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Ugh.

shiny

Veteran

This afternoon I completed rotating my closet. I culled a lot of stuff out, but discovered while trying on my summer clothes that I've ... gained weight!! Oh no!

I know I should get on the scale and see what the damage is, but I really don't want to. I haven't stepped on the scale in ages. I can get too obsessive with the scale so I'd rather just monitor my weight by how my clothes fit. My jeans still fit okay, since I put weight on first in my upper body and mid-section, so this is why the gain crept up on me. It's tops and dresses that just aren't hanging the way they did last year - and I can't hide under layers like I do in cooler months. How frustrating!

I'm sure I'll lose the weight now that it's warmer (I usually do), and I do have enough clothes to get me by until I do. Meanwhile, I put away anything that just doesn't work for now. And I played around with my vests - inspired by Maya's interview outfit - I think I will be living in vests until the weight goes away! It sucks everything in and hides it. I may even get myself one more vest (F21?) - a white one.

On the plus side, I can once again fit in my favorite denim skirt! It's still a bit loose but it's passable and not falling off my hips. Glad I saved it.

Darn potato chips. I keep telling DH not to buy any, because I just can't resist if they are in the house.

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from chewyspaghetti

cciele

Veteran

Oh no Shiny, that sounds really frustrating! I guess it's a good excuse to update your summer wardrobe

I have to say, though, that you look great in all your outfit photos!

JewelryGirl

Oh Shiny, you'd never know it you look fabulous girl!! It's way too easy to do & chips are my downfall as well - LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I try to stick to baked tostito's & salsa or pretzels though. I have to have my salt fix. You will get back into that stuff! If you're not noticing it in your bottoms yet you can't have far to go so don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!

shiny

Veteran

JG - the chips he gets are the kind with black pepper. MMMMM.... I am guessing I have eaten a full size's worth of black pepper gourmet potato chips over this past winter! Every day I'd have some with lunch, instead of vegetables. Duh.

It's so amazing how just one small slip in one's eating habits can add up over time, isn't it? Because otherwise my diet has been more or less about the same.

I had also noticed a return of the heartburn this past month, which should have been my tip off! When my weight gets to a certain number, the heartburn kicks in with a vengeance. It's been waking me up at night so I've been sleeping rather poorly. It's disheartening about the clothes, but I'm far more concerned about the health effects.

No more potato chips!!!

Sihaya

Veteran

Shiny, I'm in the same boat. I've gained about 10 pounds since Nov of last year and I'm small so 10 lbs is a lot on my frame. I can't wear some of my cuter clothes right now. There is lots of research that shows a direct correlation to lack of sleep and weight gain. And I've had insomnia since a couple of months before the weight gain. I have taken to visiting the gym more seriously and am hoping that I can kick this off soon. I notice that small slips add up more now that I'm older (43).

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Having taken weight on and off over the years, the heartburn is usually the first sign for me too that I am going in the wrong direction! But you know what to do, and you will do it pretty easily, I imagine.

I suspect you are similar to me: my closet is getting much too fun to be given up that easily! If I have to choose between the two, my clothes win over potato chips any day.

crwilson

Veteran

I'm right there with you Shiny. I'm not sure what happened, but all of the sudden all of my jeans are too tight. Back to the gym for me - I don't want to give up all of my pants!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Shiny, you had such good advice for me on losing five pounds ... slow and steady wins the race I am sure you will shed the weight gradually once the potato chips are gone from your pantry!

shana

Veteran

Well, I still have about 10 pounds of baby weight (yes and the "baby" is almost 1 1/2) to go. Of course, when I pulled out my summer clothes from last year, I noticed that most of last year's purchases are now loose and kind of shapeless because I was still breastfeeding so I had a bit more volume up top which is now gone. So I went to the box that had some clothes from 2006 (I was pregnant in summer 2007). In addition to the fact that there are quite a few non-ylf approved capris in that box, I also realized that my shape changed (my hips are now slimmer and my bottom is way flatter) and some of these clothes don't quite fit right either. Argh...

My weakness is sweets. Having a German husband who hoards german & swiss chocolate & other sweets doesn't help (we usually bring an entire suitcase back with us).

Oneirix

(website)

Ugh! I know how you feel. For the majority of this school year I've been able to avoid the "Freshman 15," but my current boyfriend is the type who can literally eat an enormous amount of ANYTHING and not gain a pound, and we've been sharing a lot of food since we're poor, but at his house that just means shoveling ramen and chimichangas down my gullet. I'm certain I've been gaining weight, but I've been using the excuse that I have no money so that I don't have to buy a scale!

