What do you do about clothes while losing?

cmeiron

I'm cheap and I rarely have luck at second-hand stores for pants (I have really long legs). I wore the same dang pair of jeans, with a belt, all the time (my smallest pair) for almost a year. I could sort of get away with it because I'm a student and work from home 95% of the time (so could wear my ridiculously huge pairs at home where no one would see :P) Finally broke down and got a few new pairs a few weeks ago when a really good sale came on, and after my labmates at school started making snarky comments about all the loose material hanging off my *kitten* :laugh: Also, go shopping in your own closet and pull out the stuff that didn't quite fit properly before (I found a few nice button-up shirts this way!) Shirts aren't really an issue for me generally because I pretty much live in t-shirts and hoodies I'll splurge on a few new things this summer though (I don't think I have a single pair of shorts that will stay up anymore!)

boroko

If your shirts are still OK then treat yourself to a couple of pairs of inexpensive trousers to remind yourself how well you've done so far and keep you focused. If the weight is coming down then you need to dress proud and comfortable and baggy trousers really don't do you justice, especially in the workplace. Sure you'll need to buy even smaller ones before too long but just think of how much money you have saved by eating less?!

Songbirdcw

Belts, belts, belts! I use my husband's military style belt with no notches. I can pull it as tight as i want. I am hanging on to every last piece of clothing until I've cut my bodyfat percentage down.

lizlkbg

I basically just look frumpy.

mrsmarit

Thrift stores! I bought new jeans last spring for about $3 a pair, wore them for a few months and then they were too big! I donated them back to the store.

This is exactly what I do. I mostly shop @ Value Village, wear it until it doesn't fit, and then re donate it back to them and get a coupon for $3.00 off and a tax write off.

I have donated 6 bags of clothes in the last couple of weeks already and there are 2 more in my car right now to get rid of.

kimbojo67

I just read this and saw your post!

Building a Weight-Loss Wardrobe on a Budget

6 Tips for Finding Clothes When You're on Your Way to Your Goal Weight

-- By Caitlin Boyle, SparkSavings Contributor
If you ever stared at your closet full of clothes and thought, “I have nothing to wear,” imagine how Amanda McQueen, a 28-year-old from Alabama, felt during her weight loss journey. “I’ve lost 115 pounds in total. I started at 260 pounds and a size 22, and now I’m at 145 pounds and a size 8,” she says. “I’ve gone through five or six wardrobes in the weight-loss process.”

If it weren’t for her smart shopping tactics, Amanda could’ve burned through her checking account faster than she burned away the fat. Instead of going wild with her credit card, Amanda purchased clothes that would last through several sizes and shopped at second-hand stores. Now in maintenance mode, she focuses on buying quality essentials, like the little black dress, that works well for many situations. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I’d be a size 8,” she admits. “I’m still working on rebuilding my wardrobe for good!”

Lose Weight, Save Dough
For Marisa Gizzio, a 42-year-old who lost 65 pounds, buying new clothes was an important emotional milestone in her weight-loss process. “It makes you feel good about yourself to wear something that fits you well,” she points out. “It doesn't have to be expensive – just treat yourself to a nice fitting outfit because you are worth it and deserve it!”

To reward yourself for your healthy weight loss, save some cash for each pound you lose. “It is such a great motivation,” notes Beth Klein, who saved $5 for each of the 55 pounds she lost in the last year. “It was so exciting for me to see the jar of money get more and more full, and was great to have it there when I really needed new clothes.”

Don’t be tempted to rush into a pricey department store. To save at name-brand stores, sign up for their e-mail blasts to get coupons and take advantage of seasonal sales. Alternatively, spend some time browsing the racks at discount chains like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and Ross, to get more bang for your buck.

If you love to hunt for a good deal, second-hand stores or thrift shops are another excellent option. “I shopped at Goodwill a lot, especially during the early stages of my weight loss,” says Marisa. “Believe it or not, I got some really nice, name-brand pants/shirts (like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, and Old Navy). At $3 per pair of pants and $2 per shirt, I could shop away and not feel guilty about spending clothes that weren’t going to fit in a few months.” Additionally, try asking your family and friends if they have any gently-worn items they’d like to donate to your new wardrobe. Marisa’s mom cleaned out her own closet and donated many essentials to her daughter.

Buy Smart
Depending on how much weight you have to lose, you may have to buy "transition" clothes as you get closer to your goal. Alexis Burnett, who lost 50 pounds, tried to only buy a few new items during her transition stages. “Once I realized this was a long-term journey, and that I planned to lose even more weight, I would not to buy expensive things in my intermediate sizes,” she notes. Instead, Alexis used belts to cinch larger tops and altered skirts and dresses to fit her new body.

