Ideal Weight and Form for Expensive Clothing Hobby

[mmkn]

Having explored bespoke clothing for a few years now, I have come to appreciate how expensive this hobby can be if one does not stay at one's ideal weight and form.

So, what is this "ideal weight?" After a conversation with the gurus of medical weight loss without gimmicks [i.e. "supplements"] - the bariatric surgeons - my medical background answer is as follows. Eat every three hours (6, 9, 12, 15, 18 hr.), but eat a fist sized [the size these surgeons make the stomach pouch to bring the 500 lb patient back to their "ideal and healthy" weight, whatever it may be] portion meal at each sitting. Move the ratio of protein [natural or whey/soy concentrated shake] up above 30%. Keep the fat to 5% or less. The rest is carbs.

How about "ideal form?" Personally three times week of light cardio and enough weights to "stimulate stress hormones [e.g. natural growth hormones]," and some Yoga/Pilates/Posture exercise every night does the job for me [I am a minimalist].

I really shy away from any "supplements," except naturally extracted protein. Although anyone can reach Adonis proportions nowadays with metabolite uppers, recovery speeders, and a hormone regimen, I find my response to those bodies akin to looking at breast implants on women - not really impressed.

In doing the above, I have without effort come back to my high school weight and form about five years ago, with only minor fluctuations each year (0.5 inches, 3-5 pounds).

What is your own story?

- M

 

[voxsartoria]

One word: popcorn.

- B

 

[Manton]

Eating every three hours would drive me insane. I eat at most twice a day, and sometimes once.

I recently lost what I had thought was a not significant amount of weight (~15 pounds) and my jackets are hanging off me and I have to wear my belts on the last notch. At a recent fitting, the tailor noticed and took in the waist of the DJ considerably. I am now toying with the idea of having everything taken in, but part of me is too lazy, and the other part fears this won't last.

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Life is changing and weight is, too.

I started with 70kg to study. 15 years later it was 110kg. Now, I am back at 100kg.

I don't give a sh*t on suits, shoes and anything else which lasts forever.

 

[mmkn]

Originally Posted by Manton

Eating every three hours would drive me insane. I eat at most twice a day, and sometimes once.

Yeowza yoyo . . .

Think of it like breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which most people eat. Many also eat a mid-morning and mid-day snack [coffee break]. Combine all five and eat the same at each setting and you have 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18.

The fundamental reason is that your stomach can stretch indefinitely just as your fat cells can balloon indefinitely, but the "ideal" size for a stomach pouch is fist size.

There are also "physiologic" reasons eating small portions as well - For example, steady glucose and insulin levels.

I know it's boring and it's not social, but it is medical. When I am in a social setting, the wine flows and food gets devoured. When working, I am more medical.

"Food" for thought . . .

- M

Vox - do you take "butter" supplements with your popcorn?

 

[Manton]

I eat when I am hungry, and don't when I am not. I am not hungry 6 times a day, or even three times a day. There is no way I could force myself to do this.

 

[WhateverYouLike]

Where's why?

 

[wmmk]

I'm about 6'1" (and growing), 165. I think that's pretty healthy. I probably have ~10 lbs. of extraneous bodyfat which I'm trying to replace with muscle. This works out well for a streetwear & denim-type wardrobe, although I'd bulk up if I were wearing a suit every day.

 

[mmkn]

Originally Posted by Manton

I eat when I am hungry, and don't when I am not. I am not hungry 6 times a day, or even three times a day. There is no way I could force myself to do this.

Perhaps one tunes into what/who one is around . . .

I used to [and still do] think as you, but now I recognize the distinction of socially influenced responses to food and, for the lack of a better term, medically influenced ones.

Is not food and eating in some way first and foremost a cultural phenomenon/identity?

Now most of the time when I "fuel up," I am not around people. It is easier just to eat and enjoy two bites of a Cinnabon than mindlessly eat the whole thing when one is physiologically steady. The hours of sweat and exertion needed to burn off the 700 calories of a Cinnabon just does not compare to the effortlessness of being able to just eat and enjoy a few bites of the thing. I am getting beyond my original intentions here, delving into the addiction of food. So, I'll stop.

- M

 

[mmkn]

Originally Posted by Golf_Nerd

I don't give a sh*t on suits, shoes and anything else which lasts forever.

I regret having to let go of clothing that I know would look funny if altered.

- M

 

[itsstillmatt]

I eat a couple times a day and haven't been to the gym in twenty years. My weight doesn't really fluctuate, and I have no clue what my form is, or whether it is ideal. That is my secret.

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by mmkn

I regret having to let go of clothing ...

- M

And me. But after a while my style is changing, too, and I have new ideas about clothing (thanks to styleforum.net).

 

[Fuuma]

I eat when I'm hungry or during social outings. That meal every three hours thing is for gaylords.

 

[mmkn]

Originally Posted by iammatt

That is my secret.

Your secret is that you seem emotionally sound and you do not have a food-mood connection. Hey, it works.

Didn't I write something to the effect that I thought your ideal size is about 2 sizes lower [50 instead of 52]?

Some further thoughts on the subject - think Japanese rather than American serving size [God forbid the Supersize phenomenon - they sure know how to get people addicted]. I also like the sushi model of eating for protein (fish) to carbohydrate (rice) ratio, and almost no fat.

- M

 

[Bird's One View]

Originally Posted by Manton

I recently lost what I had thought was a not significant amount of weight (~15 pounds) and my jackets are hanging off me and I have to wear my belts on the last notch. At a recent fitting, the tailor noticed and took in the waist of the DJ considerably. I am now toying with the idea of having everything taken in, but part of me is too lazy, and the other part fears this won't last.
You were rather thin to start with. That makes a difference in how much a given loss (or gain) will change the fit of one's clothes. When I started going the other way in my late twenties, I think it took about five pounds to go from 29" to 30" trousers. No big deal, right? I was horrified when I realized that, e.g., 32" to 33" represented a much greater gain (probably closer to fifteen pounds in my case).