When do you start buying new clothes?

Miffylou

I bought clothes at Goodwill and consignment shops along the way. They were my "temporary" wardrobe. I also got rid of the clothes that were too big. I figured that keeping them made it easy for me to slack off. If my "new" pants are tight, I can just fall back on my "fat" clothes. If my new pants are too tight, I need to do something to rectify that situation now.

^ THIS is great advice. I got rid of all my bigger clothes, except for one pair of shorts from my heaviest days that I am keeping around just for laughs. Wearing clothes that fit well makes me feel better about myself, and if I start gaining weight again, I'll notice.

Thrift stores are your friend. I also got a couple pairs of jeans from Old Navy while I was losing - they're cheaply made, but they hold up OK if you're not planning to keep them forever.

I've also done this. Bought some new clothes and gave away my old ones.
There is no way I'm ever going back to a size 20.... EVER!!!

cincysweetheart

"Fearing" you'll need them again or worrying that you'll jinx yourself is simply a form of self-sabotage. Don't do that to yourself! Have faith in yourself. Get rid of the too big clothes!

But in the meantime…until you get to your goal weight… thrift stores are your friend. And don't buy too much. Just a few basic pieces that will go with everything and be versatile enough for every occasion. And personally, I choose to buy something that is just a touch smaller than I would normally want to wear, because then it will last through more pounds lost (Not so small that I can't wear it comfortably… but just a touch tighter than I normally would go for).

Alterations might work well for you too. If you have to go down too much… it gets a little trickier (and may not be worth the trouble). But it can help buy you some time with your clothes.

sw33tp3a11

I'm wondering this too. We are constantly losing that we kind of find it a waste to go buy new clothes. But I think its also awesome motivation to do so. Maybe not go crazy but a few new outfits its okay I think.

Tydeclare44

Just go in your b-day suit. Can't be spending too much in this economy.

Francl27

At the change of season pretty much. And I skipped shirts until I was close enough to my goal weight. This way the only clothes I bought but only wore for a few months were shorts last Summer (and bras, but you don't care about that :laugh: ).

Solar_Cat

I've just one small point to add to the advice here. Folks talk about reaching goal weight as the point when it makes sense to invest in a new wardrobe. In my prior experience (been through this several times before), my body continues to remodel for a couple of months after reaching goal weight. So I'd say wait until you're solidly established in maintenance and you don't see further changes in measurements happening. Otherwise you may find that even your "goal weight" clothes are too large.

StrawberryJam40

I second (and third) the suggestion of thrift stores. I just bought a pair of jeans in a smaller size this weekend. I don't think I'll wear them long. I hope to get the next size down soon!

Me too! I go every Sunday for the $1.29 sale. I even get jeans and shirts too small to use as motivation and mini goals. I am down only one size right now. I have 3 pairs of jeans to fit into and try them on every week to see how close to getting them buttoned or zipped.

I also shop clearance for things to just get me to the next size. I found 3 pair of shorts to work out in at Wal-Mart for $3 a piece. Works for me when I know they will fall off me in a few months.

But, I told my sister when I get down 2 or 2/12 sizes everything too big goes except my favorite t-shirts. (Sorry but it will too hard to give up my Dr. Who t-shirts...I will figure out how to modify them before I'll give them up.)

I've been pretty much the same size for around 15 years or more. I have an extensive closet..or two, plus totes full. On one side it will be hard to give up all of them. But, on the flip side - new me, new size, new clothes, more closet space! Even if I fluctuated weight some I never got rid of my clothes. I think I was fine growing back into them. No more of that!

SpikeTailTurtle

I'm not buying new clothes until I hit my goal.
I don't want to buy new clothes more than once. My belt is doing it for me.

arabianhorselover

I'm down almost 20lbs now (almost at the halfway point) and most of my clothes are a bit baggy on me now. My pants are now falling down on me if I don't wear a belt. My wife keeps telling me I need to go buy new ones, but for some reason I keep thinking that if I do I'll jinx myself.

It was rather scary for me to buy new clothes, but I did it anyway, and it felt good. I mostly buy used, so I'm not spending as much, at least. I actually enjoy trying on clothes now.

chadya07

every two sizes. but i only buy stuff on super clearance like from the macys clearance center... cause i dont want to be mad when stuff doesnt fit me again. and i buy stuff even if it isnt a size i am in yet if its close but only because i have been sticking with this long enough to have faith in my momentum. also its kind of motivating.

xmusicloverr

I should probably start buying new clothes... I'm constantly rolling the waist of my old ones and I can't run, for fear of them falling down. I'd say every 20 lbs?

RodaRose

At my work, I need to look somewhat professional --- so I gave away some old clothes and took some others to a seamstress who took them in.

katrinadulce

Go to Goodwill, buy a pair of pants that fit, take the biggest ones you own and put them in a box.
Repeat this for every 10 pounds you lose, or for every size.
When you make it to your goal, keep what you have on the hanger, buy some brand new clothes, and GET RID OF THE ONES YOU HAVE IN THE BOX. This is not to tempt fate or invite a jinx, but to reinforce the "never again" attitude.

mathandcats

I'm not letting myself buy any clothes that aren't heavily discounted. I guess it's lucky that I never gave away my old pants when they got too small. A belt is definitely a good investment for extending the wearable life of your pants.

I'm only having to buy new shirts, and I got a couple of nice ones, some plain T-shirts, and two cardigans (one gray, one black, for versatility), all $5-10 each in summer clearance sales. I treated myself to a new fall jacket, but even that was only $20. I don't really worry if they'll be too big pretty fast, because they didn't cost too much and I can give the nicer ones to my mother when that happens. The T-shirts will be relegated to pajamas once they become super baggy.

WildOkapi

I bought new clothes at the thrift store after the first 20 pounds lost when I had to double-back my belt to make sure it wasn't sticking out too far. But, having lost another 25 in the couple months after that, it was frustrating to have to buy new clothes again so soon. Honestly, I would say buy new clothes when you feel you need them.

kjurassic

I deal with the public in my job and have to look somewhat "professional." When my work clothes got too big they looked "sloppy"? (can't think of a better word.) I replaced work clothes maybe every two sizes. Now casual, around the house clothes - you can get away with wearing the big ones longer. I actually enjoy clothes shopping now and have gotten rid of the two biggest sizes - I'm determined to never need those bigger sizes again!!!

maoribadger

Ive got boxes of clothes from every size from 12-24 (UK) so as I go down I will have some clothes to wear and will leave off buying anything new til I am down to goal weight (ish). Ive just moved down from 24 to 22 and have a pile of jeans in the corner I need to take to the clothing bank

erasure999

Thank you everyone for the excellent advice. I never thought about hitting the thrift shops and it makes total sense to go this route!