Unintended consequences of great weight loss and my EDC

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Tallbald

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I shared this on another shooting enthusiast's forum, and want to share it here too because for whatever reasons, I never anticipated the changes I've experienced as a result of my weight loss. Maybe others will benefit from what I've learned, but before it is identified as a problem! :
Having lost 78 pounds over the last 10 months (312 down to 234) and with another 9 to go to reach where the doctor says to be, I didn't anticipate new CCW issues. I've gone from snug 46 waist jeans to a comfortable 38 inch waist with the loss. I stand 6 feet 4+ inches tall and just didn't think body change implications on CCW through in advance.
I've carried my 2 inch SP101 in a pocket holster for about six weeks as I've worked to go down the last jean size, but for years I've carried my three inch SP101 in an AIWB holster. Always comfortable AIWB until now. Trying back on my AIWB setup today for first time in six weeks, it appears that my abdomen, when larger, was keeping my SP101 butt angled slightly outward away from my lower rib cage margin. That's changed. The butt jabs into my ribs no matter where I position my holster on my belt.
Maybe the final 9 pounds loss over the next 6-8 weeks will change something. If not, I'll have redesign my personal AIWB holster to be at a slight angle on its steel belt clip. Not such an angle that I cannot reach it to draw with my weak hand though.
It's ....interesting.... to have this problem.
Don.
I craft my own laminated leather gun belts and leather holsters so fortunately I'll only be out time and the cost of my materials. A person who must buy their carry gear though may need to budget for changed gear needs beyond just a belt.
Don.
 
May your high class problem remain an issue through many healthy years! Congrats on your discipline and hard work.

I dropped 70 lbs a few years ago. For a while I was worried that it would be harder to conceal the duty-sized guns I preferred. Going to a holster with a claw and wedge, combined with a solid gun belt has taken care of that concern. I haven't had the issue you mentioned -- perhaps trying adjusting the position a bit in either direction?
 
It's ....interesting.... to have this problem.
Don.

Yeah, I'd say that's a great "problem" to have! Congrats on that! I'm always surprised by how many people in this day and age seem to be okay with being overweight.

I've dropped about 20 over the last year and, even though I work out and am in good shape, it has been great for my knees. Getting older, even a little weight loss can make a big difference! Keep up the good work!
 
lost 78 pounds over the last 10 months

I dropped 70 lbs a few years ago.
Congratulations guys. An educated guess, the weight loss was the result of changing your lifestyle more than just a "diet", am I right?
I have found that everything I do is far more comfortable when I am at a healthy weight, concealed carry included.
Think of it this way, you can both carry 35 pounds of guns and ammo and still feel much lighter than you once did.
 
I am 6'3 and 230lb. I have not found a comfortable way to carry a full sized gun. I can't imagine trying to lug an SP101 around with me.

An XDs .(.45) is as big as I carry but I usually carry a CM9 or DB9.
 
Or any person regardless of height or weight. A gun is not a keyring hanging on your belt. The weight must be distibuted around as much of your waist as possible. That's why a good thick stiff leather belt makes such a big difference.
 
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Congratulations guys. An educated guess, the weight loss was the result of changing your lifestyle more than just a "diet", am I right?
I have found that everything I do is far more comfortable when I am at a healthy weight, concealed carry included.
Think of it this way, you can both carry 35 pounds of guns and ammo and still feel much lighter than you once did.

Thanks! There was definitely more than diet involved in it for me, but my best guess would be that diet was mostly responsible for the weight loss (maybe 55-60%). During busy times at work when I haven't had the time to get to the gym, I've generally kept my weight gain to less than 5 lbs for months at a time as long as I continue eating right.

There's a ton of diets out there, but this is just the way I did it. I don't like having a ton of work going into something like diet, so I kept a set of guidelines:
• Cut white flour.
• Cut sugar down to little (<10g) or nothing. No soda, no juice
• Eat 8-10 servings of veggies and fruit every day.
• If, after eating those 8-10 servings of plants every day, I still want to have a desert now and then I'll go for it, but it has to be after prioritizing the fruit/veg.

In the first few years I generally ate paleo, but I've since switched to being mostly plant-based after looking closer at my family health history (early heart attacks and prostate cancer are highly correlated to dairy and meat consumption, but the risk can be greatly reduced by keeping away from those things, it seems).
 
Thanks friends for the kind words. My spine surgeon told me he couldn't do anything for me toward the lumbar fusion I was told I was headed for 7 years ago. Said the disc deterioration has spread to my thoracic spine. Said I could lose weight and it "might" help with the pain, numbness and weakness. He said to go down to my Basal Metabolic Index..... and said when I asked "down to what?" that I could look up my best weight "online" ! "What the heck did I pay him a copay for" I thought?
Did as he said, went on a reduced carb diet back in April of 2018 on instructions of my family doctors after they reviewed my labs (which they checked often too as I lost weight). Gave up most all the breads, fried foods, and beer. Ate salads twice a day with boiled eggs as topping, lots of water, proteins and such. Bought jeans a size too small to use as incentive. learned to count carbs on the fly. Crafted two new gun belts for myself along the way. I've not worn 38 waist 36 inseam jeans since my college days in 1982.
Sort of funny story. Today the Love of My Life Miss Penny took me to lunch for Valentine's Day. Used to carrying my SP101 in a pocket holster it went in as normal. Distracted when dressing, I put on my AIWB Sp101 too to check for fit. Got home 4 hours later and removed my AIWB holster, undid my belt and my pants fell to my ankles. I hadn't remembered I was carrying the New York reload all day, being used to tight britches and heavier weights!
I've learned I will from here on out have to watch my daily intake like my diabetic wife. Just is what it is...
I learned though today I will indeed, regardless of 9 more pounds loss, need to craft another AIWB holster that cants the grip butt 10-15 degrees to my right. My waistline height and the short distance to my ribcage won't be changing, and my abdomen continues to sink in. But I love crafting belts and holsters, so it will be a labor of love. The need to change my carry method wasn't foreseen by me but it's become a cost I'm happy to pay.
Don.
 