I am sure you are just as fabulous as ever! Tell your husband to hide the potato chips if he MUST buy them. I've been avoiding that aisle in the market these days...Oh well, summer is here, so hopefully that means increased activity for us all! Good luck!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

We should form a weight loss support group, since there seem to be a number of us in the same boat. The kind of encouragement we get here, and the gratification of looking fab, should help us all get back on track, including me. I've certainly been more motivated to drop the pounds since discovering this blog and realizing how many more fashion options are open to me when everything's in the right proportions! As for you, Shiny, I've come to realize by reading old entries that you're something of a style mavin, so I'm sure you look incredible no matter what! And at least you have workarounds in place.
Try veggies and salsa instead of chips. That helps kill my craving sometimes...But not always.

anne

Veteran

Laura how are you going with your 5 pounds? You were going to give us a monthly update I think?

I am also trying to cut down. Not that I am overweight, but I think I might be bigger than I should be because
1. I am a lot bigger than my Mum was at this age
2. My sister is 2 or 3 inches taller and about 8 pounds less and I eat soo much more than she does
3. I had been overeating - almost addicted to second helpings

So I am just trying to give up on having seconds at my evening meal and cut down on evening snacks. (I am still probably eating more than many of you). What actually made me change my mind was a desire to think more about people who are poor and hungry and how I might give more money to them. (Food is our big budget item, second only to rent)

Kari

Veteran

Shiny, you do not look it at all - you still have a very trim and cute figure to my eye - but I understand the distress when your favorite clothes just don't fit you right anymore.

My weight has fluctuated so much within the past two years. I'm currently 10 pounds down from my heaviest but would be happy if I lost 5-10 more - although I don't want ALL of my pants to be too big either. Anyway, I'll be working to try to get more slim and trim this summer, so you have yet another YLF-er in the same boat if you're looking for support.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Anne, I made it! Thanks for asking I'm not down five pounds, but I'm down four pounds, and that's good enough. Now I'm trying to see if I can hold the line for the next few months.

It is amazing how much difference it makes to lose even 4 pounds when you have a small frame. I especially notice it in terms of how jeans and clams fit, and how I don't have to worry as much about the dreaded muffin top!

You look fantastic, Anne. Don't compare yourself too much to your sister or Mum. You are a busy mom with 3 little ones and you've got yourself pulled together fantastically. I do agree about saving money on food, though. I threw out some expired food yesterday and felt terrible about it.

Vani

Veteran

shiny, I know the feeling. I have been gaining weight steadily over the past year and I hate how some of my favorite clothes look on me now. Not altogether ugly, but just not right. I've started going to the gym regularly the past few weeks. I am generally very conscious about what I eat but I have been letting the occasional snack and candy get the best of me, so I have started being very cautious of what goes into my mouth. I just have to think how much more I would have to workout to burn it off in the gym and that really helps!

But honestly, you look just as fab as any of you past photos I have seen and if it helps, it is not noticeable at all. I am glad we are all here to support each other in everything positive we aim to do for ourselves

shiny

Veteran

Thanks, gals! As I said, I really am less worried about how the clothes fit and look, and more concerned about health implications. I was between a 0p and a 2p and could wear either. Now I can't wear the 0p's and I've tucked them away. I am still firmly in a 2p. That is NOTHING to complain about! And Laura, you are right - on a small frame 4 lbs does make the difference. So I'm not complaining - I just know that this means it's time to take action.

On the health front, I called my doctor to get a refill of the heartburn meds and he wants me to come in for a checkup. He's concerned this is a repeat of what happened a few years back. We never really figured out what was going on, because whatever it was went into remission. Cluster of symptoms then and now are: severe heartburn (bad enough I now have a sore throat), nausea/bloating/indigestion, chest pains (we ruled out heart problems long ago - he thinks it's my esophagus), and rapid unexplained weight gain. (a few years ago I packed on 20 lbs in one month, without changing my diet). His guess back then was that it's something with my GI tract.

I have a few other new symptoms right now- I won't list them all here, except swollen lymph nodes and a slight temperature, so it may or may or may not be related - I may just have a virus on top of the rest. I need to give the heartburn meds a few days, and see if the virus symptoms go away, then get in to see my doctor.

I have a wonderful doctor so I'm sure he'll eventually get to the bottom of this - it just sucks having to wait and see how things progress and what new symptoms arise. And it sucks to have this all coming back again, after a long period of wellness.

Exercise: I admit I'm terrified of doing more than just gentle walking and yoga. Last time I had an episode of this, it was accompanied with severe muscle pain that was eventually dx'd as fibromylagia. I know my doctor says it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't thing when it comes to exercise + fibromylagia, but I really don't want to go all gung-ho jumping into a running or weight lifting program at the moment, not with all these other symptoms.

That was my whine for the day - please someone pass the cheese and crackers.

anne

Veteran

Shiny, sorry to hear all this. Hope your doctor can get to the bottom of it and it passes quickly!

