To chuck or not to chuck..?

Manuka

I've recently dropped a clothing size, yey! However, I'm finding it hard to chuck out my clothes that are now too big. I haven't really got the space to keep them but I'm such a big hoarder. I also worry I might need them again, but obviously really don't want to do that, but I have in the past. This time feels different though as I've made real changes instead of 'dieting'. So what do you think? What do you do?

appleb

Chuck. If you don't, you will have your "fat clothes" to fall back into. Donate them to good will or a friend who can use them!! By the way congratulations on your weight loss!

kellykat

I say donate them! By getting rid of your "big" clothes you won't be able to have something to fall back on. And if your new size starts getting tight its an indicator to get back on track. Enjoy your new size and say goodbye to the old you!

lovemy2girls

Chuck!!! I know it's hard, but def. chuck, and congratulations!:happy:

TropicalKitty

I did the big chuck before and I've totally regretted it. If I could do it over again, I'd chuck the bulk, but keep a couple items. Like a shirt and a pair of pants. Even if you never fit in them again just to have them as a reminder or motivation to keep you where you are. Humbling perhaps.

Keeping doesn't have to be an escape.

It's easy to see what you have feeling tight and make that motivation to get back on track, but that's a negative view of things. I like to see what I've accomplished as opposed to what I've ruined.

Congrats on your progress!

cdavis1126

Take them to a consignment shop and get money to buy new clothes that fit. Decide one and forever that you will never ever fit back into those clothes. Don't keep them around as an escape!

Holton

I went through that same struggle as I have lost weight and came to the conclusion that I don't want to EVER wear them again and if I balloon back to that size then I deserve to have to pay for fat clothes again! Bag them up today and don't look back. I took my to custodial help at my church who appreciated the opportunity to shop for free through my clothes; but also have taken items to Goodwill and gladly donated to others. DO not hoard stuff you are not using and have no intention of using again. If you think it would be inspirational to keep 1 item as a reminder of where you have been, certainly do so, but 1 piece should suffice and not take up space in your closet. Congratulations on your weight loss! Keep moving forward with confidence and do NOT look back.:happy:

hill242

Donate the clothes that are still in good condition. Cut the ones that aren't into rags. In general, keeping things "Just in case" just leads to clutter and stuff we don't need.

donna56

Chuck, chuck, chuck away. I can't wait to get rid of every single piece of fat clothing I own. Good job on the weight loss :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou:

PoeRaven

Chuck!!!!!!!!:flowerforyou:

Make it a real occasion...throw a party...but by all means...CHUCK!

mictur

Donate, donate, donate, Leave one pair of pants as acomparison but get rid of the rest and buy anew or consignment.:drinker: Here's to you for losing.

Barneystinson

Toss them in the Salvation Army bin!

(or we'll have to sic Stacy and Clinton of "What Not to Wear" on you!)

debhayes

chuck!!! Move on-have a garage sale and celebrate with a new outfit!! Reward yourself for your accomplishments!! Good luck!

sonjavon

I feel your pain and am making the same decision this week. For me, it's not that I'm afraid that I'll need them again... but more that I've been in the situation before where I couldn't afford new clothes when I needed them... so holding onto things is kind of "ingrained". BUT - I'm not in that situation anymore and I know that by donating them... someone who needs them might have access to them.

The other side of the emotional struggle is that these clothes become like security blankets and old friends to us... they loved me when I was bigger, they hid me from the world, they made me feel "comfortable".... stepping out of those clothes almost feels like abandoning an old friend.... at least that's how I sometimes feel. BUT - I have to remind myself... they're clothes. I'm keeping a few things... as a reminder to myself just how far I've come. But the more I lose the more confidence I gain and I don't NEED that security blanket anymore.

SimonLondon

I did the big chuck before and I've totally regretted it. If I could do it over again, I'd chuck the bulk, but keep a couple items. Like a shirt and a pair of pants. Even if you never fit in them again just to have them as a reminder or motivation to keep you where you are. Humbling perhaps.

That is exactly what I did. I kept one pair of trousers that I look at in shame but boy does it keep me motivated :laugh:

Rudie

CHUCK!!!!!!

Without a shadow of a doubt, you should get rid. I mean, why do you want to keep clothes you don't want to wear? And if you do want to wear clothes that size, what are you doing on a diet??? :laugh:

I know it feels like throwing away money - for the more pricey items, see if you can get them altered; I had an evening gown altered down a size for £15, which is not too bad compared with the original purchase price.

