A ? for anyone who has lost weight

[DisneyPhD]

I used to think that I just couldn't losse weight, not mater what I did. I was always very thin all my life and after getting married and starting birth control pills I gained 30 pounds over 4 years or so. I was 93 pounds and 5 feet tall when I got married.

It has been 12 years now and since my baby has developed a food allergy to milk and eggs and I have decided to continue to breast feed her it means I have to give them up too.

This has been very hard on me as I love both things and both are in most foods. It has meant learning a whole new way of eating. It turns out I have more will power then I thought I did and I have been at it for 4 months now. (with no cheating since you can't with allergies and it is for my DD health, not mine). The weight that I was never dedicated enough to loss on my own is falling off. (15 to 20 lbs so far.)

While I was really happy about it, I have found it is bothersome in some ways. My clothes are falling off me. Old clothes I really liked don't fit any more. Even my rings are loose. My pants fall down and I always pulling them up.

I am not complaining, I am happy about the changes. However I am finding something I never expected. Change is difficult. Even if it is good change. I remember hearing an interview with a women who was anorexic and she was commenting on while she knew it wasn't good for her health, she had been this way for a long time and change is scary. I hadn't realized how right she was. Anyone else experience this?

Of course I am also little bit scared of getting used to this and then gaining the extra pounds back once I ween the girl and can eat cheese again!

 

[Cruisin]

I know the feeling about the clothes.

I have lost 30 plus pounds in the last year and everything I own hangs on me like a tent. (and I did it eating cheese too )

I have bought tons of new clothes, but it is very hard to give up my Disney Tshirt collection Now when I wear them I can't believe that I once filled these clothes out.

It is very satisfying to go into a mall and realize that I can shop in any store in there now

Get some new favorite clothes.

Sometimes change is good.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I love getting new cothes, and ones in size 6 are great! However I just bought a bunch of size 10 pants that I really like (belts work fine though.) Somethings I don't give up eaisly. I guess I could just go get the same things in a smaller size. I do admit that while some cothes still fit I tend not to pick them because I don't want to look fat if I am not.

However I still miss cheese. Still a little concenred I am going to blow up like a ballon when I can eat it again. Self control. It is all a mater of self control.

 

[Chicago526]

I lost 30 pounds (Weight Watchers, loved it!) and had to buy a whole new wardrobe, and I spent a long time being broke (I work in an office and HAD to buy new clothes). I donated most of my fat clothes to charity, so at least I had a tax write off (and office clothes are always in demand for women who are trying to find better employemnt). For me, change was not scary at all, although I guess I can see how it might be.

The worst part of losing weight for me was that I'm so cold in the winter now. I don't have as much insulation! After losing about 15 pounds, I couldn't sleep through the night (this was January) because I'd wake up so cold. I couldn't figure out why at first. Then it dawned on me!

So now I have an electric blanket!

 

[helenabear]

I went through a similar mentality. Change is scary and it is hard to do. I tried several times to lose weight over the years and well, once my weight was nearly the same as my DH's who is about 9" taller than me, I actually forced myself to change. It was sooooo hard and very scary. The good news is that after about 1.5 years of this now, it's easy and not nearly as scary as it seemed at first. What I eat has me at a good weight and I can enjoy the yummy foods during the holidays or parties and not have to worry as much now about gaining.

This morning when I stepped on the scale, I noticed my weight was less than what was on my Drivers License by about 5 pounds... that weight has been there since I was 16. For the first time in 12 years it is right! I'm off about 65-70 pounds total from my worst. It feels so much better than it used to

 

[clarabelle]

Throw AWAY your fat clothes. Reward yourself with some new things. That way when you wean her -if you start to gain it back you will know. My DH and I took up cycling after we both lost weight. It helps keep it off and gives us a focus.
I briefly mourned some clothes that I had not had long -or really liked etc...
but losing the weight was worth it. You are worth it and I bet you are feeling better without the weight.

 

[Hercules10]

Only change I noticed was I got hornier.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Only change I noticed was I got hornier.

Oh my, I hope that is a side effect for me (and so does poor DH!)

clarabelle, I got rid of 2 big boxes a few weeks ago and I see more coming. In addtion I have noticed that my style has changed some. (I have a waist now, I want to let people see it. ) Of course that doesn't mean half shirts. My tummy might be flater, but there is still strech marks from that 2nd baby.

All my old cothes that I had been holding on to for a while (skinny) I got rid of because they are over 10 year out of date!

I was just holding my baby and it hit me, I lost a whole baby (she is 18 pounds right now.) How amazing it that?

 

[binny]

I went through a similar mentality. Change is scary and it is hard to do. I tried several times to lose weight over the years and well, once my weight was nearly the same as my DH's who is about 9" taller than me, I actually forced myself to change. It was sooooo hard and very scary. The good news is that after about 1.5 years of this now, it's easy and not nearly as scary as it seemed at first. What I eat has me at a good weight and I can enjoy the yummy foods during the holidays or parties and not have to worry as much now about gaining.

This morning when I stepped on the scale, I noticed my weight was less than what was on my Drivers License by about 5 pounds... that weight has been there since I was 16. For the first time in 12 years it is right! I'm off about 65-70 pounds total from my worst. It feels so much better than it used to

Congrats El, how did you do it?

 

[froglady]

I found that a good seamstress was my new best friend. I had a LOT of clothes altered. It was still cheaper than replacing them.

 

[helenabear]

clarabelle, I got rid of 2 big boxes a few weeks ago and I see more coming. In addtion I have noticed that my style has changed some. (I have a waist now, I want to let people see it. ) Of course that doesn't mean half shirts. My tummy might be flater, but there is still strech marks from that 2nd baby.

