Clothes - does anyone else do this?

AEB_WV

I shop at Goodwill a LOT and my biggest NSV lately is being able to buy just about any size 12 pants and medium top, not try them on (their dressing rooms are gross) and 90% of the time it fits. If not, back to Goodwill!

Sometimes I'll buy something in a smaller size so that I'll have a goal hanging in my closet.

I also for the most part don't keep clothes that are too large. Once I'm out of a size I get rid of them. If you have a bigger size hanging in your closet you may be tempted to backslide because it removes at least one consequence (having to buy new clothes) for gaining weight.

Size 10 here I come!!

Dianemustang

I try not to think size as with "flab" that will never go away unless I have a body lift - I am just excited that my once tight 14s are feeling great - maybe a 12 someday - will always be a large top but....I am excited to shop thrift and Goodwill - I never try on and for the most part have been very lucky.....and I do not keep things that now hang on me - except my favorite sweatshirt that I wear only at home!

Larisonlj

In the past I had kept my too big clothes and I agree with you, they were like a cushion or something, besides some were really nice or had been expensive. So this time I donated them to the church thrift store. I knew someone who needed them would be getting really nice stuff and I could move forward and not look back. I've come to far health wise, I can't ever let myself go back.

AliceNov2011

I'm keeping my favorite good jackets and dresses to have tailored once I reach my goal weight -- just a few items.

judykmmg

I cleaned my closets and drawers out this weekend. I don't work this time of year so I went and bought the exercise pants and some t-shirts. I gave all the old clothes away. Like Larisonlj, I cannot go back! My health depends on me losing and maintaing my weight (diabetic and RA). A friend asked me what I would do if I gained my weight back and have already given my clothes away. I told her I would not ever be needing those clothes again. However, I will be giving away the few clothes hanging in my closet hopefully next year - when I have to buy even smaller sizes! Keeping the positive attitude!!!!

Larisonlj

I cleaned my closets and drawers out this weekend. I don't work this time of year so I went and bought the exercise pants and some t-shirts. I gave all the old clothes away. Like Larisonlj, I cannot go back! My health depends on me losing and maintaing my weight (diabetic and RA). A friend asked me what I would do if I gained my weight back and have already given my clothes away. I told her I would not ever be needing those clothes again. However, I will be giving away the few clothes hanging in my closet hopefully next year - when I have to buy even smaller sizes! Keeping the positive attitude!!!!

good for you, stay strong, stay positive, and keep moving forward!

SMarie10

I live on the side of caution, and am a cheapskate, so instead of giving away all my old clothes, I have them boxed up and in the basement. I know I don't want to go back, but have had some struggles keeping off my loss, so rather than buy a new wardrobe, I've kept back some clothes... just in case. If I do need to get out old clothes, I'm confident it will only be temporary.

4thoseiluv

Ditto!

llkilgore

I kept a ratty old pair of size 14 jeans in case I needed a reminder of how far I've come. And I kept a couple of pairs of semi ratty and only slightly too large size 6s to wear when I'm working with my roses - don't want to shred my 4s. Everything else has been donated or passed along to someone who can use them. The last thing to go was my winter jacket, which I didn't get around to replacing until they were put on final clearance late last spring. Funny how your perceptions change. I've been in maintenance a little over a year now, long enough for size 4 to look completely normal. But because I wore an oversized jacket all last winter, the new one looked impossibly small to me when I got it out on the first cold morning this fall. TINY. It was like "Does this belong to one of the kids?"

babycakes1970

There is a thrift store where I live that gives away one free bag of clothes a day per customer . I have been taking advantage of that. I also do not keep things that are too large. As soon as I am too small for it away it goes.

ryansgram

I love Goodwill. I went from a size 16-18 to size 4-6. I saved alot of money shopping at Goodwill. Got some really nice stuff cheap! And now i hate to shop anywhere else.

lisabinco

I'm a cheapskate, too, so I kept my expensive/favorite clothes in sizes ranging from 8 to 14 -- for 8 years. Once I was able to fit a size 10 again, I donated all the size 16-12 clothes. I donated good work suits/blouses to a local agency that outfits people getting into the job market.
I am now wearing the size 10 clothes I saved. Keeping those small size clothes was like promising myself I would get there someday.
Now I'm slowly getting into my size 8 clothes (didn't keep many of those, wasn't quite as hopeful about those) so I will be shopping for a few clothes soon. But right now I shop Goodwill, thrift stores and consignment stores. Lots of good deals there.
I've already promised myself that if I can get back into a size 6 again (the smallest adult size I've ever worn), I will treat myself to some new stuff.

Mabohlale

I live in Africa and unfortunately there are no GoodWill type stores here, so I have been waiting until the clothes are literally falling off me to buy new and then trying to get by with less items and buy cheap stuff to just get me through until I get to my goal. I'm over half way there now, but I know I will drop at least another size before I'm done.

seehe

I'm keeping my favorite good jackets and dresses to have tailored once I reach my goal weight -- just a few items.

