Clothing...to throw out or keep

Zampa13

Im not sure where I should post this but here goes.

I am at the beginning of my weight loss (yet again) and as the title suggests I am in a predicament about my clothing.

I have clothing that ranges from me at my largest which is pretty much now to me at my lowest weight...and I always keep it all 'Just in case' I need it again.
For example I have a draw that consists of jeans from size 12 upto 20

Now my wardrobe is looking like something out of a horror film and I need a serious clear out... Is it too much to throw out all my smaller sizes at the moment and then just buy new clothing as or when I need it.

I have a serious lack of space and some of the clothing is almost 8 years old!! I am quite a hoarder but I think it will make me feel better when I do loose a little weight to go out and buy some new stuff.... what do you guys think?

marathon_mama

Once something gets too big, donate it.

WickedGarden

If you have anything that is too small, but you love it and can't wait to wear it again, why not keep it for motivation? Like a "by June, I want to fit into this". Then just donate the rest, a win-win for everybody!

MightyDomo

You can have a ritual for each milestone. When you comfortably fit in the next size down you can dispose of the larger clothes in a way that feels satisfying to you.

I would burn them or cut them in to little pieces... or donate them like marathon_mama suggested

jynxxxed

Donate.

When something doesn't fit, I toss it in a bag and donate it or give it to a family member. The Red Cross can use all of your too-big clothing items for people in need, and keeping them is esentially telling yourself 'it's okay if I fail, I expect myself to'

Evachiquita

Yes, get ride of clothes that no longer fit you. Also get rid of clothes that you don't like any longer or that you don't feel amazing in, even if they fit. If you know you probably won't want to wear something in a smaller size again then go ahead and get rid of it! I recently cleaned out my closet and it felt amazing! I just wanted to get rid of stuff that reminded me of a different time in my life, which was not related to weight. Let go of the feelings of guilt at getting rid of perfectly good clothes. You don't need all that baggage weighing you down. Plus yeah, it's fun to go out and buy new clothes that you feel awesome in!

JAMProphet

Im with WickedGarden and MightyDomo - donating is always good, but keeping some around is great for motivation, in both directions:

1) I keep a pair of jeans, size 34, which represent my next milestone. They are on a hanger, hanging on the wall. I look at them whenever I am feeling reluctant to work out, or feel like eating some junk, and they help keep me in check

2) I keep an old pair of pants, and an old shirt from my big days (size 54 pants) and I use these to remind me that I AM actually losing weight and changing my body. There are times when I need to see this in order to remind me that I am not as fat as I my mind sometimes thinks I am.

Keep up the good work! Getting healthy is one of the greatest undertakings a person can endeavor upon

JUDDDing

Indeed, as soon as I am comfortable in a smaller size, every stitch of larger clothing I own is going to GoodWill.

Carolyn_79

I would donate the larger stuff except maybe one item to keep so you can see how much weight you lost. I'd keep the smaller stuff since you're still losing. You could also try doing a clothing swap with some friends to get clothing in your size now.

_danjo_

I've been struggling with the same thing--I have a ton of stuff that's too big that I feel like I need to save. Time to clean it out and go shopping I think!!!

notreallytrillian

I think it all depends on your budget - a new wardrobe isn't cheap. I was in a similar predicament - I had drawers of clothes spanning 10 sizes. I boxed up all the high end stuff that didn't fit (too big or too small) and kept it. Then I had a garage sale to profit off the rest. Anything that was left over after the garage sale I donated to WIC. I have a very small budget for new clothes, so I just couldn't justify getting rid of the nice ones - even if they didn't fit. In the end, though, you just have to do what you think will make you happy!

tacdusty

Goodwill.

kluvit

Trash anything that's worn out. Donate everything that's out of style in any size and anything that's too big. Keep wearable pieces in smaller sizes until they're too big, then donate. I'm about 6-8 pounds less than my goal now and only have clothes that fit or are about one size too large. I'm not sure whether my happy weight is at my original goal or my current smaller size, so once I reach the one year mark at a steady size, I'll donate anything that doesn't fit, so I'm motivated to continuously maintain.

marinegirl92

Donate!

I have a group of girlfriends - someone is either on their way up or down on their weightloss journey. We have a clothing exchange so things get passed around or donate if no one wants them.

When I'm on the way up or down I go to second hand stores so I'm not INVESTED in these clothes

Good luck!

