7 replies to this topic

[Jehovah lover]

I am too small for my 16W and 18W clothes. THOUGHT I fit just fine in all my size 10s that had been packed away for about 12 years, but a lot of them are threadbare so periodically I do some shopping as my budget permits. Saturday I was looking at a really pretty dress in a store, but they did not have it in a size 10, so I tried an 8. IT FIT!! I bought 4 dresses in an 8 that day. I've NEVER been in a size 8 before!! Then I looked for a bra. The lady in the bra department eyed me and said that a 38C didn't look like my correct size. So she measured me...I'm a 32DD!!! The "DD" is due to sagging skin under my arm that needs to be pulled forward and stuffed into the cup (Cheating?). 68 yo bodies don't look too good after 69 lb weight loss unless one can afford a plastic surgeon. A lot falls but with clothes on, still looks pretty good.

I've been maintaining at about 5 lbs below goal in case - like on shopping day - I go out for meals and splurge. We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and Fuddrucker's for lunch. My total calories that day were 4625, but I went right back to watching everything and using my armband (even on Saturday) data and my weight is still in the 140s (my goal was 150). This seems to work for me...calories in and calories out is what I do. Don't concern myself with "exchanges". If calories are low there's no way anyone could be eating unhealthy. I usually consume 1200 - 1400 calories per day even though I'm only maintaining now. I still plan a menu a day before.

[Blessed4Life2]

Pure AWESOMENESS!!!! I know you were struttin' your stuff out of that store...size 8 is great!

I dont worry with exchanges either (for now, although I might in the future).....calorie counting has worked for me so far, but with that said (before negative nita jumps in) ha, I highly advocate the exchange system..... kudos to those who do use them, I totally commend you..... but what matters is whatever works for ones self!

CONGRATS girl

[MargieJ]

I am too small for my 16W and 18W clothes. THOUGHT I fit just fine in all my size 10s that had been packed away for about 12 years, but a lot of them are threadbare so periodically I do some shopping as my budget permits. Saturday I was looking at a really pretty dress in a store, but they did not have it in a size 10, so I tried an 8. IT FIT!! I bought 4 dresses in an 8 that day. I've NEVER been in a size 8 before!! Then I looked for a bra. The lady in the bra department eyed me and said that a 38C didn't look like my correct size. So she measured me...I'm a 32DD!!! The "DD" is due to sagging skin under my arm that needs to be pulled forward and stuffed into the cup (Cheating?). 68 yo bodies don't look too good after 69 lb weight loss unless one can afford a plastic surgeon. A lot falls but with clothes on, still looks pretty good.

I've been maintaining at about 5 lbs below goal in case - like on shopping day - I go out for meals and splurge. We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and Fuddrucker's for lunch. My total calories that day were 4625, but I went right back to watching everything and using my armband (even on Saturday) data and my weight is still in the 140s (my goal was 150). This seems to work for me...calories in and calories out is what I do. Don't concern myself with "exchanges". If calories are low there's no way anyone could be eating unhealthy. I usually consume 1200 - 1400 calories per day even though I'm only maintaining now. I still plan a menu a day before.

First of all, congrats on hitting goal and on your shopping successes. We're all in this for our health, but the clothes are always an amazing bonus and definite proof of our success.

A couple things in your post jumped out at me, though. You said you maintain below goal in case of days like your shopping day when you ate 4625 calories. You've succeeded in reaching goal, but real success for all of us is maintaining long-term. Most people I know who have achieved this (maintenance for a year or more) employ a program of moderation and avoiding huge swings in calories. None of us knows what will or won't work for another, but I would advise seeking advice from those who have successfully maintained for at least a year and see what works for them.

You said that "if calories are low there's no way anyone could be eating unhealthy." Actually, people can get way out of whack and not eat much in the way of calories. If calorie counting, taking into account the distribution of nutrients (such as the 60/20/20 carb/pro/fat approach JC uses) is pretty important in order to keep your eating in balance.

Margie

[BelugaBabe]

None of us knows what will or won't work for another, but I would advise seeking advice from those who have successfully maintained for at least a year and see what works for them.

Margie

There are many folks here who have not "successfully maintained for at least a year" and still are able to offer some great advice. So many variations on the theme which makes this a great board---a buffet of interesting and useful ideas!
LOL, no disrespect intended, but with that kind of reasoning shouldn't we be ignoring the huge majority of posts on this board? Including both mine and yours, Margie? Neither of us has maintained our goal weight for a year. Heck, we haven't even reached our goal weights!
I have to agree that the JC exchange counting method is cumbersome and does not lend itself to easy calculation. When doing DOMO's I do the exchange thing but I use the exchange lists from the American Diabetes Association. The lists are huge and pretty much all-inclusive and the exchanges are almost exactly the same as the JC exchange values. But yahoo---no calculating!
I also like to cook and have found great recipes from diabetic websites and cookbooks that list the exchange values for the recipes.
Congrats on your success, Jehovah-lover!
And you too, Melissa---love your new pic! WOW! (JEALOUS, LOL! ) And oh yes, I nearly forgot---YOU GO GIRL!!

