Getting used to the "new" me.
 

So I hit my goal weight last week and have decided to go for a few more, my trouble is adjusting to my new size. I'm not sure how to dress for my age (41) since I haven't been this size in over 15 years. I'm so stuck on buying clothes to big. I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone had problems shopping for new clothing once your goal was met??

Originally Posted by Canadiandieter:
So I hit my goal weight last week and have decided to go for a few more, my trouble is adjusting to my new size. I'm not sure how to dress for my age (41) since I haven't been this size in over 15 years. I'm so stuck on buying clothes to big. I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone had problems shopping for new clothing once your goal was met??

Congratulations on reaching your goal!!! It's funny, I know exactly what you mean about not knowing how to buy clothes for the new you. I am only half way to my goal, but had to buy some new scrubs for work. I came in all excited about my new, better fitting scrubs and my friend looked at me and said, "they're cute, but they're still too big!". I've been dressing to hide my body for 10 years. It's a hard habit to break.

Congratulation for reaching goal, what a proud accomplishment!

I'm not at goal yet , but I know how you feel. I still picture the 177 pound me and when I walk by the mirror I am surprised. I too have been dressing to hide my body for so long that when I do go clothes shopping (at goal) I'm sure I will have to bring my husband or friend to be my reality check. I think this will take us a while to wrap our brains around!

Congratulations on reaching your goal! I think a lot of us have been there, not knowing how to buy smaller clothes. I do recommend taking someone with you that you trust, and who can be frank with you about how things fit, styles, etc. Happy shopping!

Congrats!!!! I agree with greeniris about taking someone with you when you go shopping. I usually bring my sister but if I do happen to go alone I take a picture in the change room and send it to her for her advice ...and I'll leave the change room in the outfit and ask the salesperson what they think. It's an adjustment that's for sure...a good one! I still do a double take when I walk by a mirror...wonder how long that will last?

I am right there with you, hit goal and am struggling with picking the right size. Was a tight 12 when I started and have moved into a loose 8. For poops and grins I tried on a 6 this weekend, it fit and of course I bought it. I may leave the tag on for everyone to see the size. It is hard to see ourselves for who we are.

Am also struggling with moving to phase 3. Hit my original goal of 140 then changed it to 135 to give myself room. Am a couple of pounds below that now and hope that I am ready to commit to moving on.

Congrats, you have done great.

Yep! Take a friend.

I've shopped 2 times so far... My daughter is trying to get me into "cute" clothes, and I feel they are too young (she's 15 and giggles when we are sharing clothing). The second time I was with a high school buddy of mine, so we're the same age (almost 40) she was very good at helping pick out "appropriate" clothing. Not old and frumpy (because that's how I've dressed for a decade) and not teenage.

Oh, be sure to take a friend who knows how to look good! ;) Another friend wasn't so helpful...she dresses how I've dressed for so long.

My son and only child is getting married in 6 weeks which was one of my reasons for starting my journey.

My gown is very much out of my comfort zone which is what I asked for. Had told my future daughter in law not to let me buy a frumpy old lady dress. I was 25 pounds heavier and sweating at the thought of wearing some of the gowns I tried on.

Today, the gown is undergoing major alterations. It is a size 14 and I am now a size 10 in a gown. In order for me to do what I really look like I have to really concentrate on looking in the mirror because I still see the woman that weighed 25 pounds heavier.

It is hard to see who we are.

Originally Posted by safetylady:
It is hard to see who we are.

THIS is so very true.

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. When I look in the mirror, what I SEE is the same big thighs, big rear that I've always had. When I look down at my body, I see myself the same way I did before I started the diet. My HEAD knows that the clothes in my closet are size 6 and 8 when they used to be an 18. But my brain has had a lot of trouble catching up with that :)

Definitely bring someone to go shopping with you. And don't be afraid to reach for sizes you never dreamed of! I swore I'd be my thinnest at a size 12....we see how that worked out ;)

I agree - it's definitely an adjustment.