Laura - thanks for encouragement (and well done yourself). It is hard not to compare yourselves with family (My sister BTW, has 4 children, one still b/feeding) She hates feeling overfull and I am just trying to get into that way of thinking instead of always eating until I am overfull (and then regret the bloaty feeling) I have tended to argue to myself that I burn it off anyway (I am pretty sure I have what I think is called a thermogenic metabolism - I know if I overeat I start jigging my leg) but it seems a bit wasteful!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Shiny I hope your doctor can figure out what is going on. We've been trying to figure out dd's GI issues for the last 6 months or so. Currently, she is fine as long as she does not eat any (and I do mean ANY) gluten, dairy, soy, or very much fat. She doesn't eat meat except for fish, so this is a very difficult diet to manage- especially since she's 10. Anyway, we go back to see the GI specialist in June. He had thought she had Cystic Fibrosis, but the test was negative.
I know it's frustrating to be up in weight (especially when it causes health issues), but 5 or 10 pounds seems so very little when I am looking at another 50+ to go! Hang in there!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Shiny, hang in there. I know you will figure out what's going on and take care of whatever needs to be done. But meanwhile, ((((hugs))))!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Oh and p.s. to Anne, I admire your sister's ability to stop eating when she's full. I notice that my kids are able to do this with no problem, even to the point of stopping and leaving the table halfway through their dessert! That is definitely something to emulate.

shiny

Veteran

Chewy, that is scary about your DD. And yes I can imagine such a diet would be a huge challenge! I hope the doctor can figure it out. Is she losing weight?

Anne, I mastered this art right around when my last DD was weaned. I can tell you that it takes PRACTICE and more practice, but it can be done! In the meantime, a few tricks I've learned:

1) make a low-fat veggie soup (gazpacho, broccoli, etc) and have a cup before your meal. Then, if you want another serving, have a second cup of soup first.

2) dish up the plates in the kitchen and don't put serving plates on the table. If you want a second helping you will have to go back into the kitchen to get it.

3) if your family will let you do this - actually put the extra food away before you sit down to eat! This is not always practical (my DH always has a second helping) but if you are on your own or just with the kids, go for it. I often take out enough for my lunch the next day, and set that aside. That discourages me from eating a second helping because I want to have it for lunch instead.

4) only make enough for the meal. I have a girlfriend who always chides me at not cooking enough food. She is skinny as can be and loves to cook; when she makes a meal, the table is groaning with food. But she has two teenage boys with huge appetites. My girls' appetites are so much less. So with experience I've learned exactly how much our family eats, and I only cook that much.

5) allow yourself to have as many servings of fruits and veggies as you want. This fills you up with fiber and I do think people need a certain amount of "chews" in order to feel full. Lasagna is filling but you don't chew as much with it as you do with a plate of broccoli and carrots.

6) make a deal with yourself that you can have seconds AFTER you do the dishes, put the kids to bed, and get anything else you need to get done, done. Usually by then the craving passes. If it doesn't, then you are still hungry and your body needs the food, so eat!

7) Pop gum in your mouth. This always works like a charm for me, because it singles to my mind that the meal is done, and takes away any good tastes in my mouth making me want a second helping.

This is a lot easier to do at home - restaurants take more willpower but that can be done too. I'm known for only ever eating 1/3 or 1/2 of my restaurant meal, and stopping. Usually because I pop gum in my mouth.

Ruchi

Shiny,I know what it feels like when clothes dont fit the way they used to.I hope that the doctor figures out what is cause is.I still have some baby weight and now even the baby has turned one.From the past year,I was making the most of post-partum clothes in the hope that I will fit into pre-pregnancy clothes soon.But now I have started buying few clothes that fit .Atleast it makes me feel good.

Inge

(website)

Those are great tips Shiny, thanks!

Please take care of yourself (you're already doing that of course, good for you for contacting your doctor!), and you're absolutely right, don't overdo the exercising right now (never a good idea, and especially if you have a bit of a fever). Walking and yoga sound good, swimming (at your own speed, no need to break any records;-) is often recommended for fibromylagia too.

And by all means, have some cheese and a few crackers, and let yourself be pampered by DH and your two lovely daugthers!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Shiny,
She initially lost about 10-15 pounds when we took her off of gluten- almost all of it from her bloated belly. I started to get worried, but now she has had a couple of growth spurts and has gained in length what she lost in girth- and gained some weight. The weird part is that her test results show that she is not absorbing fat- which points to her pancreas, which is why they thought cystic fibrosis. So, the food intolerences are caused by the inability to absorb the fat (and resulting damage), rather than being true allergies. They just haven't figured out why she can't absorb the fat yet.