To keep my "thin" clothes or accept that I'll never wear my Levi's again?

[lou967]

Hi all. I used to weigh 10st a few years ago after successfully slimming down from 16st. I'm 5ft8. Over the last year through working, life etc I've gained 3st back. I've been sorting through my wardrobe over the last few weeks and came across my "thin clothes". Once I'd slimmed down, I bought lots of designer jeans such as Levi's, Diesel and 7 For All Mankind in a 28 waist. I recently tried them on and I cant get them past my thighs. I absoloutely love my Levi's 501 and I don't want to part with them or any of my "thin clothes".

I love eating and would love some advice on whether to keep or bin/sell my thin clothes. I did calorie counting to lose the weight last time, but I can't seem to get motivated. Also, once I lose the weight, how do I make sure I don't gain it back? Do any of you weigh regular? If your jeans get tight, do you cut back until they fit?

As its lockdown, I want to try and slim back down. Any help, tips or ideas are welcome. Thanks

@ginmere I am keeping them. As mentioned they are classic jeans.Levis 501, 7 For All Mankind. They are only 12-18months old. I've barely worn them. Sorry to hear about your gallbladder issues. At least you don't have to spend lots on new smaller clothes.

@SkinSkin i've hung one pair on my wardrobe so I can see them. Hoping it motivates me. I've put the rest away in a drawer for now. I'll revisit them once I've lost the weight.

I starved! Well at the beginning i did. I just logged all my food on my fitness pal and was very strict to not go over the limit. I was hungry for months :(
But eventually i got used to the smaller portions again.
And i didnt crave sugary unhealthy food anymore once i cut that all out. It was tough for a few weeks while my body adjusted, but all worth it in the end.
I reintroduced sweets into my diet now and i have trouble again because i get cravings a lot. I think i just cant handle the blood sugar spikes. So its all or nothing for me.
Like i have the discipline to not eat for a day, but i dont have the discipline to eat a tiny piece of chocolate every day (or a few chips). When i open a pack, then it disappears.
Might also be my body trying to stock up for fast day
So i try to eat healthy and balanced with little sugar and carbs. And i have cheat days (birthdays and stuff) and fast days where i barely eat.

@jeleste what was your calorie limit? I found that when I lost before, I didn't snack and that seemed to curb my appetite.

I hover between 8 and 8, 7 which sounds teeny but I'm short. It's the difference between an 8 and a 10. Prefer being a size 8 but am mid 40s now and just cant do it any more. I exercise a fair bit and eat ok. I'd have to make some serious changes to lose those last 7 - 10 lbs . Meh.

I started with a limit of 1400. Had to reduce to 1200 once i hit 9 stone to lose the last one. And i also started exercising at that point. I now exercise quite a bit and my daily calories is about 1500 on average i think, but i dont really count it anymore. I can maintain this way if i fast about 2x a month for a day.

It took me about a year to lose all the weight. So slow but steady.

@jeleste thanks for letting me know. I'm starting with 1200 a day from tomorrow. I am going to go for a daily walk alongside eating healthier and no snacks.

@IdblowJonSnow you have to either be happy with a 10 or make sacrifices to be an 8. I'd be happy to be either of those right now!

I've decided that I'm going to keep the jeans. I've hung a pair up on my wardbrobe to motivate me. I'm starting calorie counting tomorrow aiming for 1200 a day. I'm going to go for regular daily walks. Thanks to all those who replied. I just hope I can stick to it.

Definitely keep them. If you get rid and buy bigger clothes that's just accepting your bigger size.
I weigh myself most days and have an upper 'acceptable' weight limit, and once I hit that I start to rein in my eating. I've never allowed myself to buy bigger clothes as I think it's a slippery slope....

@singinghollybob I am going to keep them. Its good that you dont allow yourself to buy bigger clothes.

@lou967 good luck, you can do it!

@singinghollybob thanks. Any other tips or motivation ideas please let me know. I'm determined to make the jeans fit.

@Grumpos you'll soon be wearing them!

I know people tend to feel strongly about it sometimes haha, but I largely follow keto, but a bit more flexibly as in if I want extra carbs I'll have them; but a reasonable amount. I genuinely find I'm never hungry, the food I eat is actually enjoyable, and I feel so much better. Because I am greedy, I like eating a fair amount and I can be fairly lazy in honesty so exercise can be sporadic.

@CheshireDing i'm sure you'll get back in them without "Starving" yourself. Keep going. You'll get there

I lost 6 stone initially on slimming world, put it back on when pregnant, and am now sustaining a 5 stone loss- a stone heavier than my lightest, but still in the healthy range so not going to punish myself to lose another.

@sandybval wow thats an impressive loss. Like you I am greedy. Its got to stop. Otherwise i'll be back up to 16st

I do eat a fair amount now which is why it works for me, calorie counting alone I'd fill up on high cal stuff and be ravenous, but everyone is different. I do intermittent fasting too, I only eat between 7am and 7pm, which has also helped.

I'm going to try and fast alongside calorie counting. My jeans will fit!!

I'm another intermittent faster. Monday to Thursday I only eat one meal, just water and black coffee until my evening meal, which is substantial and anything I want. Friday to Sunday I eat 3 meals a day as normal and don't worry about calories or anything. I lost 3 stone and have been maintaining for more than 6 months now.

I've been doing a proper workout every day (bar one when I go for a long walk) since lockdown and with that and gardening, and walking every evening, I've lost half a stone.

You can do it.

@ostyerbabe thats amazing. It must feel good to find a plan that works or fits in your lifestyle. I need to drop 3st so its good to know its worked for you. How are you finding keeping the weight off?

@Almostfifty thats a fab result. Fingers crossed I can get my weight down