D1srupta's Journal, 21 May 2016

You have lost 100 pounds - you deserve some clothes! I often go to resale shops when I am between sizes...it saves money! 

I'm right there with ya! I have been putting off buying new clothes also, mainly because I'm not finished yet! My Mom bought me a sewing machine a few years back for my birthday. I have had marginal luck taking things in :( I have issues with straight lines. Belts are my life-saver with a belt you can make old dresses 4 sizes too big look like they fit, throw a soft light dress jacket over them and no-ones the wiser. I picked up a couple of wide elastic belts in different colors...about 7 bucks each at Walmart, they made my wardrobe not only fit...but I look very chick :) Excellent work on the 100 lbs gone that is quite an accomplishment!  

I totally get this concern. It's one of the reasons I won't be shopping for a good period of time until I know I've lost a chunk of weight I am ok with being at for a bit (unless I really need to). And life situations have changed so it's not as necessary for a bit. And while everyone likes to use the "you get to go shopping" as a reward for losing weight, to me, I hate that "reward". I hate shopping, I hate spending money, and I could care less about fashion. I also threw out "my old clothes" because I realized by the time I got back down to that size, I would probably be better off buying new things that weren't that expensive to replace with stuff I liked more. That being said, I do suggest a few ideas: 1. Certainly hit those thrift stores. Sometimes retail shops are expensive, sometimes they aren't. But if you aren't sure you are going to be wearing a piece very long, you don't want to spend a lot on it. 2. Sometimes people like to "swap" stuff with friends and family. If you use social media, there might be someone who is looking to get rid of some stuff in the size you are in now. Or there are various sites like freecycle or other forms of recycling that will give away bags of clothes in sizes they no longer fit that would like to see them go to a good home. And if you can't use them, then you can pass them on to the thrift store. 3. Read up about minimalist wardrobe and lifestyle. This way you can learn to purchase a few items but redress and reuse them several ways. There is a lot of good info out there on this. 4. Find out what "styles" of clothing look best on you and focus on those. I know it's sometimes "heresy" to wear pants with stretchy waists or ties instead of a "tailored" fit, but if you are in the midst of losing weight, you might get longer wear out of them. If you are concerned about a tummy or waist fit, you might get one of those body shaping pieces that gently hold you in place. But then again, it's really about what looks good and feels good for you. And with layering and minimizing your wardrobe, you might find new things to do with stuff. 5. Learning to sew would be fantastic. It would save you a lot. However, on the flip side, if you have a friend or someone you could get to know better, they might be willing to trade you a discount on sewing and tailoring (which you may need along the way as you continue on your path) in exchange for your support and advise on losing weight and getting in shape. It sounds like you have been on a long path and have been successful and that is an inspirational story. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a guide or sponsor or mentor or buddy for compliance and reporting. 6. There is so much that people do to recycle and reuse clothing these days, even stuff that's a bit worn and torn, that holding on to something you no longer have a use for ... you should get rid of it and let the universe pass it along to someone else. Because whether someone new buys it in this country or another, if it becomes part of a craft project, or if it's used to recycle into new clothing or other items like insulation, it is a much greater gift to let it go and celebrate getting something new. Just only what you really need. Especially during your transition. Congratz and I will use you as inspiration for the day I have to go thru this issue myself. I'm getting rid of a lot of excess stuff anyway. I am glad you have this chance. And if money is an issue, and you've been a long way on this, you might want to consider if fitness, nutrition, healthy living and/or guidance and support is something you might enjoy doing in life. Start small and see where it goes. There are many people who share this for free, but there are just as many people who turn it into a small sideline they love or even into a new life profession!  

Congrats on the 100 lb milestone! That's amazing. I didn't buy new pants until the other ones were falling off of me and my coworkers started to say something. Fitting into the smaller size is exciting, but clothes falling off is also rewarding. I still have my pants I had when I started losing, my hubby now calls them my 'clown pants'.  

Congrats on your weight loss, got a long way to go before I hit that milestone. With the weather change try yoga Capri pants. Buy a couple pair at Walmart for less then $20 a pair. Buy tightest pair u fit into comfortably, then as u lose weight they will still fit. Resale shops r great too. ;)) 

Awesome work! Same deal here. I kept the pants my passive aggressive ex bought me 15 years ago when we were still married. By the time I got into them for the very first time last summer, they were too big. All my suits; even my wedding tux was too big.... Bwahahahaha.... Totally cleaned out my closet; gave away all my suits, shirts, everything. Riding one pair of jeans, a blazer and khakis until I hit my number.... And then.... #earningit