jintycb

Today-- trying on a pair of size 6 pants...down from 24's exactly 8 months post op today.
Here is the funny thing... I knew I'd fit into a 6- and the only pair that they had was on a mannequin. Asked the sales clerk to take them off so I could try them on. She looked at me and tried to talk me out of it- saying they run very small. I repeated to her that I wanted to try them on and she obliged but kept repeating that they wouldn't fit, they run small.
Boom.
(I should add that I WAS wearing baggy clothes when I walked in...but STILL!!!)
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

An important aspect of learning to love the new you in the mirror is creating a personal style that flatters the woman you are becoming! While experimenting with new styles and fashions is fun, the time and money you will need to create and maintain a wardrobe over a 100 major weight loss period can be daunting!


To help you avoid making the same mistakes I did, here is a brief list of pot holes to avoid.
1) Not making adjustments to the size clothing you wear early in your weight loss- Clothing that is too loose or badly fitting can exaggerate rather than slim the body's silhouette. As little as 15 pounds can determine whether a garment will eye-catchingly drape or unappealingly droop on your frame. Selecting styles which will adjust to a changing figure can stretch the period over which clothing can be worn.
2) Selecting unflattering and/or dark colors - We have all heard that wearing dark colors, particularly black, will make us appear thinner. The truth is that the silhouette, proportion and fit of a garment all make more difference than the color ever will. Simply put, there is no one size fits all and everyone does not look good in black. Most people look better in a set of colors which complement their individual skin, hair and eye undertones and which typically does not include black. Once that color scheme is identified you can confidently purchase clothing which will look beautiful on you individually.
3) Wearing clothing inappropriate to your age, thinking that age appropriate clothes will appear frumpy-I personally know how bad an idea that can be! I gained weight in my early 40's and as I lost weight in my 50s I was attracted to particular skirt styles and dress types both in lengths which were more appropriate to how I had dressed in my30's, the age at which I had been able to wear them last. Because I had worn large sized unfashionable clothing during the period in my life when I likely would have been adjusting to a more grown up wardrobe, I was unaware that wearing those earlier styles made me look as if I were trying to look 30 again. Dressing age appropriately does not mean you have to look frumpy, it is possible to find clothing which will be attractive and alluring on a more mature woman.
4) Buying clothes inconsistent with your current lifestyle - by the time I reached by goal I held a responsible position in a financial institution with a conservative (unpublished, but implicit) dress code. Some of the clothing I selected, because I both liked it and found I could wear it, was brightly-colored or ultra-feminine and not always appropriate to my workplace. While it is okay to have some 'fun' clothes which are either more alluring or casual, you should dress for work in a style consistent with your place of business, and save the casual wear for extracurricular events.
5) Waiting until the end of your weight loss to discard clothing which is now too big. There were numerous times during the two years it took me to reach my goal where every little bit of positive reinforcement I could get was needed to keep me on the straight and narrow path. Being able to toss out the old clothes can symbolize a 'no going back' mentality and reinforce the behaviors necessary to ensure that your reach your goal.
6) Spending too much money on your transition clothing - it is not necessary to build an entire wardrobe from scratch each time you go down one size or to spend a fortune on designer clothing at each stage of your weight loss. Nor should you limit your purchases to Target and KMart until you reach your goal weight. There are a number of ways to manage the expense of maintaining a stylish, well-fitting wardrobe during your weight loss period.
I made all these mistakes and more. By the time I’d reached my goal weight, I had spent a lot of money and wasted countless hours buying clothing and accessories! I had no idea how to create my own, personal style. That was a luxury I never allowed myself when I was overweight. I had to learn the basics of building an image using fit, color, proportion, and style from square one.
At that point, I decided to call in a professional, and I hired my first image consultant; she changed everything. She taught me ways to reduce the time, effort and expense of creating my new look.
She helped me match my outside self to the way I felt on the inside.
I loved how simply wearing the right clothes and accessories made me feel. It really helped me acknowledge my own, personal transformation, and encouraged me to dig deeper and work harder on me.
I loved the process of working with an image consultant so much that I decided to become one!
I believe style is more than the just the way you look on the outside. It’s also the way you feel and think on the inside. Your personal style is a statement about who you are, what you think, and how you live. It’s the energy you project to others and should reflect how you to live in the world.
Every day, I have the privilege of helping women just like you create and communicate their personal style—through the beginning, middle and end of their transformations.
Are you ready to emerge as the woman you truly are, inside and out? Then don’t wait another second. Call me and set up a time to discuss how I can help you create your new look, and your new life.

Many diet plans tell us it's all about the calories. But is that true after weight loss surgery?
Can you really keep eating everything you love just limit the portions?
Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson provides her take on this question in the final installment of her dangerous diet tips series.


Imagine me, 16 years old at the neighbor’s pool, feeling pretty sassy in my new one piece bathing suit with the buttons down each side.
My grandmother’s friend edges up to the side of the pool and motions me over conspiratorially.
“Elizabeth, I see you’ve lost some weight, tell me, what’s your secret?”
“It’s easy, just eat 1000 calories a day. You can eat whatever you want just don't go over 1000."
Ladies and gentlemen, why did I ever pay for a nutrition degree when I clearly had all the information at age 16????
Clearly, I jest.
1000 calories of hot dogs, English muffins, fat free cookies and pancakes does not a diet make—let alone a healthy weight loss plan.
But it’s soooo tempting to follow this advice. It’s simple, clear cut and junk food is totally fine--as long as you keep the total consumption under the specified number of calories.
Some WLS patients have taken the bait—especially after they stop losing weight.
Not surprisingly, there are some problems with this type of plan.
1. 1000 calories of potato chips isn’t nutritious but it fits the criteria.
2. If you don’t have enough protein you’ll be compromising your weight loss—regardless of calories.
3. Individual calorie needs depend on sex, age and activity level to name a few. One size does not fit all.
There’s a better way. Stop counting calories. Don’t let a number determine how much you’re going to eat today. Rely instead on your surgical tool and natural hunger.
This can be scary—flying without a net. The temptation to use total calories as a guide is real. But ignore it. You are ready for something else, something more effective and natural.
Here’s how to start:
1. Eat three bariatric-sized meals and two portioned snacks each day.
2. Sit down to eat, eliminate distractions: TV, computer, magazines or books.
3. Pay attention to the deliciousness of the food. Savor it.
4. Try to take at least 15 minutes to finish a meal, 30 is better.
5. When you are full, stop eating. Notice if there is still food on the plate. If there is, does that make you uneasy? There are a lot of members in the Clean Plate Club. Cancelling your membership IS possible, but first you have to realize you are a member.
It isn’t easy shaking old diet thinking and behaviors—the first step is realizing you are following them. With some self-compassion and support, you can find your way back to healthy and sustainable weight management.