I’ve never really liked tight fitting clothes – even when I was a lot slimmer I generally preferred to go for clothing that gave me freedom of movement. Basically I don’t like feeling that I’m stuck in a straitjacket!
But there’s a big difference between “loose” and so “baggy” that you nearly break your neck. And that’s where I ended up last week. While navigating Dublin Airport on the way to get a flight I found that my previously comfy trousers had become so loose that they were a liability. Fortunately I didn’t break my neck and the belt I was wearing did its job, but it wasn’t pleasant. And when you’re travelling you want to be comfortable.
So yet again I found myself heading into my “go to” clothes shop in the centre of Carlow town and buying a couple of more pairs of trousers. I bought a couple of pairs back in January before heading to the US on a business trip, but even those trousers are now a little bit too loose around the waist. Yes, that’s a good thing and overall I’m delighted. However it’s a tad confusing when you look at the numbers on the scale and they still aren’t moving much. Sure, they move, but we’re talking about fluctuations in both directions of less than a kilo over the past couple of months.
I also invested in a slightly smaller belt. When your belt is so loose that it’s become an ornament it’s time to get a smaller one. Again this is a very positive thing and I’m not complaining.
When you’re on a diet you often find yourself focussing on specific metrics and the most obvious one is weight. But that’s often a bad idea. It’s over simplistic. Losing weight and changing your diet will have an impact on your overall “form”. In my case it’s most noticeable in my waist and, to a lesser degree, in my face. As I’ve lost “weight” skin has tightened up and my shape has changed (a bit).
Now to work on moving the needle on the scales again!
The low-carb journey really is a slow one, and you’re right to point out that there are more interesting benefits to note along the way besides the kilograms.
I’ve been on it a year now (thanks Carla) and my BMI is now merely overweight instead of obese. But the weight loss has slowed to almost nothing in the last few months.
What I notice now is that my appetite has shrunk, but out of habit I am probably putting too much on my plate for someone who is the size I am now.
Typically I now have just two meals a day, lots of tea and coffee all day with full-fat milk. But I’ve had a couple of days where I’ve forgotten to eat or didn’t have time to find or prepare low-carb food. I’ve found that after a few hours I’m no longer hungry, and I’ve experimented with extending that into 2 and 3-day fasts. By doing that I’ve lost 4 pounds over the last four months, but it’s really slow.
Congrats on the clothes 🙂
Conn
I’m not sure if I’d be able to go without food completely for 24 hours. When I’m traveling I can end up with longer than normal gaps between meals, but that’s about it.
As for BMI etc – I haven’t even looked at that recently. While I know it’s an important metric to consider it’s not that high on my priority list. Things like the size of my waist, however, are easier to keep an eye on.
Thanks for your comment.
Michele