I shared this on another shooting enthusiast's forum, and want to share it here too because for whatever reasons, I never anticipated the changes I've experienced as a result of my weight loss. Maybe others will benefit from what I've learned, but before it is identified as a problem! :
Having lost 78 pounds over the last 10 months (312 down to 234) and with another 9 to go to reach where the doctor says to be, I didn't anticipate new CCW issues. I've gone from snug 46 waist jeans to a comfortable 38 inch waist with the loss. I stand 6 feet 4+ inches tall and just didn't think body change implications on CCW through in advance.
I've carried my 2 inch SP101 in a pocket holster for about six weeks as I've worked to go down the last jean size, but for years I've carried my three inch SP101 in an AIWB holster. Always comfortable AIWB until now. Trying back on my AIWB setup today for first time in six weeks, it appears that my abdomen, when larger, was keeping my SP101 butt angled slightly outward away from my lower rib cage margin. That's changed. The butt jabs into my ribs no matter where I position my holster on my belt.
Maybe the final 9 pounds loss over the next 6-8 weeks will change something. If not, I'll have redesign my personal AIWB holster to be at a slight angle on its steel belt clip. Not such an angle that I cannot reach it to draw with my weak hand though.
It's ....interesting.... to have this problem.
Don.
I craft my own laminated leather gun belts and leather holsters so fortunately I'll only be out time and the cost of my materials. A person who must buy their carry gear though may need to budget for changed gear needs beyond just a belt.
Don.
I've had a very similar experience to yours. I'm 6'3" and went from 243 lbs down to 192 in about two years time. I also carried an SP101. I carried mine IWB at about 3:30 or 4:00. As my love handles and butt cheek decreased in size that revolver felt like it was trying to bore it's way through my hip. I tried different holsters, and OWB carry. It's a three inch gun though, and I didn't care for the end of the barrel sticking out below my shirt or jacket. Honestly I found myself just having to change guns, and I made the switch to single stack autos.

But I don't have holster making skills like you. :D

Congrats on the weight loss, but I'm sorry it's not for happier reasons. I blew three discs out at age 24 or 25, and have been paying for it ever since. I find lots of walking helps sort it out when it's acting up. I guess spine issues are just inherent to being taller.

I've transitioned to a different job that requires a lot less physical work, and a lot more stress due to managing people. It's funny, I used to work 60 hour weeks out in the woods, and didn't mind it. Now if I work 50 hours in a week in my office, I'm ready to beat someone up. Stress can really impact the body.

You are absolutely right about the importance of diet. I have to watch what I eat really carefully now. I've bumped back up to like 203 in the last 2.5 years. I feel like if I look at sugar I gain weight.
 
As a follow up, I redesigned my AIWB holster for my 3 inch SP101 to change to a little deeper in my jeans position. Basically raised the metal belt clip on the holster so that the revolver butt rides about 1/2 inch lower than my previous design. Remarkably it makes a big difference. I may be able to begin again AIWB carry of my Ruger P89DC or Ruger P95 when I reach 225 pounds.
I'm really fighting to shed this last 8 pounds, from 233 to 225. My cardiologist told me not to go lower than 225. I'm 6 feet 4-5 inches with a "large skeleton" my doctor claims.Those who've lost significant weight may also understand that one can be a size that makes it too loose to wear one size jean, and a little bit too snug in the next lower. That's my issue right now in size 38 waist jeans. The last 8 pounds should make things just right. Size 40's are hard to keep up.
Perhaps the last 8 pound stubbornness is my body fighting what it thinks is "food shortage". And maybe it's because 8 pounds is a larger percentage of a 233(ish) pound build than it was for a 312 pound starting size. Just don't know. But I'll get there.
I'm also on a mission to cease tobacco use. That's going to be a hard one after 42 years use since age 18,and living almost my entire life in the tobacco growing belt, working in tobacco, and having tobacco-using family.
And oddly, I've sold many of my big man jeans (Riggs Workwear, Wrangler, and Arizona jeans) on Ebay. Used the proceeds to buy some smaller clothing. In spring, we will rent a one-day yard sale section booth at the flea market here (a big well attended indoor/outdoor thing) and sell off the remainder of my old clothing. I wear a 36 inch inseam and the right man would be pleased to get my 46W36L pants and 3X shirts.
Thanks to all for the kind and considered words.
As always, my best to everyone. Don+ Quote
 
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