<p>WW tells you to get rid of those old clothes that are too big. I did that a few years back and it was a great idea. I honestly think that having no “fat day” clothes to fall back on, has helped me keep the weight off. Even my sweat pants are size small and pretty unforgiving.</p>
<p>I’m wearing two pair of pants that were two small for me a couple of months ago and the other day a friend asked me why my jeans were hanging off me. I was happy to get that backhanded compliment.</p>
<p>I made a deal with myself this week and so far it is working well. If I choose to sleep in on a morning when I planned to go to the gym before work, I have to bring my gym clothes with me and go directly after work. So far, it has motivated me to get up a couple of times when i have been tempted to sleep in and, conversely, it has forced me to go to the gym on a couple of days when I was lazy in the am.</p>
<p>^^^ What a great motivator - loose clothes or “new” clothes that you haven’t been able to wear!</p>
<p>I’ve never really tried to be stylish so I guess my old clothes could be called “classic” - just so they look good on me. I do pay attention to skirt length - above the knee? Below the knee? My old dresses range from mini to maxi!</p>
<p>I’ve discovered that jeans with lycra can be very deceiving and hide the weight/inches because they still <em>fit</em>. Sort of. The old pants and skirts without a bit of stretch that I’ve held onto for years are the truth sayers. I think I can get by with wearing an old straight skirt – which is now called a pencil skirt I believe. The hems are coming down this season, so it is an appropriate length and doesn’t show my elephant knees!</p>
<p>I’m so happy I did not throw away D’s size 26 premium jeans. 
Yay to old denim! Congrats, ladies. I have to go through my closet one more time and get rid of anyhing that falls off my behind.</p>
<p>26?? I didn’t wear that size when I was a baby!!</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone who is still shrinking! BB, have you tried the J. Crew bootleg cords? I just got a pair, 26S. The fit is fantastic. </p>
<p>And do tell on any low carb, low calories chicken slow cooker recipes!</p>
<p>If any of you find that your butt is just getting too darned small, head to a Christmas Tree Shop near you. I was there yesterday and they have butt inserts to fill you out! Lol!</p>
<p>I should go to the bargain thread with that one!</p>
<p>EPTR, here you go! The Beer Belly and the Wine Rack 
</p>
<p>Take your beverage with you… ;)</p>
<p>[The</a> Beerbelly- Stealth Beverage System](<a href=“http://www.thebeerbelly.com/]The”>http://www.thebeerbelly.com/)</p>
<p>^^Hops, thanks for the great laugh! H and I just watched the Jay Leno video in the link. Laughing my butt insert out! ;)</p>
<p>Where has that wine rack been my whole life?! Great christmas gift for the under-endowed alcoholic on your list!</p>
<p>When you guys are saying size 26…do you mean the waist size or something else. I’m pretty small (size 6) and I don’t think I’ve EVER worn a size 26 waist as an adult.</p>
<p>I am glad Jcrew has short lengths, they can be hard to find & I know nordstroms hems, but still a hassle.</p>
<p>When you guys are saying size 26…do you mean the waist size or something else. I’m pretty small (size 6) and I don’t think I’ve EVER worn a size 26 waist as an adult.
When you are less than 5’5"- 26 isn’t that skinny- not in Jcrew anyway.
I think I went from a 24" right to a 28+, & now am back to a 29- I could firm up my middle a bit ( but they took away my favorite ab machine 
), but if I lose any more weight I would look haggard. All my life I wished for something besides a round face & chubby cheeks, but now that I have more angles, I want my chubby cheeks back!</p>
<p>Just got home from driving H to work and it is barely 6 am, I could go to the gym & come home & take a nap or I could have a couple more cups of coffee and look for pumpkin pie recipes…</p>
<p>I’m 5’4"…smallest I’ve ever been as an adult is a size 28 waist…and that was snug. I have JCrew clothes…but they are in regular sizes…6, 8, etc.</p>
<p>I love the J Crew bootleg cords - 26R. I especially love them in charcoal gray.</p>
<p>What is the regular size equivalent of a JCrew 26? A 2, 4, 6?</p>
<p>I think it depends on your body. I have an apple shaped body- not much waist( & very short waisted) but relatively narrow hips. Since pants nowadays don’t fit at the waist, I wear a smaller size, ( I think), than I would if they weren’t so low cut.
As it is I have to wear a belt to keep them up.</p>
<p>Ive learned to not pay much attention to sizes, I have to just eyeball it & try it on.
It also helps when you can find a few brands that work for you, but even within those brands there are styles that are cut oddly. </p>
<p>For example H has worn the same size Levi 501s since he was in high school. But now that they manufacture them all over the world, he is finding that fit varies.</p>
<p>I am like Emeraldkity- My hips and bottom are narrow but my waist is not. I find that premium denim and contemporary cuts fit my shape much better. Even at 100 lbs my waist was never skinny.
My favorite evening snack these days when I crave something sweet is about 4 of the really dark chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe’s.
I made a delicious butternut squash soup twice in the last two weeks. It is easy and it feels and tastes great without any added cream.</p>
<p>I buy a package of the pre-cut butternut squash from Costco. I think it is about 2 1/2 lbs. Toss squash in small amount of olive oil. Roast the squash with 3 cloves of garlic at 400 for about 30 minutes. Turning occasionally
Saute in a soup pot in a small amount of olive oil
1 onion,2 carrots diced, 2 celery stalks diced
I like to saute it on medium heat till it is nice and soft
Add in squash and garlic, One box of low sodium organic chicken or vege broth
Bring to a boil
Add 1/4 cup chopped up fresh sage
reduce heat, cover an simmer for as long as you want
Blend with an immersion blender
Season with pepper to taste
I serve it with a small amount of grated fontina cheese and for H a couple of the rustic croutons from trader joe’s
It taste decadent but is good for you</p>
<p>I wear a 4 in J. Crew. 26S is just their pant waist like men’s sizes:). I LOVE the chocolate brown bootleg cords. And S is because I have Very Short Legs…My real waist is 29 inches. It was 25 inches when I was young, and weighed only 5 pounds less than I weigh now. Thanks kids. Thanks a lot. </p>
<p>That butternut soup sounds AMAZING.</p>