Comments on My Journey to Fit: A Forty-Something's Weight Loss Journey: Pants Panic

I agree with Tammy, my brain doesn't want to be di...

2009-12-15T20:33:45.845-06:00

I agree with Tammy, my brain doesn't want to be disappointed by taking the wrong size in the dressing room...I don't want to feel fat, bc I am working so hard at life changes to be smaller. Pants-don't discourage me! Don't insult me!..wow, there is a lot to work through.

And Jane said "It takes a long time to re-imagine your body in its new form." Or as Amy H says "for the mind to catch up to the body". So true! I am experiencing all of this. Good to read about your experiences too.

I know you have lived the other side of it too, where u plan to wear X to the party, church, etc, & have it all planned out...then go to get ready only to find it is now TOO BIG. Sloppy, in fact. I am sure enjoying shopping/buying as I continue to get smaller, but it can also be slightly discouraging when the fave X is way too big. I know, funny, I should be glad!

I am only saving my biggest pair of jeans, but otherwise getting rid of EVERYthing the whole way down on my journey. Much funner to buy the smaller stuff, and the wardrobe is a very interesting part of the WL journey, eh? ChrissyS

I go through the same thing AND I still have not b...

2009-12-14T11:46:46.045-06:00

I go through the same thing AND I still have not been able to get rid of all my size 10s and 12s....Every day when I go to button my pants I suck in my gut and hope they button.

I think we all suffer from the mental aspect of lo...

2009-12-13T21:05:24.287-06:00

I think we all suffer from the mental aspect of losing and gaining weight. Are my pants to tight? Does this shirt hide my rolls? We just have to do our very best! Hey my pants fit great these days...lol

I just caught up on your last few posts....you loo...

2009-12-13T18:08:58.417-06:00

I just caught up on your last few posts....you look fantastic in your sweater dress....I still have too many lumps, bumps and rolls to pull one of those off!

I understand about the pants panic. When I try something on in the store now....I still want to reach for the 26/28's because I wore that size for so many years...even though I'm actually in an 18/20 now. I just don't want the disappointment in the dressing room of trying it on and it not fitting. Weird, I know.

I can completely relate to this . . . I am so happ...

2009-12-13T10:46:15.420-06:00

I can completely relate to this . . . I am so happy for you that you're doing what you need to do to banish that panic!

Beautiful blog, and congratulations on your weight...

2009-12-13T07:20:28.067-06:00

Beautiful blog, and congratulations on your weight loss.

Your before and afters are just incredible.

I just made the first post to my weight loss blog. My before pictures are quite horrendous.

Something interesting about your before and afters is, in your afters, you were clearly able to buy nicer clothes. They don't make very nice clothing for bigger people, do they?

Ahhh, the Old Pants Syndrome can be gripping. But ...

2009-12-13T06:21:41.700-06:00

Ahhh, the Old Pants Syndrome can be gripping. But I can testify that it can be conquered. There were many FAILS of the "trying on of the old pants", but they fit now. They fit real good. =)

I can totally relate to that... I am always surpri...

2009-12-13T00:02:18.774-06:00

I can totally relate to that... I am always surprised when the size 14 jeans fit.

It is so odd but I do believe on some level our bo...

2009-12-12T12:40:26.622-06:00

It is so odd but I do believe on some level our body size feels sort of like our height-- something you can't really change. When really, you most assuredly can. Enjoy your 10s! You look wonderful!

Those old ghosts are the hardest to get rid of. I...

2009-12-12T08:04:18.835-06:00

Those old ghosts are the hardest to get rid of. I know what you mean about wondering if you'll ever trust yourself - it's hard given everything that's led up to where you are now. But you have made incredible strides and continue to do so - I think that's a really good sign of things to come!!

Enjoy those size 10s.

Ooh 'that horrible, pit-of-the-stomach sick feelin...

2009-12-12T00:39:49.361-06:00

Ooh 'that horrible, pit-of-the-stomach sick feeling'--I used to get that when I was a kid and had to wear something that I thought didn't look good on me! I never heard anyone else describe it before!

I actually haven't had that feeling in regards to not fitting into clothes now. Its not that I don't have SOME feeling. Just not the sick to my stomach feeling.

There were some good comments in the comments! Amy H said 'Maybe it takes awhile for the mind to catch up to the body.' That is absolutely true. In my observation, the faster someone loses weight, the longer they have to work on the brain changes.

And Lori said 'I think you have to always be mindful - especially those of us who have lost a lot of weight. It's different. We're different.' And to that I can only say a fervent AMEN!

P.S. Your outfit really sounds cute! Isn't it fun?

Amen, sister - whenever I pull pants out of the dr...

2009-12-11T20:49:17.398-06:00

Amen, sister - whenever I pull pants out of the dryer I always think they're not going to fit.

