I've talked about clothes before, here and on my blog. I dropped close to 60 pounds before buying anything new, I was making my belts work hard and pulling a few old things out of the closet from my smaller days. But I finally hit the wall and retired my last pants that couldn't pass the bag lady test. I went shopping, got 4 pairs of pants and 3 tops, all on sale and total under $200..
So why am I telling you all this again? Because ever since I've been wearing clothes that actually fit this week, I've been getting compliments left and right on my weight loss, and yes, on my new haircut (my haircut is not new, some people just don't know what's different.
). My inspiration and commitment had been taking a dip as I approach the half-way point in lbs, 4 months on MF, so hearing the compliments has been really wonderful and I'm incredibly thankful to be surrounded by good people who made the effort to tell me they noticed..
So for those of you thinking it's not worth getting new clothes because you don't want to spend the money....I hear you, it can get expensive. But dang, it's been worth the $200 bucks, and I went to the mall. Go to the thrift shop if you have to. Just retire the saggy drawers. You'll thank yourself later. I'll still make my belts work for an extra size past their prime, but no way am I waiting so long next time to shop.
Hear, hear! Sounds good to me. Even so, my wardrobe still only consists of stretchy black pants with elasticated waists, and oversized tops. But even THEY look so much better on me than they did when they were stretched to capacity. And it ALWAYS helps when, before stepping outside the door, you go over yourself with a lint roller! These dogs of mine shed something terrible. When I didn't care too much about my appearance, and ventured outside "wearing" them on my clothes, that only compounded an already dreadful look. I agree with you wholeheartedly though.
But, just for now ... I'm going to settle for "clean and loose-fitting"..
Congratulations on your great weight-loss, and continued success on MF!!.
I love the haircut thing...I cannot tell you how many times now, people that see me on a daily basis have commented on my new haircut...this has been going on for months!!! Now just last week, I did change my hairstyle and cut...but this had been going for months!.
I have been struggling with this, as the things in my closet get larger and larger and larger... NOT that I am complaining, mind you. But it is getting desperate, and I am going to have to do something. Luckily, work stuff has not necessitated a suit lately, but if something comes up, I'm totally screwed!.
The funny thing is that someone in my office the other day said, "Girlfriend, please go out and buy some skinny jeans." It was really funny, and she is right..
But I'm still about 30-40 lbs from goal, so don't want to drop big bucks. But, your post inspires me, so I need to either find a thrift shop or decide on a spending limit and maxmize it!!.
You are absolutely right, but it takes time for our "fat brain" to realize that we look better with clothes that fit properly! I spent a lifetime trying to hide my weight in tents! It took a good friend to take me aside and tell me that if I got rid of the baggy pants, people would notice that I lost weight..
You don't have to spend your entire clothes budget on in-between clothes just get a few things that will tide you over to the next size. It makes a world of difference, and it really motivated me to keep on the program!.
I totally understand, really I do, I have 64.5 pounds to go as of this morning. I bought a pair of Lee jeans at Penney's for $35, a pair of jeans at Old Navy for $20 I think, and New York & Co. was buy one trouser get a pair free, so $26 each I think (black and denim). I'm still working some old tops (yay for sweater weather coming with a fitted t-shirt (cheap) underneath), but feeling fabrics actually TOUCH my legs, instead of hanging limply and worn down has been an actual boost to my ego. I may possibly have strutted once or ten times. And I figure I'll be wearing these few basics so much in the next few weeks - I will wear them OUT and get my money's worth.
It's lovely to stop wearing high-waters, and I don't even need the Talls. Why are plus sized inseams like 30.5" inches for crying out loud, when a regular is more like 32"?! riddle me that!.
Exactly! Fortunately I work with college students and can get away with denim, those and a pair of black pants that fit were really all I needed. Enough for one week of looking better...we don't need to talk about what I wear on the weekends still....
I totally agree. You need clothes that fit. One or two pair of pants and 2 or 3 tops and you are set for a minute. It is important to your motivation. You know when people started noticing I was losing they would say ah Carol you are so strong! So I was! Then I had to be! Look your best at whatever size, makes you feel good about yourself and then you will act like you care about yourself!.
I agree as well! I told my husband the other day that I feel thinner when I weigh in the morning - and it's because I'm in my underwear, rather than my too-big clothes!.
I agree! It validates everything you're accomplishing along the way, makes you feel better while you're doing it, and makes you realize how many inches you've really gotten off since changing sizes..
