Between high school and Thanksgiving 2006, I wore the same jeans size.
At that Thanksgiving, I realized those jeans literally fell off me without a belt. I quickly switched to jeans with two inch smaller waist, and they fit well.
Today, I tried on jeans that were an additional inch smaller, and they fit great!
What’s my secret? I’m doing better avoiding junk foods (stuff made with white flour, stuff with partially hydrogenated oils, fruit juices, etc.), I’m further reducing eating when not hungry (you wouldn’t believe how much eating is done not out of hunger), and I exercise 3-5 times a week. That’s really it.