How did you lose 32 lbs and how did you figure out about the vitamin deficiency?

No what it means is that if you don't eat enough protein your body will take from your bones to support vital functions. It's not just about weight, you have to consider the muscle/fat ratio. I was skinny fat for years so I get the fear of overeating you have,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How far are you from your goal weight? I eat protein for my goal weight. You might consider splitting the difference.

The formula is that you eat protein at least 50% of your current weight in order to maintain your muscle. If one doesn't eat enough, the body will eat muscle to sustain vital functions like breathing. Protein is harder to digest so it affects your metabolism is a good way. This also assumes strength training in parallel.

This is not the formula, but ok. Strange scare tactic - you think eating protein for goal weight will leave us without muscle sufficient to breathe?

Anonymous wrote:How far are you from your goal weight? I eat protein for my goal weight. You might consider splitting the difference.

The formula is that you eat protein at least 50% of your current weight in order to maintain your muscle. If one doesn't eat enough, the body will eat muscle to sustain vital functions like breathing. Protein is harder to digest so it affects your metabolism is a good way. This also assumes strength training in parallel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Second question: does anyone have a good bra sizing chart or can advise how to step down from my fattest size to a mid size? I have several smaller bras waiting for goal weight, but I need to fill the mid size and having a good fitting bra when you're heavy in the chest is really important for engaging in fitness and just generally to keep my neck from being irritated by the weight.

Currently wearing 44DDD bras I got at my largest, but even fresh from the dryer all shrunk up I have to use the innermost set of clasps and after one day the bra is too loose to provide good support. The cups are too big also but not huge. Should I go down to a 42DD, or is that too big a jump? I'm clueless about the whole bra sizing magic. I have looked around and cannot find anyplace near me that offers professional bra fittings, that seems to be a thing of the past. Please help me navigate this aspect of the downsizing journey.

Thanks in advance for all advice/suggestions.

For your second question, don't put your bras in the dryer. It kills the elastic and you end up with stretched out bras you describe.
Go to the nearest high end lingerie boutique and get fitted for and buy two expensive bras. Handwash, allow each to "rest" after 2 days of wear.

Why do they have to be expensive? You can go to Nordstrom and get a bra for $50.

How far are you from your goal weight? I eat protein for my goal weight. You might consider splitting the difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Second question: does anyone have a good bra sizing chart or can advise how to step down from my fattest size to a mid size? I have several smaller bras waiting for goal weight, but I need to fill the mid size and having a good fitting bra when you're heavy in the chest is really important for engaging in fitness and just generally to keep my neck from being irritated by the weight.

Currently wearing 44DDD bras I got at my largest, but even fresh from the dryer all shrunk up I have to use the innermost set of clasps and after one day the bra is too loose to provide good support. The cups are too big also but not huge. Should I go down to a 42DD, or is that too big a jump? I'm clueless about the whole bra sizing magic. I have looked around and cannot find anyplace near me that offers professional bra fittings, that seems to be a thing of the past. Please help me navigate this aspect of the downsizing journey.

Thanks in advance for all advice/suggestions.

For your second question, don't put your bras in the dryer. It kills the elastic and you end up with stretched out bras you describe.
Go to the nearest high end lingerie boutique and get fitted for and buy two expensive bras. Handwash, allow each to "rest" after 2 days of wear.

Anonymous wrote:
So anyway, I digress - do I use the protein goal for my goal weight body, or for my still obese body?

Second question: does anyone have a good bra sizing chart or can advise how to step down from my fattest size to a mid size? I have several smaller bras waiting for goal weight, but I need to fill the mid size and having a good fitting bra when you're heavy in the chest is really important for engaging in fitness and just generally to keep my neck from being irritated by the weight.

First answer: Protein goal to hit is whichever is larger.

Second answer: Just go to Trousseau in Vienna (assuming you are in the DMV). There is no good way to measure and order. I have lost 50lbs (just hit that milestone today!) and started out in a 40DDD and have gone down to a 38DDD or DD, depending -- but not all bras work for me at all. I really had to try them on.

Was also going to recommend the reddit group about bra size - abrathatfits.

For protein, I've always heard to aim at your goal weight. If that is not enough protein for some reason, I'd try for the halfway point to your goal weight.

If you have bras you like that are just a bit small buy a back extender. For a new size I’d go 42DD but go to kohls and just try some on. Elasticity of fabric can change sizing.

Protein should be for your body today.

Where do you live? There is likely a store near you. There is a Reddit group about wearing the right bra size. A cup for 44D will be the same as 42DD. The difference is the band. You should start wearing the band on the tightest clasp and eventually they loosen and you should end up on the loosest.

For bras, you should look into Evelyn & Bobbie bras. They have no underwire and no clasps. I know it sounds crazy for those of us who are larger, but they work great. I have lost over 40 pounds, and started in E&B size XL as a 40 DDD. I have gone down to E&B size L/36 DD.

I unfortunately don't know the answer to your questions, but I do know that most doctors have shockingly little training on nutrition. I'd try to meet with a registered dietician to figure out your protein needs and plan a diet accordingly.

You will see widely varying advice and not all of it is specialized for obese people. I see obese people advised to eat their target weight as the most often guidance. However, that seems difficult in a calorie deficit.

It sounds like what you’re doing is working, right? You’ve lost weight and gained muscle. Why not maintain your protein intake for now or decrease slightly as you lose?

First question: my doctor is pleased with my progress but at our last annual two weeks ago she urged me to make sure I'm getting sufficient protein.

I used a protein calculator but I'm not sure if I should be targeting my protein intake for my current weight, or for my goal weight?

I am in a process of rebuilding muscle that I lost from a decade suffering an undiagnosed vitamin deficiency which essentially acted as a muscle wasting illness in my body, transforming my lean muscle mass/fat ratio to very little muscle, lots of blubber.

I recognize that it's very difficult to lose weight while building muscle at the same time so this last year I've drilled down on fiber rich nutrient dense diet and accepting a lower rate of pounds lost but a good rate of inches lost as my body is going through recomposition via diet and weight training. I lost 32 pounds in 2024, but did gain back 8 pounds over the holidays during a time when I had to stay out of town caring for an elderly relative post-rehab and wasn't able to do my usual food prep batch cooking and clean eating.

So anyway, I digress - do I use the protein goal for my goal weight body, or for my still obese body?

Second question: does anyone have a good bra sizing chart or can advise how to step down from my fattest size to a mid size? I have several smaller bras waiting for goal weight, but I need to fill the mid size and having a good fitting bra when you're heavy in the chest is really important for engaging in fitness and just generally to keep my neck from being irritated by the weight.

Currently wearing 44DDD bras I got at my largest, but even fresh from the dryer all shrunk up I have to use the innermost set of clasps and after one day the bra is too loose to provide good support. The cups are too big also but not huge. Should I go down to a 42DD, or is that too big a jump? I'm clueless about the whole bra sizing magic. I have looked around and cannot find anyplace near me that offers professional bra fittings, that seems to be a thing of the past. Please help me navigate this aspect of the downsizing journey.

Thanks in advance for all advice/suggestions.