Just looking for some input on how people have handled buying new clothes as you are losing weight? I started out the year at 193 in a tight size 16. After getting down to about 175 in late April, I was able to fit into most of the size 14 shorts I had saved from 7-8 years ago when I was that size. We were planning a trip to Disney so I needed my summer wardrobe early and ended up going out to buy a few more pairs of shorts and a few new tops, and also new bras in a size smaller. Well now it's 6-7 weeks later and I am down another almost 10 pounds and much of what I bought is already getting too big. Just went out today and was able to fit into all size 12's and even bought one size 10!!!! Also seem to have lost a lot more in the chest area in the past month so tried on the next smaller bra size which fits perfectly.
I plan to continue to lose at least until I hit 148-150 if I can so I realize that even what I am buying now will probably not fit next summer. Just wondering what tips you all have for how you handle buying new clothes as the weight is coming off?
I buy cheaper clothes like at Walmart. I've gone down a size in tops and while I have some of my old ones saved I went to Walmart and spent like $5-$7 a shirt.
I started wearing belts with my jeans. I got a couple of those canvas ones with the sliding buckle like boy scouts have. Saved me from buying size 16 and then I only got a couple of 14s before I landed in 12s.
You can just cut inches off the belts as you shrink.
Last edited by Operator265; 06-11-2009 at 04:53 PM.
Clearance, thrift stores, etc. Now is not the time to invest in quality, as they won't have to last a long time. Think of it like baby clothes...they grow so fast, you don't buy anything expensive. You're SHRINKING so fast, you don't want to either!
But do buy yourself things that fit. Wearing too-big clothes can make you lose sight of your progress, and that can be demotivating.
In my last go round when I went from almost 250 to 187...I lost it so quick that I really didn't have time to go through all the sizes (18 down to 13). I went to resale shops and found a lot of stuff for pretty cheap. That is my plan for this time. I will wear what I have until it is falling off of me and then I will go to the resale shop and get what I can and when they are falling off me then I will do it again. That way I'm not buying a whole bunch of clothes that I won't wear for (hopefully) more than a month or two. I will probably buy some things in every size so that I can have a few "in between" items. I just can't see spending $200 on new clothes that I will only wear for a short period of time.
I agree with the other posters about not buying too much of anything unless you get a really good deal; and when you get down to 148-150, I don't know if you are even going to be able to wear 10's at all. We are the same height and started out at the same weight wearing the same sizes. I am now 158 and while 10's fit me pretty good when I was about 165, they are starting to get a little big on me, and some 8's are snug but comfy enough to wear. I think after about another 5 lb loss, those 10's will be hanging off of me and I don't have many 8's available. (Haven't been in a size 8 since 2000).
As others mentioned, WalMart and Goodwill are good places. You could even try ebay. Women who have either gained or lost put their clothes that no longer fit into lots and list them all the time. You could snag a good seasons worth for next to nothing.
I did have to buy bras and undies today at WalMart. Not something I want second-hand, lol.
I guess it depends on one's specific need for clothes. I was able to make do, for the most part, with just buying a new (smaller) pair of jeans. One at a time.
Here and there I bought some tops but not too many. The downside is that I always had only 1 pair of jeans to wear at any time but hey, at least I got the bang for my buck. :-)
I feel luxurious now ... I have TWO pairs to wear. :-)
I bargain shop at store like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Last Chance, Ross and Burlington Coat Factory. I like these places because I get the clothes for super cheap but they're not cheaply made since they're name brand/designer stuff. When I have a piece of clothing that I really love and it's a high quality piece of clothing I get it tailored which is really very cheap. Just wait until you can't hardly wear the piece anymore before you get it tailored because often they can only tailor it well once or twice not over and over again.
When I hit a 12 I bought a bunch of nice stuff--boy was I stupid! They fit me for about a month or so.
As all of 3FC knows, I am a thrift store shopper. I got into them because I just couldn't spend $50-60 a piece for things that were only going to work a short bit...but I really liked looking nice as my weight went down--I found it motivating..
Well, now I am hooked. The key is finding good thrift shops. Once you find one, hit it often and really dig. I don't know if I will ever pay big bucks for clothes again.
I bought all my clothes when I was losing at Goodwill, Salvation Army , Savers and consignment shops. You can make some outstanding buys, Quite often you can get new clothes. I once bought a blazer. brand new for $4.00. Out of force of habit the other day I dropped in to Goodwill and bought a pair of capris for $3.00 they were missing a belt but were brand new, also.
Buying New Clothes