They do, but I still freak out.

I can totally relate to that feeling! When I was a...

2009-12-11T16:12:07.219-06:00

I can totally relate to that feeling! When I was at my low weight it was hard to believe the sizes I could try on and even harder to believe that it was worth buying them. It takes a long time to re-imagine your body in its new form.

I have that feeling at least once a week. I KNOW ...

2009-12-11T15:55:08.069-06:00

I have that feeling at least once a week. I KNOW they fit, but I have that "what if" moment.

I had the same thoughts during the beginning of my...

2009-12-11T14:58:57.395-06:00

I had the same thoughts during the beginning of my weight loss maintenance. There really was a part of me that wasn't sure I was as small as I had been the month before even though I knew I was.

So glad everything was just perfect!! You are really working through all of this in your mind and I think that's a great way to handle the first year or so of weight maintenance! Congratulations!

I've been maintaining a 75 pound weight loss for t...

2009-12-11T14:02:13.905-06:00

I've been maintaining a 75 pound weight loss for ten years and a 100 pound plus (give or take) for four years and I still have those moments. Had one this morning, in fact. Today is our Christmas luncheon and I told myself that somehow I'd outgrown my red blouse. I'd already decided on something different to wear. I then decided to try it on to see how far off it was and was actually surprised that it fit with room to spare. The crazy brain is amazing.

congrats on wearing pants :-)

You will get over the pants fear, it might take so...

2009-12-11T13:37:20.358-06:00

You will get over the pants fear, it might take sometime but you will. I know that for sure as much as I know you won't gain again! At least I won't let that happen to you, you've worked so hard to get here!

I do know the feeling though, most of my pants are too big now but I'm afraid to throw them away and buy new ones. So look who's talking to you :lol:

I always pick out my clothes the evening before too so I won't have to think in the morning what I want to wear.

Big hug for you dear Shelley!

That's funny, I have that same panic and didn't re...

2009-12-11T12:43:32.442-06:00

That's funny, I have that same panic and didn't really realize it until I read your post.

And BTW... your 100 pounds lost photo looks amazing. Congrats!

I get the same panic but don't think that I am pan...

2009-12-11T11:03:49.117-06:00

I get the same panic but don't think that I am panicky enough. The right amount for me would be that I wouldn't allow myself to any longer have several sizes in my closet. Sadly, I'm still not there.

I can totally relate to the pants panic. I have n...

2009-12-11T10:33:51.493-06:00

I can totally relate to the pants panic. I have never lost weight and not been on a diet. I have never really tried to look at it like a lifestyle before now. So gaining back was always for sure. This time I am feeling confident that maybe I can keep it off for good.

Have a great weekend.

I had that same fear when I pulled my winter coat ...

2009-12-11T09:04:29.400-06:00

I had that same fear when I pulled my winter coat out last week. I thought "what if it doesn't fit?" which is crazy (and it fit fine).

I actually hope that fear never really goes away. Whenever I have lost weight, I would get complacent and gain back. The fear of regain helps me nip slips and slides in the bud before they get too far. I think you have to always be mindful - especially those of us who have lost a lot of weight. It's different. We're different.

It is incredibly comforting to me that this fear i...

2009-12-11T08:27:23.973-06:00

It is incredibly comforting to me that this fear is not just within me. From these comments, it seems a common fear amongst those who have lost and gained and are now losing for GOOD!

I've been up and down the scale a few times too an...

2009-12-11T08:11:43.501-06:00

I've been up and down the scale a few times too and worry about outgrowing my 8s which I've been wearing for about 10 months. I don't think that I will ever trust myself not to gain. It keeps me on my toes. I have to stay mindful or the weight will come back sure as shootin.

Yep, apparently we all do this, because we ARE use...

2009-12-11T07:51:51.536-06:00

Yep, apparently we all do this, because we ARE used to failure. Failing ourselves. We ARE re-writing the very essence of who we are, so of course it's scary and of course we don't (yet?) trust it/ourselves. That is why the MOMENT I started to lose enough weight to fit into smaller clothes, I started throwing away the stuff that was becoming too big. I will NOT allow myself to wear those clothes again.

Conversely, though, I HAD kept all the size 12's and 10's, and it really saved me a bundle of money (until now, as I'm beginning to wear size 8's.) Doesn't that mean that I DID have faith in myself that at some point I WOULD get back down in size??? So there was an inner Sunny with faith in herself. That's who I have to grab hold of and bring center stage. The one with confidence in herself. Obviously you too, sistah. :)

LOL Seems to be a common feeling. The main thing...

2009-12-11T07:47:25.337-06:00

LOL Seems to be a common feeling. The main thing is that they DO fit! Your feelings will catch up with the reality eventually. :)

I must say you look fantastic!