I'm also keeping my favorites to have tailored :-)

YouCanCountOnBunnies

It feels like I have given almost all the contents of my wardrobe to the charity shop in the last few months. I'm trying not to spend too much on clothes while I am still changing shape, so there is a lot of space in there. Does anyone else find it a bit tricky to adjust to being a smaller size? I pick up my new size in a shop, look at it, and think "no, that's completely wrong, that will never fit me", so I keep trying on bigger sizes!

ryansgram

It feels like I have given almost all the contents of my wardrobe to the charity shop in the last few months. I'm trying not to spend too much on clothes while I am still changing shape, so there is a lot of space in there. Does anyone else find it a bit tricky to adjust to being a smaller size? I pick up my new size in a shop, look at it, and think "no, that's completely wrong, that will never fit me", so I keep trying on bigger sizes!

Yes, i do the same thing. Try them on, you'll be surprised!

themommie

I started out a tight size 24 and I am now in a size 10 so I have bought most of my clothes the last few yrs at thrift stores and yes I get rid of everything that is too big except one pair of size 24 jeans. No going back

Amy911Gray

All the clothes that are too big have been donated...Goodwill, Purple Heart and really great friends. For the first time in my adult life, I do not need size spacers in my closet or in my drawers.

This is a great feeling--ooohhhhh just bought my 2nd size 6 suit!

lisabinco

Does anyone else find it a bit tricky to adjust to being a smaller size? I pick up my new size in a shop, look at it, and think "no, that's completely wrong, that will never fit me", so I keep trying on bigger sizes!

Not me! I totally delight in being able to look through the small sizes on the rack, knowing I can fit them. As we all know, sizes vary widely among labels, so once in awhile I try on a size 10 that is too small, or a size 8 that fits perfectly. I'm looking forward to browsing the size 6 rack by early next year, just in time for clearance sales!

llkilgore

As I was losing weight and for several months after, I couldn't visualize what the needed size should look like on a hanger and had to go mostly by the numbers. That has a way of limiting your choices in a world of such inconsistent sizing. I wear mostly 4s now, but the pants I'm wearing today happen to be size 2. They fit perfectly and I found them on a 70% off clearance rack, and I probably wouldn't have given them a second glance If I'd come across them a few months earlier than I did. Shopping is a lot easier when you actually have a feel for what you are doing.

summersbest

Started at size 23/24 and am now wearing size 15/16. Did a purge of clothes last fall which I gave away to Value Village (similar to Goodwill) and have a few more bags again. Any time I have needed smaller sized jeans I have bought them used as I see no point in spending money for brand new ones while I am still loosing weight. Was also wearing 1x-2x tops but finally back into a large size and sometimes a medium depending on the fit. I have splurged and bought a few brand new sweaters and blouses as I have stopped loosing up top. Feels great to FINALLY be able to purchase some clothing in regular stores!

hairsprayhon

I am in a similar place to summersbest. When I left behind my largest clothes, it was easy to pack them up and send them to purple heart with a good riddance. I don't even know what size they were. The next size clothes were 20's, they were nicer and easy to send off to friends. Then came the 18s many of which came from the consignment shop and I had bought them when they were too small. I had worked hard to fit into them and it was scarey deciding whether I should keep them "just in case" I decided there will be no just in case and these too were sent off to friends and Purple heart.
Then came the 16's. I had not worn size 16 in 25 years and throughout the years I would buy them on sale for "one day". There was one suit that I bought right before my favorite store C-Mart went out of business, it was so cheap because the jacket was a size 18w and the straight dress was a size 16w. It was a dressy suit. When I finally was ready to wear it, it was too big! So I went around the house and searched for the size 16's that had been stashed and waiting for me. I realized that a size 16 is not always a size 16. (why is it men's sizes are standard and women's are crazy?) Some of the size 16s were too big, while others fit. It seems that the tennis dresses and skirts that I have bought with optimism seem to be smaller than other clothes and they still fit. While other clothes that I have been longing to wear for years are too big.
Those clothes are in a stack in a bedroom waiting to be sent out of the house. This is hard. I used to think that size 16 was my goal size, but I realize that the size 16 of my youth is now a size 14. And at 5'10" I am now wearing some things in size 14. But getting rid of the size 16s is not easy, but whenever I bring something home in a smaller size, I remove the too large item that is being replaced to the stack that I am sending away.
After my trip to Goodwill on Saturday, there is a lot to be replaced. And I just have to share about that fun trip!
I went with one main goal in mind to find a red light weight cardigan or bolero to wear over a cotton red and white dress, that I already own. By the time I got to the dressing room my shopping cart was filled to overflowing. I did not notice a sign that said yellow tags were 50% off. I tried on 21 different things. There was only one dress that was too small and that one didn't have a tag, so I guessed the size. It was fun trying so many things on, and choosing which of the things that fit that I wanted to buy. When I was big, I would usually not even try things on, because when you are buying something that is size 22 there is not much selection and there is lots of elastic,making the need to try things on moot.So I decided to buy about half of the things that I tried on. The first thing that the cashier rang up was a Macy's brightish blue suit, skirt and jacket suitable for court in the spring and summer. It was never worn and still had the extra buttons in the bag on the sleeve. It was $3.50. I was so surprised I asked the lady if she was sure that was the right price and she said yes suits are usually $7 and this is half off. When I came home I saw that Macy's was having a suit sale for $79.00, so I figure that I paid for the suit and everything else was free. My "free" stuff included two long sleeveless dresses and one shorter dress that is to the knees and has a collar like a polo shirt. Then there was a golf skort from LizSports, a top from Macy's, a top from Talbots, and a silk blouse. There was one pair of shorts for gym and a pair of longer shorts from Talbots. Ad to wear with the blue suit, there was a sleeveless red lightweight silk sweater from August Silk and a white short sleeve cotton sweater from Liz Clairborne. There was a wide white woven belt. Finally there was a drawstring white long cotton skirt perfect to wear on the beach.
. Since I am only 16 pounds from goal and there is a big weight difference in my sizes, I figure size 14 is going to be my maintenance size and anything that I buy from now on will be clothes that can stay with me for years.
I can not wait for it to get warm so I can start wearing summery clothes, without worrying about being uncomfortable in unflattering clothes all made of polyester. I have always loved fabric and it is so exciting to buy clothes made of real fabric-silk, linen and cotton!