I'm always pleasantly shocked when I see myself in mirrors when I'm out and about... I somehow look slimmer in other mirrors than I do in my home full-length one, and it still startles me. It's hard not to preen a little! :)

I have been buying a more fitted style of clothes than I wore before. Before it was long tops & leggings. Now jeans with a petite top so that it isn't so long.

Have fun with it!

Originally Posted by Canadiandieter:
So I hit my goal weight last week and have decided to go for a few more, my trouble is adjusting to my new size. I'm not sure how to dress for my age (41) since I haven't been this size in over 15 years. I'm so stuck on buying clothes to big. I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone had problems shopping for new clothing once your goal was met??

Neat, you are the same size I want to get back down too, I am 5'1" and got down to 130. I am 10 up from that now but when I look back 135 was wher I felt best and I want to get back to that by the summer.
I am a lot older and a pet peeve of mine is older woman forgetting they are not 17 anymore. But at 41 you are at the prime of your life and have lots of leaway in your choices. Be careful you don't go the other way and go for things too conservative. Have fun!!

Pat

Shopping is more enjoyable because I feel I have more options and am happier with how I look in clothes....but it's also challenging because I haven't really accepted my new size yet. It definitely helps to go with a friend who has a sense of style :) and/or to ask the sales people or other shoppers for their opinions. I went shopping a few weeks ago and got a bunch of nice cropped pants for work in a size 4 (I have never been a 4 and could barely believe that was my size!). I tried everything on when I got home to be sure they looked good in a real mirror (vs. a crafty dressing room mirror), and they were all too big. I had to return them and get a size 2. Just writing here that I am wearing a size 2 is kind of freaking me out :eek:

I am adjusting to going back to the old me. I have been overweight for 13 years and just getting back to the person I remember in the mirror. My style is the same (maybe that is bad) and I am in a size 10-12 down from a tight 16. Still have 13 lbs to go......waiting to buy more clothes until I get closer but I will have to take someone. I know I will buy too big, I have not been smaller than a 10 with a grown up body. Numbers have power!

OMG! reading through these posts its ME! its funny how you don't always see yourself as you are. and especially now that I am losing the weight the picture in my head does not fit and I never really realized that that was what is happening

Thank you all for sharing, it was a huge "yes" moment for me

I'm not at goal yet, so clothes are not an issue yet. However, I have to catch myself when we go out and I want to dress up as I start getting out the comb to tease my bangs up because when I used to "go out" it was in the 1980s and that's just what you did to look hot! Fortunately I have no leg warmers to reach for, and my shoulder pads are long put away. I just have to "resist" the big hair and big earrings and thick eyeliner....lol We should all get "makeovers" by professionals as one of our treats when we hit our goal

Congratulations on hitting your goal! I'm just getting to the smallest clothes in my closet, and soon I will have to venture out to find smaller clothes, and its a little intimidating. I have never liked shopping for clothes (mostly because it was so hard to find anything that fit right), and I'm still dreading it. Mostly because I'm not quite halfway yet, and I dread spending money on clothes that I know I will shrink out of soon anyway. And at the same time, that makes me happy, because I know what I'm doing is working. :)

Originally Posted by safetylady:
I am right there with you, hit goal and am struggling with picking the right size. Was a tight 12 when I started and have moved into a loose 8. For poops and grins I tried on a 6 this weekend, it fit and of course I bought it. I may leave the tag on for everyone to see the size. It is hard to see ourselves for who we are...Am also struggling with moving to phase 3. Hit my original goal of 140 then changed it to 135 to give myself room. Am a couple of pounds below that now and hope that I am ready to commit to moving on.

I understand completely. It was hard for me to move into P3. But it's fine. I lost more on P3. I finally stabilized this week on P4. Jump in! The water's fine!

I was size 22 pants and now I'm wearing size 6 pants!! Talk about changing a self-image! But I think I never saw myself as that heavy, even though I was. I can't believe those big clothes were tight on me!