You can do it!

DontStopB_Leakin

I see a majority of the people responding didn't read the part where it said the clothes were too small, not too big.


To the OP, I would say keep the smaller clothes only IF you think you'll actually wear them. For me, 8 year old clothing is likely out of style, and I wouldn't wear it anyway, so I would chunk it and just get new clothes when I need them. But, if you can't afford to do that, get some of the space saver bags and store them away until they fit again.

And in the future, don't ever hold on to clothes that are too big. They're never supposed to fit again.

wibutterflymagic

I've had a box of clothes that are in smaller sizes for years. I've kept them for a couple reasons.
1. I'm not rich. I can't just go buy a bunch of new clothes just because.
2. Many of the clothes(I think) are still cute and not really outdated.

I did go through the items a while back and anything that was really worn or too dated I threw out or donated. For me personally I'm going to do that again. Anything I don't really like, too outdated style wise or age appropriate I will donate.

I wouldn't keep something if you don't really like it and know you won't wear it.

Gabriall

The first time I lost 10stone (140lbs) I kept the lot, I had no confidence in myself or my achievement and due to many other factors ended up needing them again, was this because somewhere in the back of my mind my body was trying to fit back into them.. I don't know but this time... they are off and going, I have clothes from 12-30, all of the 26-30's have now left the building and been sent to the great charity shop in the sky.


But when the weight went back on I kept the smaller stuff but only the things I KNOW I will wear again, everything else got sent to the same charity shop in the sky.

Now my wardrobe is organised so the smaller stuff i've kept is at the back but all hung up and sorted nicely and every now and again I try bits on to see how things are going and how much closer I am to wearing them again.

weird_me2

Donate everything that's:

1) Too big

2) Not flattering, even if it fits

3) Too small and not something you love

For years I kept my smaller clothes in a range of sizes for when I "lost the weight". My DH would get so frustrated about the 5 huge tubs of clothes I had stored in the basement. Finally, I went through them and got rid of anything that would be cheap or easy to replace (like tshirts, sweatpants, etc) and kept only the nicer dressier stuff that fits my current style. I had stuff I had kept for more than 10 years!! Go through what you have, pick out the stuff you love and/or might need (I keept a special occasion dress in every size because they aren't cheap to buy) and ditch the rest.


I found that just by focusing on doing those things, especially #1 and #2 as I lost weight I made room for stuff I felt good in and loved. I have fewer clothes now but it's so much easier to get dressed in the mornings.

ETA: About the only thing I have left still saved in my "skinny" clothes are the formal wear/dresses and pants/jeans. It is so hard for me to find pants that fit well and flatter that I kept the ones that were old faves.

Bobby__Clerici

Donate what does not fit - big or small unless you think they'll be worn at some point.
I tossed my fat clothes and saw that as a closed door.
There should be no kernel of thought that they'll ever be useful again.
As for smaller clothes, I keep one size smaller as that's the direction I am going.

shani251

Donate.

When something doesn't fit, I toss it in a bag and donate it or give it to a family member. The Red Cross can use all of your too-big clothing items for people in need, and keeping them is esentially telling yourself 'it's okay if I fail, I expect myself to'

I 100% agree with this. when i was losing most of my weight, as soon as something got too big, i would bag it up and donate it. bags and bags of clothes went out of the house, but i'm glad i did, because when i slipped and gained a little weight over the holidays, what got me back on track is that my none of my clothes were fitting correctly anymore.

It works!

DuhhMuffin

I would donate it. I'm not keeping any of my fat clothes once I lose all this weight, because I don't want to feel like it's "okay" if I gain a few pounds back, because I'll have something to wear.

Celeigh12

I've lost weight before and kept the clothes out of fear that I would regain as most people do and need them. It's hard to find larger clothes that fit! They were expensive! And eventually I ended up back in the clothes.

This time, I got rid of them all. Four sizes worth in 8 giant garbage bags. It was so scary, and yet everything in those bags represented a life I don't want anymore. Nice or not, still with tags or not. I had to let it go. So now I have a mostly empty closet and it's frightening sometimes to open it, but liberating at the same time.

Don't make it easy to go back to your life before.

erinpooh

I only keep a couple things in the larger sizes and bag up and donate the rest. Some things I can alter and do periodically. In fact, I need to purge my closet--haven't done it in a while.