KatWood

If you can afford to chuck them then definitely do so.

For me, I can't afford to buy new clothes every dress size I lose so I tend to keep them until they are pretty loose. Then I donate them.

dmags

take your favorites to the tailor. I bought expensive jeans just before starting this. I tried to wear them last week hanging around the house and almost killed myself falling down the stairs (twice) because they were falling off. It kills me to spend that kind of money and giving them away. A friend suggested the tailor. It is less then replacing them, especially when I want to continue to lose.

Barneystinson

take your favorites to the tailor. I bought expensive jeans just before starting this. I tried to wear them last week hanging around the house and almost killed myself falling down the stairs (twice) because they were falling off. It kills me to spend that kind of money and giving them away. A friend suggested the tailor. It is less then replacing them, especially when I want to continue to lose.

Yeah, good point on the tailor. I have had to do this with some of my nicer work / dress clothing after previously losing 30 pounds. I suppose if it's a nice or expensive piece, try to have it tailored if possible.

raelbee

When I was struggling with deciding whether or not to donate my fat clothes, I came across this article and decided, without a doubt, to DONATE!

Dr. Oz’s 10 Weight-Loss Commandments

With our country’s obesity epidemic reaching biblical proportions, it’s time to commit to 10 easy and basic rules for losing weight and keeping it off.

1. Thou Shalt Not Wear Pants that Stretch

Your clothing is an early-warning system for weight gain. When it’s getting hard to snap your jeans, you know it’s time to be vigilant. Wearing stretchy clothes allows you to live in ignorance of how your body is growing, making it easier to pack on pounds without knowing it.



2. Thou Shalt Not Keep Bad Clothes in Your Closet

When you keep the clothes you wore at an unhealthy weight, it gives you a back-up plan if the pounds don’t come off. Instead, force yourself to stay on track by 86ing your “fat pants.”



3. Thou Shalt Not Eat Meat That Walks on Four Legs More Than Once a Week

Meat that comes from an animal with 4 legs is higher in saturated fat (the unhealthy kind) than that which comes from 2-legged animals such as chickens, or animals with no legs, like fish. Plus: women who eat large amounts of red meat more than once a week have a 50% higher chance of dying from heart disease and have higher cancer rates.



4. Thou Shalt Not Graze

Plan your meal before you open the refrigerator, get what you need, and close the door. Opening it throughout the day leads to impulsive choices and overeating.



5. Thou Shalt Not Eat After 7:30pm

When you eat late at night you are more likely to be eating in front of the TV (when you won’t pay attention to how much you’re putting in your mouth) and you’re more likely to pick high-calorie snacks.



6. Thou Shalt Not Pile Food More than 1 Inch High or Within 2 Inches of the Plate Edge

Larger portions equal more calories. ‘Nuff said.



7. Thou Shalt Not Chew Food Less than 20 Times Per Bite

Chewing allows your body to realize that you are eating food, prompting it to create a sensation of fullness at the appropriate time. When you don’t chew enough, you get ahead of that process, eating well past when you are actually satisfied.



8. Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Plate

Spend your day nibbling bites on someone else’s sandwich or afternoon snack, and you will add on 1,000 calories easy.



9. Thou Shalt Not Carry Small Bills

Nothing loves a small bill better than a vending machine. When you have them at the ready, you are one step closer to an impulsive, calorie-loaded afternoon slip up.



10. Thou Shalt Not Eat While Standing Up

Eating sitting down enables you to be aware of what you’re eating and eat it slowly so that your body can tell you your full before it’s too late.

CreativeRedhead

It's quite simple....just toss them out. For me I hate looking at my fat clothes now, I'd hate to have to look at them when I'm not wearing them anymore. I've already donated quite a few!

sbilyeu75

When I was struggling with deciding whether or not to donate my fat clothes, I came across this article and decided, without a doubt, to DONATE!

Dr. Oz’s 10 Weight-Loss Commandments

With our country’s obesity epidemic reaching biblical proportions, it’s time to commit to 10 easy and basic rules for losing weight and keeping it off.