katejkelley

We have a few consignment shops where I buy clothes these days. I've given away everything big except a few things just one size larger, but I boxed those up so they aren't convenient! I have two pairs of pants in the closet that are still too tight - my motivation to keep doing what I'm doing! I am a huge recycler, so recycling clothes just makes sense!

JVCB

I can not wait for it to get warm so I can start wearing summery clothes, without worrying about being uncomfortable in unflattering clothes all made of polyester. I have always loved fabric and it is so exciting to buy clothes made of real fabric-silk, linen and cotton!

^^^^ Oh, Yes! Polyester is not only unflattering, but HOT! And now they put "spandex" into everything made of cotton, which ruins it too. I can't wait to be able to buy regular Misses tops made out of fabrics that breathe... I've never been into Goodwill to look at clothes, although I've given them plenty of things, so maybe I'll check it out. I have a hard time finding clothes because I'm tall (5'11") and have long arms and torso. Maybe they still have some of my size Tall 16's I donated a few years back, LOL.

lindaw66

I love Goodwill! You have to be in the mood to dig through all the clothes, but it's well worth it. I used to go with a girlfriend and we would each grab a cart and shop for ourselves and each other because we knew what size each wore. We would get our piles and sort the clothes and then try them all on and come out and show each other and give the thumbs up or down. We would would be there for a couple of hours, but would walk away with a huge green garbage bag full of outfits and maybe spend $60! This was great when I was in my thirties and was able to drop 50 pounds after my last child. I saved so much money shopping at the Goodwill! I hope to do it again, but I haven't been able to move the pounds YET. Once again I find myself needing to lose 50 pounds :frown:

Kamboyd

I too have been keeping clothes in my closet that are now too big. Last year I had to buy size 18's just so that I can have something to wear due to a medical condition. That condition has since been remedied and now I am almost in a 14. The 16's and 18's are hanging off of me( mostly at the top, still working on the hips). I am probably gonna have to shop consignment stores and the clearance racks to update my wardrobe because I had long given away all of the clothes that were too small (sizes 8-14). However, I am excited to see my waistline again.

leeannewgeorge

I cleaned out my closet this weekend on a rainy day. I had several nice dresses and pairs of slacks which I took to work and invited all the ladies to "shop" for free. Everything else went to Salvation Army. I did keep one pair of slacks as a reminder of where I started.

shan0881

That's funny, I keep doing the same thing, trying on clothes that are 3-4 sizes smaller than I was wearing and thinking I can't possibly smaller than this. I even brought a skirt home, wore it and when it was still litterally hanging in the waist I took it back and exchanged it for the size smaller, the size I wouldn't even try on in the store "cause that can't possibly fit me" I think it will take a while to get my brain knowing what size my body is now. I still see the same fat girl in my mind.

LMT2012

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obsessed with Goodwill and all resale clothing! Very impressed and inspired by the giant changes of the other posters!! In some cases, you have gone down 6 sizes?? Holy crap!

DMW914

I plan to go to Goodwill soon as I'm a cheapskate myself. The clothes I have now are a mixture of 10-14. I was putting a way my winter clothes & taking out my summer gear & I can happily say good bye to size 14 & hello 12's, lol. My clothes are really bagging on me now so I'm due for a round of shopping that's for sure. I no longer have to buy XL in my tops & coat's/jacket's anymore either b/c I'm down to M-L. FH had bought me 3 nice leather jacket's recently & I had to send 2 of them back b/c they were XL & waay too big. He exchanged them for a L & they fit perfectly. The one thing I hated about buying XL in tops was that sometimes they make them wider across & I never had a wide back. My boobs are too big & I need tops to eat up the material from bottom to top otherwise, I'd have to wear a sweater or jacket (buttoned 3/4 of the way) to cover up the excessive material under my arms & the shortened length from the front bottom half of the blouse/top so that my muffin top would'nt spill out :laugh: Glad that's over...