“I gave up on chasing the size XS”

by Ana | August 31, 2025 | Healthy Eating, Psychology | Comments are off for this post.

For the longest time, i wanted to fit into XS size jeans, as a reward for my hard labour of dieting. I would gain the weight back obviously and then I would start another diet, a 20 year vicious cycle in the making.

Here’s why aiming to be “XS” (extra small) and pushing yourself into hard-core dieting can backfire badly:

? 1. It usually isn’t about health anymore

  • Chasing a clothing size (XS) often ignores what your body’s natural, healthy weight range is.
  • For some people, XS is unrealistic — your body shape, bone structure, and genetics matter more than a tag on a label.

? 2. Muscle & metabolism loss

  • Extreme dieting often means very low calories.
  • Your body burns muscle for energy when food is too restricted ? your metabolism slows down, making it harder to keep weight off.
  • Long term, you may end up with less strength, lower energy, and even regain more fat than you lost.

? 3. Hormonal disruption

  • Women: hard-core restriction can affect periods, fertility, and bone health (osteoporosis risk).
  • Men: testosterone can drop, lowering energy and muscle mass.
  • Everyone: hunger hormones (ghrelin, leptin) get messed up, so cravings skyrocket.

? 4. Mental & emotional health

  • Obsessing over food, calories, or size can create disordered eating patterns.
  • Feelings of guilt, shame, or anxiety around meals are common.
  • Social life suffers (skipping dinners, fearing “bad” foods, isolation).

? 5. Short-term results, long-term damage

  • Hard-core dieting may make you drop weight fast, but it’s usually not fat loss only.
  • Once you stop, weight tends to come back quickly — sometimes more than before (yo-yo effect).
  • Over time, that cycle can be more harmful than staying at a stable, slightly higher weight.

? A healthier approach:
Instead of chasing “XS,” focus on:

  • A weight range where you feel strong, energetic, and confident
  • Building muscle + healthy habits so your body composition improves (you can look leaner without shrinking to an unrealistic size)
  • Long-term well-being, not short-term extremes

Let me know if this resonated with you and if you are still chasing a lower jeans size.