1. Thou Shalt Not Wear Pants that Stretch

Your clothing is an early-warning system for weight gain. When it’s getting hard to snap your jeans, you know it’s time to be vigilant. Wearing stretchy clothes allows you to live in ignorance of how your body is growing, making it easier to pack on pounds without knowing it.



2. Thou Shalt Not Keep Bad Clothes in Your Closet

When you keep the clothes you wore at an unhealthy weight, it gives you a back-up plan if the pounds don’t come off. Instead, force yourself to stay on track by 86ing your “fat pants.”



3. Thou Shalt Not Eat Meat That Walks on Four Legs More Than Once a Week

Meat that comes from an animal with 4 legs is higher in saturated fat (the unhealthy kind) than that which comes from 2-legged animals such as chickens, or animals with no legs, like fish. Plus: women who eat large amounts of red meat more than once a week have a 50% higher chance of dying from heart disease and have higher cancer rates.



4. Thou Shalt Not Graze

Plan your meal before you open the refrigerator, get what you need, and close the door. Opening it throughout the day leads to impulsive choices and overeating.



5. Thou Shalt Not Eat After 7:30pm

When you eat late at night you are more likely to be eating in front of the TV (when you won’t pay attention to how much you’re putting in your mouth) and you’re more likely to pick high-calorie snacks.



6. Thou Shalt Not Pile Food More than 1 Inch High or Within 2 Inches of the Plate Edge

Larger portions equal more calories. ‘Nuff said.



7. Thou Shalt Not Chew Food Less than 20 Times Per Bite

Chewing allows your body to realize that you are eating food, prompting it to create a sensation of fullness at the appropriate time. When you don’t chew enough, you get ahead of that process, eating well past when you are actually satisfied.



8. Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Plate

Spend your day nibbling bites on someone else’s sandwich or afternoon snack, and you will add on 1,000 calories easy.



9. Thou Shalt Not Carry Small Bills

Nothing loves a small bill better than a vending machine. When you have them at the ready, you are one step closer to an impulsive, calorie-loaded afternoon slip up.



10. Thou Shalt Not Eat While Standing Up

Eating sitting down enables you to be aware of what you’re eating and eat it slowly so that your body can tell you your full before it’s too late.

LAWDY! I have enough problems with the original 10 Commandments.

aippolito1

I say donate them! By getting rid of your "big" clothes you won't be able to have something to fall back on. And if your new size starts getting tight its an indicator to get back on track. Enjoy your new size and say goodbye to the old you!

This!! This was my philosophy and I've stayed on track the whole time I've been on this lifestyle change... I haven't gone down a pants size yet, despite being 19 lbs. lighter but there are some things that were in my closet I had to rid myself of. Plus, more room for the smaller clothes once they fit!!

Manuka

Wow! Thanks everyone! I really know I need to chuck my old clothes. I think I'll try a few of your suggestions, I'll chuck the bulk, keep 1 pair of jeans to keep me motivated and try to get a couple of skirts I totally love altered - maybe save that until I'm at my goal weight! Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

00trayn

I definitely agree with the consignment shop. I stopped into one a few weeks ago near me that I geared towards teens and 20's. I didn't have any clothes to bring in, but I tried on some jeans a size smaller than what I was wearing and they're quite cheap. I'll be going back there at some point to actually buy clothes and hopefully bring some of mine that don't fit any more in. There was no better feeling than this weekend when I went shopping for jeans and tried on a pair of size 14 ankle (I'm a shorty...) in The Gap and they fit PERFECTLY! They were $60 jeans, but well worth it since that's my only pair that fits now. Just think of funding things like that from consignment store clothes

popplylily

keep a selection so you dont feel horride if you fluctuate a teeny bit and get scared , it makes it a biggerdeal when you have nothing to wear, i keep 10's and 12's and a couple of 14's. chucked the rest out

Behavior_Modification

I say sell them...why not make some $ to splurge on new clothes!

Manuka

So, I've just made a really decent sized pile of clothes to get rid of, it feels good! One thing to be thankful for is that I 'hoarded' my smaller clothes from about 18 months ago when I lost weight before, so I've still got a rather full wardrobe of beautiful clothes to wear (until I need a chuck out session again!).

losingweightfor30

Chuck --- if you leave them around it allows you to believe that the pounds you lost can be gained... because you have the clothes and can fit back in them. If they are gone, it forces you to maintain your weight because who wants to buy larger clothes?? I'm looking forward to chucking mine!