P.s. I had a male professor ask me if I "did something different with my hair" (I hadn't) and I was SO tempted to say, "Yeah, everywhere but my head lost 80 pounds." lol.
TOTALLY! I'm 5'10" and a pear, so I also can't understand why plus-size clothiers think all heavy people are shaped like apples. When I finally get a pair of pants to fit my thighs and butt, the waist is gi-normous..
Luckily, my inseam is only a 31" (I'm long-torsoed), but the biggest problem I have is sleeve length. Ugh!.
Seriously, my monkey arms haven't seen a sleeve hit my wrist in years. The MOST exciting thing to have discovered while shopping is that I am just over the cusp into non-plus. Not every store, but at least I can get some tall shirts and sweaters from now on!.
Oh I sooooo agree with the fat people must be short rant - at 5'9' and long legs I have spent my life fighting the high water battle-can hardly wait for truly fitting in the normal sizes - getting closer. as fo the sleeve issue - I love turtlenecks and learned to buy men's - usually cheaper for better quality and long enough in the arms!.
As for shopping, I have been haunting clearance racks - have a 20% off coupon for kohl's this weekend so will be checking out the 60-80% off rack - don't hurt so bad if you shrink out of what you paid less than $10 for. there is a fashion bug near me that will be going out of business soon - am waiting with baited breath for their clearance..
I've found a way to finance my new clothes; I'm selling the too big ones on ebay! People will pay good money for plus size clothes, especially in excellent condition. I'm just letting the money build up in my PayPal account and then I will shop ebay for smaller sizes as I go down. Since I'm not staying very long in one size, the clothes I'm selling are in good condition, so it's working out! Goodwill is not great in my small town, so this is working out well. I do shop Marshalls, too, though and have found some great buys!.
347 days ago
So why am I telling you all this again? Because ever since I've been wearing clothes that actually fit this week, I've been getting compliments left and right on my weight loss, and yes, on my new haircut (my haircut is not new, some people just don't know what's different.
). My inspiration and commitment had been taking a dip as I approach the half-way point in lbs, 4 months on MF, so hearing the compliments has been really wonderful and I'm incredibly thankful to be surrounded by good people who made the effort to tell me they noticed..
So for those of you thinking it's not worth getting new clothes because you don't want to spend the money....I hear you, it can get expensive. But dang, it's been worth the $200 bucks, and I went to the mall. Go to the thrift shop if you have to. Just retire the saggy drawers. You'll thank yourself later. I'll still make my belts work for an extra size past their prime, but no way am I waiting so long next time to shop.
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343 days ago
But, just for now ... I'm going to settle for "clean and loose-fitting"..
Congratulations on your great weight-loss, and continued success on MF!!.
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342 days ago
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340 days ago
I have been struggling with this, as the things in my closet get larger and larger and larger... NOT that I am complaining, mind you. But it is getting desperate, and I am going to have to do something. Luckily, work stuff has not necessitated a suit lately, but if something comes up, I'm totally screwed!.
The funny thing is that someone in my office the other day said, "Girlfriend, please go out and buy some skinny jeans." It was really funny, and she is right..
But I'm still about 30-40 lbs from goal, so don't want to drop big bucks. But, your post inspires me, so I need to either find a thrift shop or decide on a spending limit and maxmize it!!.
Chris.
Post Reply
332 days ago
You don't have to spend your entire clothes budget on in-between clothes just get a few things that will tide you over to the next size. It makes a world of difference, and it really motivated me to keep on the program!.
Post Reply
325 days ago
It's lovely to stop wearing high-waters, and I don't even need the Talls. Why are plus sized inseams like 30.5" inches for crying out loud, when a regular is more like 32"?! riddle me that!.
Labor Day sales abound this weekend!.
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318 days ago
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310 days ago
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303 days ago
I'm going shopping this weekend!!!.
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300 days ago
Marshalls carries plus (which I did not know until recently) so I was able to get a few new pants and I also having been getting compliments since..
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299 days ago
Congrats on your success!.
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299 days ago
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295 days ago
Luckily, my inseam is only a 31" (I'm long-torsoed), but the biggest problem I have is sleeve length. Ugh!.
Chris.
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292 days ago
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284 days ago
As for shopping, I have been haunting clearance racks - have a 20% off coupon for kohl's this weekend so will be checking out the 60-80% off rack - don't hurt so bad if you shrink out of what you paid less than $10 for. there is a fashion bug near me that will be going out of business soon - am waiting with baited breath for their clearance..
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255 days ago
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