow, but darn it! That takes a little of the joy away. I have another pair that is still a little squeezy - next pants goal. I bought them a WHILE ago and they still have the tags on.

However, last night on the treadmill, my XL running skirt from Target was actually slipping down. I had compression shorts underneath that were fine, but yikes! When I told DH, he said "Oh, I'm sorry" or "Oh, that's too bad" And I said, "Are you kidding me? It's AWESOME!!!" :woohoo: :dance3: :cool1: :banana: :rotfl:

[kimwim8]

You completely rocked this challenge, girl! :woohoo: I'm struggling big time. I'm stuck in a "poor me" place right now. :sad2: I'll be ok next week. :goodvibes

But a HUGE congrats to you. Floods or not (j/k :laughing: ) wear those pants proudly, girl. :thumbsup2

[corinnak]

Thank you Kim - Floods indeed! They aren't that bad, thank goodness, but how silly!

That "poor me" place sucks. You need to find another place to hang out. Seriously, though, I know it is brutally tough to be sidelined like this. You gotta take care of it, and I know you are, but it is still really rough. It sounds like you are getting some fantastic strength work done, though, and that so SO important. I really think that this regular strength training is what has made the difference for me lately, cause my food monitoring has been on the poor side. Just a little while longer and you'll be back in the game, I know. :hug:

[bailey2007]

Well, I'm still in my size 16s but the waist is very loose. I need a belt to hold them up correctly. I have good karma that I will be in my 14s by the end of November.

[corinnak]

Judy - you can do it! It's an awkward in between spot to be in, isn't it? What a good feeling to really NEED that belt, though. :thumbsup2

[corinnak]

Guys, I'm scared to put on the pants. I've put a few pounds back on and I know exactly where they are. What do you think - should I try them and be horrified or get back on track for a week and then try them?