[onehotmama2be]

Congrats to the OP! Clothes shopping in smaller sizes is a great feeling!

As for the exchanges, they are much simpler if you're eating perfectly clean, whole foods: a fruit is a fruit, a starch is a starch. It gets more complicated if they are combined -- a fruit pie, a casserole.

What works for me is to "plug in" the obvious exchanges into my day: I make sure I get my fruits, veggies, milks, and meats. As for starches and fats.....moderation. Not every day is perfect, nor does it have to be. This is real life, and real life (even by Jenny's standards) means a fluctuation of +/- 5 pounds at maintenance. When in doubt, I just look at the meal, pause, and try to envision how much of it would fit into a Jenny Craig-sized black tray. Once I mentally "fill that tray" then I am done. And that's it! Fortunately, we live in a land of plenty - none of the foods I like are going out of style; french fries, chocolate: they will be there waiting for me next time. But I know that if I eat too much of them at once I run the risk of feeling bloated, disappointed, guilty, and possibly gaining weight again...and I never want to be "back there" and have to lose more than 5 pounds!

The mindset for me is to not let food preoccupy my life - and that includes worrying about each and every exchange and calorie. Freedom from the focus on food has been liberating to me for 4+ years.

As for who to listen to for advice, that's the beauty of an online forum, IMHO. You can gets lots of advice for free - it is up to you to determine whose advice you want to follow.

Congratulations again on your success and here's to a lifetime of healthy habits and fun clothing shopping !

Sue

[Blessed4Life2]

Congrats to the OP! Clothes shopping in smaller sizes is a great feeling!

As for the exchanges, they are much simpler if you're eating perfectly clean, whole foods: a fruit is a fruit, a starch is a starch. It gets more complicated if they are combined -- a fruit pie, a casserole.

What works for me is to "plug in" the obvious exchanges into my day: I make sure I get my fruits, veggies, milks, and meats. As for starches and fats.....moderation. Not every day is perfect, nor does it have to be. This is real life, and real life (even by Jenny's standards) means a fluctuation of +/- 5 pounds at maintenance. When in doubt, I just look at the meal, pause, and try to envision how much of it would fit into a Jenny Craig-sized black tray. Once I mentally "fill that tray" then I am done. And that's it! Fortunately, we live in a land of plenty - none of the foods I like are going out of style; french fries, chocolate: they will be there waiting for me next time. But I know that if I eat too much of them at once I run the risk of feeling bloated, disappointed, guilty, and possibly gaining weight again...and I never want to be "back there" and have to lose more than 5 pounds!

The mindset for me is to not let food preoccupy my life - and that includes worrying about each and every exchange and calorie. Freedom from the focus on food has been liberating to me for 4+ years.

As for who to listen to for advice, that's the beauty of an online forum, IMHO. You can gets lots of advice for free - it is up to you to determine whose advice you want to follow.

Congratulations again on your success and here's to a lifetime of healthy habits and fun clothing shopping !

Sue

YES! Awesome post Sue!!! From ONE of the best adviser's on the forum.....we have many. If you want to really learn how to lose & maintain, follow this lady's comments....you WILL learn alot!


I love this statement from her post above: "The mindset for me is to not let food preoccupy my life - and that includes worrying about each and every exchange and calorie. Freedom from the focus on food has been liberating to me for 4+ years."

Thank you Sue, for all you have to offer to the boards...you ROCK!!!

[Blessed4Life2]

Melissa---love your new pic! WOW! (JEALOUS, LOL! ) And oh yes, I nearly forgot---YOU GO GIRL!!

Aw thx.....I'm-a-going girl !!!! hehe

Thx for all you offer to the forums too BB.....love the 'solid' information you always provide!

[onehotmama2be]

YES! Awesome post Sue!!! From ONE of the best adviser's on the forum.....we have many. If you want to really learn how to lose & maintain, follow this lady's comments....you WILL learn alot!
I love this statement from her post above: "The mindset for me is to not let food preoccupy my life - and that includes worrying about each and every exchange and calorie. Freedom from the focus on food has been liberating to me for 4+ years."

Thank you Sue, for all you have to offer to the boards...you ROCK!!!

Thank you, Melissa! You're very kind. And you look fantastic in your new pic!

Sue