MisterGrey
Practically Family
- Messages
- 526
- Location
- Texas, USA
Speaking as someone who struggled (and still does struggle) with weight, I can sympathize. I steadily ballooned up to 300lbs throughout middle/high school, and finally got fed up with it by the time I hit college. I'm a much leaner 180 right now, which at 5'10 with a broad build isn't too bad. I was 165 until recently, but similar to yourself (albeit under less noble circumstances), I contracted mono earlier this year and was laid up for long enough to pack on some pounds.
I initially modified my diet; I cut out soda and candy and cut down on the junk food (my mother comes from Eastern European Jewish stock, so baking is a compulsion in my family and no matter how far you get from them, you will be constantly exposed to tasty foodstuffs; so completely annihilating baked goods just wasn't an option with the temptation always there). For some reason my own metabolism tolerates baked goods better than candy, anyway. In order to wean off of soda I first transitioned from regular to diet, and then from diet onto seltzer water, which is what I drink now. You still get the bite of soda but none of the sugar or calories. I likewise increased my vegetable intake. I've always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy so this took some adjustment.
After diet modification came the exercise. About 90% of the weight I lost by walking. Around the time I started college my car got totaled by a dolt who had never heard of the concept of hydroplaning and decided to go 75mph in a 65 zone during a thunderstorm. So for a long while if I wanted to get anywhere I had to walk; it coincided nicely with my weight loss goal. I was taking eight mile round trips to the mall/library/work, six mile rounds to the grocery store, and when I didn't need to go anywhere, 1-2 miles a day around my neighborhood. Start with a low number and work up if need be. Walking is your friend; running will tire you out quickly, and unless you're on a track or forgiving ground, be too harsh on your joints. Just a one-to-two mile a day brisk walk (3-4mph) can work wonders for your body over time.
These things being said, being bald doesn't effect how good you'll look in a suit. There are plenty of factors, like build and complexion, that can affect what color of suit you'll want to wear. Hair isn't one of them. I started going bald three years ago and just shaved everything off; and I still look good in the stuff I wore when I had hair. So I wouldn't worry about that. Although, with sensitive skin and no hair, hats are definitely your friend.
I'll echo the above sentiment that vertical stripes are your friend. They'll make you look slimmer, taller, and, honestly, pinstripes just look damn cool. Likewise, darker colors can make you look slimmer, as well. If your bulk is settled around your torso/upper body, a dark jacket with light pants can de-emphasize your upper body weight and let you play some mix-and-match. OTR suits are too often designed for people with very specific body proportions; even at my best physically I had problems finding an OTR suit where the jacket and pants both fit properly, so I tend to stick to the sports coat/contrasting pants look, or buy suits that are sold as separates.
Don't necessarily give into a temptation to wear a baggier suit to try and hide weight. I did this when I first started wearing suits in high school, and looking back now, they made me look even heavier than I really was. Excess material + baggy = illusion of more body for them to cover. It's possible to get a jacket that's snug enough to slim you down but also roomy enough to give you the comfort of mobility. A jacket shouldn't be so tight that it wrinkles like a prune if you move an inch of your body.
I hope that this information has been of some use or help to you; and I hope my fellow loungers will forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, but thank you for your service to the U.S. A pleasure to have you here with us.
I initially modified my diet; I cut out soda and candy and cut down on the junk food (my mother comes from Eastern European Jewish stock, so baking is a compulsion in my family and no matter how far you get from them, you will be constantly exposed to tasty foodstuffs; so completely annihilating baked goods just wasn't an option with the temptation always there). For some reason my own metabolism tolerates baked goods better than candy, anyway. In order to wean off of soda I first transitioned from regular to diet, and then from diet onto seltzer water, which is what I drink now. You still get the bite of soda but none of the sugar or calories. I likewise increased my vegetable intake. I've always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy so this took some adjustment.
After diet modification came the exercise. About 90% of the weight I lost by walking. Around the time I started college my car got totaled by a dolt who had never heard of the concept of hydroplaning and decided to go 75mph in a 65 zone during a thunderstorm. So for a long while if I wanted to get anywhere I had to walk; it coincided nicely with my weight loss goal. I was taking eight mile round trips to the mall/library/work, six mile rounds to the grocery store, and when I didn't need to go anywhere, 1-2 miles a day around my neighborhood. Start with a low number and work up if need be. Walking is your friend; running will tire you out quickly, and unless you're on a track or forgiving ground, be too harsh on your joints. Just a one-to-two mile a day brisk walk (3-4mph) can work wonders for your body over time.
These things being said, being bald doesn't effect how good you'll look in a suit. There are plenty of factors, like build and complexion, that can affect what color of suit you'll want to wear. Hair isn't one of them. I started going bald three years ago and just shaved everything off; and I still look good in the stuff I wore when I had hair. So I wouldn't worry about that. Although, with sensitive skin and no hair, hats are definitely your friend.
I'll echo the above sentiment that vertical stripes are your friend. They'll make you look slimmer, taller, and, honestly, pinstripes just look damn cool. Likewise, darker colors can make you look slimmer, as well. If your bulk is settled around your torso/upper body, a dark jacket with light pants can de-emphasize your upper body weight and let you play some mix-and-match. OTR suits are too often designed for people with very specific body proportions; even at my best physically I had problems finding an OTR suit where the jacket and pants both fit properly, so I tend to stick to the sports coat/contrasting pants look, or buy suits that are sold as separates.
Don't necessarily give into a temptation to wear a baggier suit to try and hide weight. I did this when I first started wearing suits in high school, and looking back now, they made me look even heavier than I really was. Excess material + baggy = illusion of more body for them to cover. It's possible to get a jacket that's snug enough to slim you down but also roomy enough to give you the comfort of mobility. A jacket shouldn't be so tight that it wrinkles like a prune if you move an inch of your body.
I hope that this information has been of some use or help to you; and I hope my fellow loungers will forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, but thank you for your service to the U.S. A pleasure to have you here with us.