As you rebuild your closet, you may be tempted to buy trendy clothes to show off your new frame. At first, “stick to the basics,” advises Alexis. “That way you’re covered in any situation.” Women should invest in dark denim jeans, a crisp white button-down, a stylish dress, a blazer, a practical winter jacket, and other staples. Men should focus on purchasing a crisp polo shirt, great-fitting jeans, a versatile jacket, trousers, khaki pants, and button-down shirts. Try on items in new shapes and cuts than before – you might be surprised at what looks great on your new body.

Consider materials that are more forgiving, like stretch jeans or wrap dresses. “I found stretchy, but not too-tight dresses to be my savior during the weight loss process,” says Beth, as the dresses would look great through several sizes. Also, buy some clothes a tad too small if you anticipate you will continue to lose weight.

Don’t forget the most important essential – underwear! In particular, a properly-fitting bra makes or breaks the entire outfit. Buying underwear in your new size is a fun way to increase confidence and feel sexy in your new body.

New Body Nerves
Shopping for new clothes can be more than a drain on your bank account – it can also be an emotional drain. “It was always weird shopping for smaller sizes. I would always be convinced it was a mistake. I would think, "There is no way I'm a size 4! These pants are marked incorrectly,” Alexis remembers.

Katie Suchman, who lost 50 pounds, agrees with Alexis. “It definitely felt weird shopping in regular mall stores at first. It was a strange mix of being overjoyed that I could even find clothes in regular (non-plus sized) stores, but at the same time, I sometimes felt embarrassed that I always had to start my search at the back of the racks where the big sizes were,” she recalls. Over time, Katie says she adjusted to her new body. “The joy of being able to find clothes that fit well eventually overcame the rest of those insecurities.”

It’s common for people who have recently lost a significant amount of weight to struggle with their body image. Shopping can elicit feelings of self-doubt, fear of regaining the weight, and other negative emotions. View each shopping trip as a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and reaffirm your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. To further increase your body image, get in touch with your new body through body-mind exercises, like yoga.

Your Old Clothes
Negative feelings are the exact reason Amanda gave away or donated all of her larger clothes. “I saw it as a commitment to myself to not go back to that place,” she says. “By keeping the clothes I would have felt like I wasn't fully committed to myself and my new lifestyle. I wanted someone to have them that needed them.”

If you choose to donate your old clothing, save the receipt for a tax credit. Alternatively, sell your larger clothes to a second-hand shop, such as the national chain Plato’s Closet, for extra cash to fund your new wardrobe.

However, you may want to hold onto one pair of larger pants! Whenever Alexis feels overwhelmed or stalled in her progress, she pulls out her size 12 jeans to comparison next to her size 4 body. “It’s like my personal trophy,” she says.

skinnyvegan108

I shop at forever 21 lol I shop whenever something gets to big but nothing pricey Cus I don't plan on it fitting that long

madbrewer

THRIFT STORES!

thisisme13

When I need a new pant size when losing weight I go to my local thrift store. I recently went there and spent $30 on six pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts and a few shirts.

I don't see the point of buying new and spending that much money when you can get really cheap clothing at a thrift store.

I wear clothes until they just don't look good anymore and than bring them to the thrift store.. while I'm there I shop.

JeneticTraining

Keep them to remind yourself of your progress. Use it as your motivation to keep going.
Thrift on.

NadDrew

I usually go shopping at a second hand store (Value Village in Canada) and when it is too big I donate my clothes, 'cause I don't want to see them anymore and for sure don't want to save them for a "'IF". This time is the last time that I'm losing weight, I'm now at a size 12 pants and was at a size 20 a couple years ago. So, I enjoyed going shopping it makes me feel very good about myself.

cuterbee

I love thrift stores, myself. Where else can you get nice clothing (sometimes still with tags on) for $1?

Plus...I have a sewing machine and know how to use it, which is great for my scrub pants. I wouldn't attempt to alter jeans, but anything else is fair game. Most things can be altered down one size without changing the looks;

dunnodunno

Definitely hit your local thrift stores. One day a local thrift store was having a sale & anything under six dollars was around $1.25 per item. Items over six were half off. I spent around $82.00 & bought around five or six bags of clothes.

You also cannot go wrong with TJMaxx, Ross, & Marshalls.

mikegales

Suspenders