Weight gain: before and after Updated

Hourray for high waist skinnies!
Taking pics I noticed my recent weight gain.
Pic 1: Sept 2017, Pic 2: Feb 2018. 5 months appart.
What happened?
On the scale, I'm but a mere 3 pounds heavier... but I am amazed how those 3 pound show. What I've changed: upped my daily calorie intake mainly by varying the content of my meals and including some red meat meals here and there. Diminished amount of carbs and sugar and increased protein. Drank more water.
That's for the diet.
Then I maintained more or less my exercise regimen - about 4 times a week at the gym - but did two things differently: replaced some dance workouts with swimming, and started using real dance sneakers, with flexible arch and less traction - as opposed to traditionnal zumba/cross trainers with more grip. I really think the new sneakers are making a huge difference, as they force me to use all of my body when I dance, not just my calves or thighs.

The new high-waist denim silhouette somehow showcases well this change in my figure, more than a mid-rise would, I think. I realize my natural waist is higher than I thought, and I don't need to be underweight to have one.

My alienated/deformed raised-in-the-seventies eye wants to put me ASAP on a most restrictive diet to go back to September. My informed, liberated and objective eye is however pleased with the changes, doesn't want to revert, and foresees healthier, energized times ahead.

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7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Krish, first of all, YOU LOOK FABULOUS. You have a gorgeous fit body, healthy glowing soft skin, and I love your hair in #2.

Are you basing the way you look 3 pounds heavier on these pics? If so, it's an unfair comparison. The jeans in #1 are much more flattering, and you're wearing heels. The pose is better, and you're wearing a fluid shirt, which is visually slimming.

In #2, you're wearing sneakers, jeggings, a tank, and the light is catching the jeggings in a less flattering way. All these things make a difference.

Ideally, you need to wear the same outfit now - and I'm willing to bet you shan't notice a visual difference. Rock on.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Angie, thank you! You are so sweet! Thank you for having taken the time to reply with such attention and care.

Yes, you are correct, there are elements in pic 1 that have a slimming effect. However, I see a difference beyond this. For example, my wrists show that my arms were less plump, and I find my hips more angular looking in the first pic. Also, it's visible in my face and neck. I will try the jeans, shirt and heels now for a more accurate comparison.

I've added a pic taken today wearing the same outfit as 5 months ago.

annagybe

The “differences” you see could be simple water retention.
The lighting is different.
September you might have had more color from summer.

Edit: the light is hitting your wrists at very different contrasts. Your pose is different enough to show "angles". You know how the really good models know their angles for pictures, a small shift can make a difference.

annagybe, yes, it's true that angles are different. I tried to reproduce the same pose with various pics but it's hard to get the same angle exactly. Also, the pic from September was taken with another phone (older).
As for water retention, I imagine it could be that although I am now in a "slender" time, when I have less water retention, actually.

Ok, I tried again. First pic: September. Second one: just now.

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Jane

You look great! Keep your informed, liberated and objective thoughts to the front of your mind, you really do look great!

SEE, Krish. No difference. Your body looks AS fab now - 3 pounds more. In fact, your face looks even prettier.

Great visuals.

Anonymous

I want to voice that you do indeed look fabulous!!!!!!!! I think you should give free rein to your informed, liberated and objective eye. Wishing you healthier, energized times ahead. YAY you.

Thank you all! It's the end of the day and now I see what Angie meant. Granted, there's not much difference between the pics, but I can still see that in the second one, I have slightly fuller limbs and a fuller face - which is always a good thing after a certain age. However, I think the second pic looks better only because I look more energetic.
Jane, Sterling, thanks! Your words reach me and are helpful. In French, we would say that your encouragements "don't fall into a deaf ear", so here, now on top of having an alienated eye and an objective one, I also have one ear that is not deaf lol.

cindysmith

I'm trying to lose weight, and the fact that you look so fab and healthy and just plain amazing is inspiring me to exercise more. Thank you!

Scarlet

All I can tell you is I had to reread your post to be sure what you were saying because I thought you looked pretty and well in the second photo even more so than in the first. You look fit and amazing in the khaki photo.

Thank you Scarlet, it's my thought too (about the first photo). I think it's a good illustration that sometimes a little fat on the body is better, even if for some minds - like mine, the way I as raised, the world I was raised in - fat can never be good. Well, wrong, it can.

I agree, krish. Fat is an important part of a healthy body.

rachylou

Is your goal to gain weight? I do think you look good with the added weight... healthier... (!)

Rach, I didn't have a goal specifically. The gain is just a byproduct of other subtle lifestyle changes. Thank you for your compliments though!

Greyscale

As a side note, those blue jeans are perfect (at either weight). Great example of the slightly higher waist trend.

And incidentally I love dance sneakers because they're much better for my knees when there's any twisting involved. The hard sole doesn't stick to the floor as much.

gradfashionista

You look amazing in the jeans in both photos and I don’t notice any difference. It sounds like you’re reaping the benefit of the changes, though—no need to revert to the 70s mentality!

Thank you gradfashionista.
There were two things I came to realize: first that you DON'T need to be the thinnest possible in order to wear skinnies or even high waist skinnies, and that sometimes a little MORE weight is even better for this look;
Then that thinner shouldn't be the set default: thinner can sometimes be not as flattering. In the end a little more weight can be , as Martha Stwart would put it, "a good thing".

CocoLion

It could be the haircut, but in the more recent photos you look younger. Your skin looks better. I have read that paying attention to diet really benefits the skin.

Yes, CocoLion, you are right. Paying attention to one's diet sometimes simply means putting various things in that diet.

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