All my old cothes that I had been holding on to for a while (skinny) I got rid of because they are over 10 year out of date!

I was just holding my baby and it hit me, I lost a whole baby (she is 18 pounds right now.) How amazing it that?

Okay I can relate to a lot of that as well! I say you still need to take the clothes back and exchange them for something else you would like. It's rather expensive to lose weight though, isn't it? Buying new wardrobes really got me down after a while. Like you, all my "skinny" clothes were 10-15 years old and gone!

That's a neat feeling... I realized at WDW that the 8 year old I was carryign a couple times was the same amount as what I lost.

Congrats El, how did you do it?

Thanks Bin! : Honestly I did the very boring, but very reliable calorie counting. I failed miserably in the past due to the types of foods I was trying to eat (things I normaly wouldn't like) and then I would feel like I couldn't ever "splurge" and have ice cream or something. This time I did flat out calories. 1200 to start with Then I would have two meals that were pretty much the same daily (granola for breakfast, and a meal bar or any food that was about 200-250 calories... a lot of the Hormel & spaghettio type stuff really is about there per serving, and even Easy mac is close) and then for the evening I would eat a sensible meal.

But if I wanted a hot fudge sundae, then I would have that hot fudge sundae. I just wouldn't eat aything else. I got really good at remembering what calories are associated with what foods. Now I just eat until I am full. I can no longer eat full sized adult meals at fast food or any restaurants anymore. They fill me up way too much. I always get kids meals from fast food places (they are about 600 calories total with drink on average... adults are double that!) and I just eat about half of what restaurants give me. Once I got used to that amount, it was all I could eat. So it was definite will power then, but now it is "normal" to me.

The first two weeks were awful, but after a while it became easy. I don't count calories anymore, but I admit I am very aware of what things are. I never let myself "suffer" by not having junk food now and then. In the end, it was all about moderation for me. Big key that I didn't realize for years on end!

 

[clarabelle]

I did something similar to Helena Bear -except I paid a weight loss counselor to make me stick to it. I was very motivated by weighing in front of someone twice a week!
I like the Calorie King book -lots of counts some for chain restaurants.
www.calorieking.com

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I eat what I want, but in moderation. If I know I am having something fattening for dinner, I have a lower cal salad, sandwich for lunch. Portion control is very important too. Have your cheese, but not the entire pack! The biggest thing for me is weighing EVERY single morning, right before I get in the shower. I have a 5 Lb range and when I get to the top of it, I cut back and it seems to work. I also know I weigh more certain times of the month. I know I have read in the past to weigh once a week, but that is nonsense to me! You could be out of control after 7 days and too overwhelmed! I walk 5-6 days a week and do a few other exercises. I know that is harder with little ones, but make time for you!

I remember when I stopped nursing (ages ago!) I had to cut back on portions and learn to eat less as I was not feeding 2 anymore.

Your new wardrobe should help keep you motivated! I LOVE shopping for clothes! Good luck, you can do it!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I eat what I want, but in moderation. If I know I am having something fattening for dinner, I have a lower cal salad, sandwich for lunch. Portion control is very important too. Have your cheese, but not the entire pack!

I love cheese so much that I used to think "If something is good, it is better with cheese on it (or sour cream, or cream cheese, or whip cream etc...) One thing I have learned from this is that there is a lot of good stuff out there and everything doesn't need cheese. That is one reason I think the weight has dropped off. I still eat tons and anything I want, as long as DD isn't allergic to it (even trace amounts.) Eggs also means no mayo and many other things like that.

Chances are by the time I am able to eat it again (it has been 4 months, most likely a 3 or 4 more months) it will be habit so much that I should be used to it. However I would love to be able to have pizza once or twice month or so!

DD should outgrow it someday, but I will stop nursing her before that. So I will be cooking and buying dairy and egg free for a while (2 to 3 years most likely.)

 

[jedi_librarian]

I know exactly how you feel!!

I lost 60 pounds on Weight Watchers and have kept it off for over a year now. Yes, everything changes. And I held on to my "fat" clothes until recently. I was afraid I'd gain it all back, but at the same time, I wanted to be rid of them!!

I had to resize my wedding rings, (and now they're big on me again!!), but new coats and jackets, buy new shoes (my size went down a little), buy new underwear, a new belt, everything!!. I went from a size 16 to a 4 !!!! (WEE!!!)
I do still wear some of my "bigger" clothes still and find myself pulling them up, too.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I know exactly how you feel!!

I lost 60 pounds on Weight Watchers and have kept it off for over a year now. Yes, everything changes. And I held on to my "fat" clothes until recently. I was afraid I'd gain it all back, but at the same time, I wanted to be rid of them!!

I had to resize my wedding rings, (and now they're big on me again!!), but new coats and jackets, buy new shoes (my size went down a little), buy new underwear, a new belt, everything!!. I went from a size 16 to a 4 !!!! (WEE!!!)
I do still wear some of my "bigger" clothes still and find myself pulling them up, too.

WOW, 16 to 4, that is a really big change. What a acompishment! Mine is more like a 12 to 6. However I have a bit more extra weight on me so I might go down more (we will see, so far it has been around 5 pounds a month) When I got married I was a size 2. I don't think that will ever happen again, and I don't think I even want it to. All in all 6 is pretty nice. Really the big thing is getting my tummy down again.

The good news is DH is so impressed by my commitment to our DD and sacrafice food wise that he has no problem at all with me shopping and getting new cothes. Still I actually like some of my old stuff. Sometimes I just need to hang on to things a while before I am ready to let them go. The stuff I did just give away went to a womens shelter where I was please to know that other women would bennifit from them (not be sold a penny a pound and shipped over seas.)