love handles and concealed carry

[Owens]

I lose weight but my belt keeps catching it. Besides the AWRD (anatomical weapon retention device) is handy.

Yeah, it would be easier and healthier if I did lose some, but that will come I guess.

[The Annoyed Man]

I joined Weight Watchers just before the New Year, and I've lost 25 lbs so far; but I started on the plus side of 300, so I've a long way to go. That being said, even though OWB is marginally more comfortable, for me, it gets in the way; whereas IWB is generally easier despite being less comfortable.

[NcongruNt]

I am a big guy, 350+, and I find that IWB works best for me, even thought it does hurt at times. I just can not find shirts long enough to cover an OWB, at least with the OWB holsters that I have. My problem is not while walking, it while sitting down, my shirt rides up on the sides. Maybe I just dont have the right OWB holster, I might try some others. What holsters are you other big guys using, to give me an idea of where to look for another holster?

I'm 6' and was 285 lbs. last I checked. The key to making OWB work for me is a high-ride holster and wearing my belt a bit higher than I used to. My holster is a Galco Combat Master, carrying a full-length Hi-Power (same profile as a 5" 1911). I use a bullhide gun belt from http://thebeltman.net .

The image below illustrates how I carry. This isn't the best illustration for this purpose, but my belt rides relatively high. Imagine the front pulled up a little (the picture was taken before I got the gun belt, so the belt I was wearing wasn't as stiff and tended to sag in the front). Also note that the butt of the gun is at elbow level. That should illustrate how high it rides and why a gun that high carried OWB will lean inwards over love handles. Of course, everyone is built differently, but in general this seems to be the case. Another key is to wear clothes that fit you properly. For a couple of years I was in denial regarding my waist size, and wore pants that ended up too tight around the waist. This will screw up concealed carry in all sorts of ways. I bought a bunch of new clothes after I started carrying, and suddenly it wasn't such a task to conceal properly.



On a positive personal note, I seem to have lost a few inches around the waist in the last couple of months. I've had to go in 4 notches on my belt, and have run out of room to shrink it further. I may have to order a new gun belt soon!

[Snake Doctor]

That's what I need to do. I don't consider myself "fat" but I'm definitely overweight. For me at least, OWB does not conceal well and I like the idea of losing weight because I know I need to. I need to drop about twenty to get to my "pre-fatherhood" weight of 200.

If you're looking for a [ballpark] idea of a healthy weight, you can simply check your Body Mass Index. Don't freak out if it puts you in a category you don't like... For example, I'm 6'0", 185 lbs. and it says I'm "overweight". I plugged in the same height with 184 lbs. and it said I was normal. So, you know, take it with a grain of salt.

[Snake Doctor]

Here's a good website with a simple calculator: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

[chewy555]

I'm 6' and was 285 lbs. last I checked. The key to making OWB work for me is a high-ride holster and wearing my belt a bit higher than I used to. My holster is a Galco Combat Master, carrying a full-length Hi-Power (same profile as a 5" 1911). I use a bullhide gun belt from http://thebeltman.net .

The image below illustrates how I carry. This isn't the best illustration for this purpose, but my belt rides relatively high. Imagine the front pulled up a little (the picture was taken before I got the gun belt, so the belt I was wearing wasn't as stiff and tended to sag in the front). Also note that the butt of the gun is at elbow level. That should illustrate how high it rides and why a gun that high carried OWB will lean inwards over love handles. Of course, everyone is built differently, but in general this seems to be the case. Another key is to wear clothes that fit you properly. For a couple of years I was in denial regarding my waist size, and wore pants that ended up too tight around the waist. This will screw up concealed carry in all sorts of ways. I bought a bunch of new clothes after I started carrying, and suddenly it wasn't such a task to conceal properly.



On a positive personal note, I seem to have lost a few inches around the waist in the last couple of months. I've had to go in 4 notches on my belt, and have run out of room to shrink it further. I may have to order a new gun belt soon!

I dont wear my pants that high. I guess its partly because if I did I would have to get bigger pants, and I just dont want that. I will look at the Galco Combat Master, since I have a 1911. Thanks for the info about the holster.

The BMI that others are talking about is a good tool to judge if you are over weight. But also like said take it with a grain of salt. I would like to get down to about 220 to 240, and the bmi for my height would still show that I am over weight. But to me it would be so much better then I am now, that I think that it would be ok. I just dont think that I could drop to under 200 to have a "normal" BMI.

[hirundo82]

I'm in the process of losing a lot of weight. I've lost about 40 lbs and then Christmas and the Vegas trip came and I gained about 10 back. I mostly eat a very regimented diet, drink lots of water, dont' drink sodas (even diet), and I walk about 2 miles a day. Once I lose some more weight I'm going to start jogging some of those two miles, right now it would reak havoc on my knees.

My reasons for doing so are this:

- I'm single but don't enjoy the benefits of being a bachelor because I lack the confidence in my physical appearance to "make contact".

- I look at pictures of myself and say "Man do I really look that fat?!"

- I find it easier to conceal carry when I'm not so wide in the middle.

- I just like the way I look better when I'm thinner, and I haven't been like that since I was in the Army.

I'm trying to do much the same thing, except I've never really been a healthy weight. I'm 6'1" and between 230 and 240 (BMI 30-31, just into the obese range)--I don't have a scale at home although I'm planning to get one. I am down from 270 at my peak about 5 years ago.

I get plenty of exercise--I've stopped taking the bus and instead walk to and from school 5 or 6 days a week--5 miles round trip. I am also planning to start jogging once I get my weight down a bit--like around 220. I figure for my body type, 200 is a good goal even though my BMI would still be around 26 (overweight is 25-30, "normal" is 18.5-25)

My problem is I really like good food and good beer. I have been doing better though--only eating out once a week, and of course moderation in alcohol consumption is always a good idea.

To keep this gun-related, I know losing the extra around my middle will make carry easier. I do carry OWB, which I find both more comfortable and more concealable with the holsters I own.

[5111]

Off topic, but.........

BMI does not take into affect any type of build. I was at 12% body fat and my BMI still said that I was obese, yet you could see a little bit of abs! It only really works if you are a guy with narrow shoulders and very little muscle.

[Doug]

I too am on the larger side of life (5' 10", 245lbs). What I found to work for me are the Smartcarry and the 5.11 tactical holster shirt. I also have a CTAC and a DeSantis Tuck This, but both are really uncomfortable on the love handles.

The Smartcarry is a deep cover 12 o'clock holster that keeps the pistol concealed no matter my choice of clothes. The pistol does rub a bit on the bottom of my belly when I sit, but it is more comfortable than I thought it would be.

The 5.11 holster shirt is a skin tight undershirt with padded pockets under each arm that are large enough to carry my XD40 service.

Of course, this is what works for me and ymmv.