Weight Loss: Should you really keep old jeans as weight-loss motivation?

If you have a closet full of denim you can't wear and you haven't been that size in a decade, your best bet is to clean out that space for new, more flattering clothes.

POP QUIZ: What percentage of women keep old jeans that no longer fit as motivation to lose weight?

A. 5
B. 12
C. 27
D. 39

ANSWER: D, according to a recent Harris Poll. Is clinging to those blues unhealthy? Depends. "It puts emphasis on overall body composition instead of a number on the scale, and that's important from a health perspective," says Los Angeles nutrition physician specialist Melina Jampolis, M.D. Plus, it's a no-cost way to reward yourself for your effort, says Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition and psychiatry at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

That said, if you have a closet full of denim you can't wear and you haven't been that size in a decade, your best bet is to clean out that space for new, more flattering clothes as motivation to move on.

If you have a closet full of denim you can't wear and you haven't been that size in a decade, your best bet is to clean out that space for new, more flattering clothes. Read Full Story