Not Wanting to Let Go of Sizes

katiejriedinger

Since December 2013 I have lost 70 pounds. I have joyfully gone down from size 26 now to size 16. But I find that I am emotionally attached somehow to size 18 jeans. I have had difficulty donating them and still want to wear them, even though they fall down! Has anyone else experienced this odd sense of not wanting to let go? It makes no sense. Thanks so much!

AskTracyAnnK28

Maybe there's a part of you that thinks you'll put the weight back on?

simplydelish2

I blogged about this very thing last week - Saying goodbye is hard. You'll get there with an all new wardrobe!

chatterbox3110

Comfort clothes LOL

It's only recently I've started to buy 22/24 clothes, frustratingly after 106lb loss I've only dropped from a size 32/34, and I've survived in 26/28s but have had to admit defeat and go down smaller.

I have a dressing gown which is a 32, but its so lovely and warm and comforting I just pull the belt tighter and wrap it more around myself!!!

WalkingAlong

I've had favorite clothes I haven't wanted to give up, but not favorite sizes, at least not on the high end.

Keep the jeans for now but put them aside. Buy new jeans. I can almost guarantee that you will find new, smaller jeans you like just as much and will forget the 18s completely. But keep them forever if you just like them, just in a box!

Nice work so far!

Kalikel

I happily bid adieu to each size.

Some of the clothes, though, I hate to see go. They're still in good shape and they looked good on me when I fit into them.

Each size I drop, I have to say goodbye to at least one shirt I adored.

I don't miss being an 18 and am quite happy to be a 14. Twelve and ten will be even better, though.

One of these days, I'm going back to look at a size 24 (which I was busting out of when I started) and see how much bigger it is than what I'm wearing now.

He1loKitty

Don't save them! Donate them. If at some point you put the weight back on (which you won't!!!!) they will be out of style by then. But I reiterate, you won't put the weight back on. Congrats on your amazing loss!

lynn1982

Keep one pair to remind yourself of how far you've come. (Might sound strange, but part of me wishes I had kept a pair of my largest pants...) But get rid of the rest. Don't give yourself an excuse to put the weight back on.

lemurcat12

Kalikel wrote: »

I happily bid adieu to each size.

Some of the clothes, though, I hate to see go. They're still in good shape and they looked good on me when I fit into them.

This is me, except that I am lucky enough that I have more clothes I love that I'm fitting back into than that I have to give up. Some of the comfortable, loved big stuff I still use for lazing around on the weekends, but jeans that are way too big, no. My weird thing (I guess) is that I am so happy to fit into some stuff I have from 2004 or so that I don't want to get rid of it even though I realize that to my current eyes it's ugly. It's just too much of a victory to be wearing it. But as I get some new stuff too, that need to hang on is going away.

Do you think it might be fear that you will regain? Or is it a size you had as an ideal for a while so it's weird to be smaller than it? I can see getting that should I get completely to my goal weight, I suppose.

BinaryPulsar

Is it the size? Or just that you liked those clothes and all the memories attached to them? If that's the case you will eventually feel that way about new clothes that end up fitting great and becoming a part of your life experiences. Maybe even more.

tindeyy

Don't keep any "fat jeans." That's sort of a subtle sign to yourself that you'll slip up and need them.

Also, it might be psychological. I lost my first 15 pounds and was back to a normal weight but still felt chubby.

snowflake930

Yep, I still have my 24W clothes, even though I am now a size 10 (even a couple 8's). My husband asks me occasionally when I am going to bring them to Goodwill. I have had them boxed up for over a year now. I just CAN NOT bring myself to get rid of them. And yes, for me, I am secretly afraid I will regain.

karenkasbi

oh you don't know how happily I got rid of my old clothes. I bought new sexier smaller clothes first go shopping! you should be thrilled!!

katiejriedinger

simplydelish2 wrote: »

I blogged about this very thing last week - Saying goodbye is hard. You'll get there with an all new wardrobe!

Will you link the blog? I'd love to read it!

DragonShoe_GCole

Tell me 'bout it!! I went from wearing size 40 pants to 34/36 in about a month in a half; but, my issue comes from being cheap, so I just wear a belt

Not buying any new clothes when my bigger ones have no issues (other than being too big for me)

katiejriedinger

Okay, yeah, after reading the responses, I do think it's an attachment to the size/brand. They are GAP size 18. Perhaps I did idealize 18 at one point. They're in the donation bag, it's so annoying to have them falling down, I'm for sure getting rid of them. Just wondered what it was about THOSE jeans. Thanks for the input!

katiejriedinger

DragonShoe_GCole wrote: »

Tell me 'bout it!! I went from wearing size 40 pants to 34/36 in about a month in a half; but, my issue comes from being cheap, so I just wear a belt

Not buying any new clothes when my bigger ones have no issues (other than being too big for me)

Thankfully, I live in a city with amazing thrift stores, so I pay around $5 for "new to me" jeans. Don't know how I'd afford weight-loss clothing otherwise!

lmarshel

Why not take those favorite jeans to a tailor and have them cut down to fit? It's easy for a professional to take in pants and skirts up to 2 sizes. Jackets and tops are harder, depending on the construction. But for $10-15 you could have a "new" pair of jeans that fit the new you!

Myrmilt

I don't become attached to clothing unless it's too small, then I hold it forever.

Too big clothing, not so much, but I can understand the attachment. Could you make it into a quilt?

I know people that make quilts out of baby clothes, or old clothing from deceased family members. Sometimes losing weight is like a rebirth and death all at the same time.

nuttynanners

Donate them, or if it is something REALLY special to you, have it tailored. Or, if you or someone you know is crafty, make cool stuff out of the old clothes (bags, pillows etc.). Don't keep it around. I know what it like to have a hectic closet that reflects your various weights of the past and present, and it's best to just keep it up to date. You'll have less clutter and add new faves to your wardrobe.

0067808

When I was dropping sizes, I bought most of my clothes in charity/thrift shops or cheap things at the supermarket - that way I don't mind donating them again when I drop another size, and someone else is able to transition sizes without spending a fortune.

gle8442

I get my pants altered- where I live it isn't too expensive and pants are pretty easy to do! Other stuff might be harder but I think if it was a piece of clothing you really loved that it might be kind of cool to keep it around as a memento.

Laughter_Girl

I have not been attached to a particular size, but there are a couple of pieces that I love. I will have those pieces altered. I have happily given away everything else. Until I reach my goal weight, I'll keep shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops. Actually, I'll still be shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops when I reach my goal because I love a unique purchase for the right price.

Deps

Definitely get rid of them. I kept my size eighteen jeans when I went down to a 16. One day put them on because they were ' a bit more comfy' than my 16s. Now I'm a size 18 again. I wouldn't have gotten back here if I hadn't been so foolish.