What to do?

NinaSharp
NinaSharp Posts: 101 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
My ultimate goal is to lose 29 lbs. I was down at this size early last year, but gained the weight due to being lax. During that time, I went through a "Love my body" phase and just bought larger close to fit my larger frame getting rid of my smaller clothes. Now that I've started to lose weight, I'm swimming in my clothes.

So far I've taken a methodical approach to getting rid of clothes. I wear it to work, and judge how I feel in it during the day. If It feels too big, at the end of the day it goes into a bag. That bag will be washed and donated. The issue is, I'm slowly running out of clothes. I keep window shopping, but since I don't know what size I am, and I don't tend on staying at this size, I'm wondering if I should just buy clothes at every size. What fits today may not fit next week sort of deal. That does seem like a lot of $$ though, to buy all new pants for a size that isn't my ultimate. What did you all do as you lost the weight? Just hold out or spend the money?


I've done a little searching on this topic and didn't find the answer I was looking for so if you have a link that answers my questions plz feel free to respond with it.

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I spent the money so that I could look presentable the entire time I lost weight. You can usually get more mileage out of dresses than you can out of pants and skirts so you might want to get a few dresses you like and then plan on wearing them into the fall by adding a cardigan or jacket over top. By that point the dresses might be slightly big but the cardigan/jacket will cover that up a bit (assuming they aren't sloppy big.)
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    I'm not sure what answer you want. Are you wanting someone to tell you it's ok to replace your clothes all at once? If you have the money for it, then that's probably ok. But if you're on a budget, you'll need to go slow. I like your approach for getting rid of clothes that are too big, wish I had thought of it instead of just wearing a belt all the time. XD

    Anyhoo, you do need to replace clothes that you've gotten rid of, but that doesn't mean you have to replace your entire wardrobe at once. Do it a little at a time. Go buy a pair of pants and/or a shirt on payday. Buy them at Target or some outlet store to save a bit of money on it. When you get down to the size you want to be at, then you can splurge and replace your wardrobe if you want to. But while you're working your way towards it, if you're going to need to buy a smaller size than you currently wear, but it'll be bigger than what you want, going piecemeal means you won't spend as much and you won't feel bad about getting rid of things.
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    I would go to a second hand store or places like Ross that have cheap clothes. Then when you're at your goal weight and maintaining get the clothes you want.
  • Pootler74
    Pootler74 Posts: 223 Member
    edited July 2015
    Sales and second hand stores. :-)

    I'm better dressed than ever, because I'm wearing really good labels that I found in charity shops. and in the last ends of sales where prices are reduced even more. I am lucky enough to volunteer in a charity shop, so that makes it easier, but I pop into as many as I can when I can, to see if they have something for me. When I find something I love and it eventually gets too big for me, I can usually find a relacement on Ebay. Costs a bit more, but worth it.

    I look for things with elastane in that might be tight fitting now but will last longer. And dresses that tie back so they can be cinched in. I also only buy things as I need them, so I tend to replace one or two things at a time when something becomes too big. I have learned to curate a capsule wardrobe. :)

    If I need something special, then these days most stores have a sale on, or at least a sale rack, at some point. It's okay to buy something a bit too small if it's perfect for you and the right price, if you know you'll be able to wear it soon. I've bought a Laura Ashley dress for a wedding in six weeks that's a millimetre or two too snug, but will fit beautifully by the time I have to wear it. I'd normally not ever buy that sort of brand new, even in their sale, but I've saved so much on my other clothes that I don't mind splurging.

    The only thing I've not skimped on is bras. For the first time ever I went to a professional and got properly fitted and spent the same amount as I spent on that dress to get two bras that work for me.

    Oh! And I have saved up the whole time in a "goal weight fund" so that when I do get to goal, I can go out and buy lots of brand new things if I want. (But I'm realising I probably won't and will probably spend it on something else, like a bike.)
  • dramaqueen45
    dramaqueen45 Posts: 1,009 Member
    Two words- thrift store. I have bought clothes there all along because they are cheap and I know once I get too small for them I haven't invested too much money. Also be aware that your size will probably be bigger shopping there because those are older clothes and vanity sizing has made clothing sizes smaller than they used to be, or I should say the labels are smaller- (when I weighed 117 25 years ago I wore a size 7; now if I buy from a store I wear an 8 or sometimes a 6 and I weigh about 140; if I buy from a thrift store I wear a 10-12). So don't put too much stock in sizes- just go by how it fits and how you feel. Buying smaller clothes will also give you a confidence boost because they will of course fit better and look better on you which gives you more motivation to keep going. Clothes that are too big and frumpy don't look nice and can make you look like a bag lady.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    MonkeyMel21 wrote: »
    I would go to a second hand store or places like Ross that have cheap clothes. Then when you're at your goal weight and maintaining get the clothes you want.

    That's how I did it. I'm working on my last five pounds and plan to recomp, so I'm starting to spend more on my new "fat clothes."

    I bought a lot of dresses and wore cardigans over them (to disguise that weird arm hole issue that develops with short/sleeveless dresses).
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Agree about bras being hugely important. :)
    Some clothes can be taken to a seamstress/ tailor to adjust them down a size or two.
    It depends on where you work. I like having a small number of outfits that look professional.
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    I agree about thrift stores. I have a lovely blazer/jacket by some name brand (that I can't think of right now, and I don't feel like walking to my bedroom, lol) -- but a good designer label. I would never ever have paid full price for it but $5.00 at the thrift store is just fine. lol Also jackets are good for covering up a dress or top that's a bit big, and you can get away with wearing a blazer that's slightly too small because you don't have to button it. A shirt is say a size 12 might pull where the buttons are, but a size 12 blazer will be fine.

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