I'm comfortable wearing 6s and 8s. Dresses are size 6. I'm small, so I buy Petite, when I can find it.

I'm older than 41, but I feel and look much younger than I am. I don't want to dress like a teenager, but I want to (and CAN be) stylish. I'm enjoying form-fitting clothes for the first time in my life.

I'm getting ready to buy a dress for a wedding that I will attend in 2 weeks. I've tried on several of those "hourglass figure" dresses and I know I'll find one I like. It's strange not having to buy "whatever fits." I can hold off until I find something I really love.

Originally Posted by scorbett1103:
Definitely bring someone to go shopping with you. And don't be afraid to reach for sizes you never dreamed of! I swore I'd be my thinnest at a size 12....we see how that worked out ;)

I planned on getting down to size 10. And now I'm at a 6 and loving it!

Originally Posted by patns:
Neat, you are the same size I want to get back down too, I am 5'1" and got down to 130. I am 10 up from that now but when I look back 135 was wher I felt best and I want to get back to that by the summer.

Go for it, Pat! I'm also 5'1"!

Originally Posted by IP43:
I'm not at goal yet, so clothes are not an issue yet. However, I have to catch myself when we go out and I want to dress up as I start getting out the comb to tease my bangs up because when I used to "go out" it was in the 1980s and that's just what you did to look hot! Fortunately I have no leg warmers to reach for, and my shoulder pads are long put away. I just have to "resist" the big hair and big earrings and thick eyeliner....lol We should all get "makeovers" by professionals as one of our treats when we hit our goal

The 80's are back, so you might be able to get away with the big hair! ;) I like your idea about the professional makeover though, that would be fantastic!

I could have written this thread myself.

I feel as though I look exactly as I did 105 pounds ago. I know that's impossible (clearly, I'm wearing different, smaller clothes) but nothing has changed in my mind yet.

I still have 30 pounds to go so I'm hoping my mind starts catching up.

I think part of my problem is that I am wearing clothes that are way too big for me because I don't want to spend money on things I'm going to shrink out of.

Loved reading this thread :) A friend of mine called me "skinny" yesterday, but the chubby girl in my head doesn't see things the way she does....

Originally Posted by Cheekyskeeter:
Congrats!!!! I agree with greeniris about taking someone with you when you go shopping. I usually bring my sister but if I do happen to go alone I take a picture in the change room and send it to her for her advice ...and I'll leave the change room in the outfit and ask the salesperson what they think. It's an adjustment that's for sure...a good one! I still do a double take when I walk by a mirror...wonder how long that will last?

I'm totally with you on this! I really do NOT know how I should dress..I'm 45 and haven't been this size since I was in university. It's nice, but i'm kinda lost here too.

Cheeky..this is EXACTLY what I do now! LOL..I'll find something I really like then I'll go try it on and text a picture to my friend or DH to see what they think.

My hubby jokes about the fashion shows I put on for him every time I get dressed. He says he's been missing them this week as he's been working nights so he's sleeping in the morning while I get dressed.

I turned 44 while on IP (in February) so I'm often asking if I'm 'too old' to wear something. Well I was out shopping with my teenage step daughter and saw a pair of cute camouflage pants. She saw me looking at them and actually said I was too old for camo pants.....so I took them in the dressing room and tried them on. They looked cute so I bought them.....mainly because she said I was too old for them lol.

I've been dressing up more for work lately then I used to do. I used to always wear jeans....very casual and usually would wear dark shirts. Well now I'm dressing it bright colours and prints. The ladies at work are always making a big deal about my outfits saying how much they like them and that they want them. One of the ladies here who I always thought was so tiny (she works out every day for about 2 hours) said to the other ladies yesterday to back off as she's the only one who could fit into my clothes now. It made me feel good. Oh and I've even started wearing heels lately...I haven't worn heels in forever! Feels good.