BamBam125

1) Clean everything
2) Sort everything according to size, season, condition, and if you would WANT to wear it again.
3) Keep and hang up anything that meets ALL of the following:
you want it,
it's in good condition,
it fits,
it's in season
4) Keep and store anything that meets ALL of these requirements in neatly labelled bags or bins:
you want it,
it's in good condition,
it fits but is out of season OR it's too small
5) Donate or sell anything that wasn't kept from the previous steps.
5b) Keep your largest dress or pair of pants as evidence of how much progress you made.
6) Take one outfit out of the items from step 4. Choose an outfit that is just 1 size too small. Hang it up in a place where you see it regularly.
7) Try on the item from step 6 periodically. If it doesn't fit, repeat step 7. If it fits proceed to step 8.
7b) When the season changes, go to 8b)
8) Open the next size smaller bin of clothes from step 4.
8b) Open the seasonal bins for your current size and the next size smaller.
9) Go to step 2.

Glynneybug

I try to get rid of all my clothes that are too big or even getting too big, so as to keep me motivated. I donate all my "too big" stuff. I did keep a couple pieces to refer back to later, as a reminder of how far I have come. Wish I would have kept my biggest jeans to look back at now.

Glynneybug

1) Clean everything
2) Sort everything according to size, season, condition, and if you would WANT to wear it again.
3) Keep and hang up anything that meets ALL of the following:
you want it,
it's in good condition,
it fits,
it's in season
4) Keep and store anything that meets ALL of these requirements in neatly labelled bags or bins:
you want it,
it's in good condition,
it fits but is out of season OR it's too small
5) Donate or sell anything that wasn't kept from the previous steps.
5b) Keep your largest dress or pair of pants as evidence of how much progress you made.
6) Take one outfit out of the items from step 4. Choose an outfit that is just 1 size too small. Hang it up in a place where you see it regularly.
7) Try on the item from step 6 periodically. If it fits proceed to step 8.
8) Open the next size smaller bin of clothes from step 4.
9) Go to step 2.

Love these suggestions!

RaineMarie

I recently just cleaned out my closet. I had clothes at my current heaviest weight and clothes at my smaller weight. I finally just got rid of the smaller clothes. Most of them - even if I could wear them, I probably wouldnt. I also donated clothes in my current size that I just know I wont really wear anymore. It was really liberating to start fresh - added bonus: my closet is much cleaner and organized!

bcf7683

My mom walked into my house about 6 months ago and saw my entire living room floor covered in my old clothes... She says "What are you going to do with all of these things?!" with a horrified look on her face (I'm a slight shopping addict, and I tend to have expensive taste, so I guess I can understand her shock) But then she says "You need to keep this stuff. What you are going to do when you're that size again?" :noway: I've never wanted to hurt my own family, but that comment inched me awful close.

Nonetheless, I let my friends go through everything and take what they wanted, and took the nice stuff to a consignment store nearby, the rest donated. I wanted to get it out of the house as quickly as I could. I didn't want it hanging around reminding me how big I used to be, and I DEFINITELY didn't want it "just in case". My friends were thrilled that I let them all go through it, and I was happy to help the people where I donated it who could get some nice stuff cheap. It sucked seeing all my nice stuff go, but I didn't want it hanging over my head.

Luvmesumkenny

I donate!!! It Keeps me Motivated to keep Pushing myself. I do have a Pair of "FAT" Pants I keep so I never forget where I came from and how far Ive Come.. Other than that I GET RID OF IT!!!!

Zampa13

Thanks for all the great advice guys...


I am planning a massive sort out this weekend. I will keep a couple of pairs of jeans in lower sizes just so I have something to wear as and when I drop some weight. I will of course be donating anything that is not too worn...Id never be so wastefull as to just throw it in the bin.

There is only one thing that I keep that makes me think I want to get into that again. A black blouse that I wore when I met my partner nearly 9 years ago.... It reminds me of the size I was I was slim, healthy, youthfull and full of life!. I have managed to fit into this a few times over the years and I know when I fit into that, I have acheived my goal or standard of 'normality'.

I always find it strange how one item of clothing has such sentimental value and psychological power to motivate me, I think I would be absolutly devistated if this was mistakenly thrown out. In fact now I think about it when i get in from work tonight....Im going to get it out wash and Iron it and have it hanging up so I can see it and aim to be back in it by November.


Thanks again for all you words of wisdom!

Z