Just wanted to let you know I totally know where you're coming from, and I could have easily written your post!

I'm actually a comfortable size 16, but still find myself buying 18's that are too big. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't have to wear plus sizes anymore. I have shopped in the "regular" sizes a few times now, but I totally feel like an imposter. Maybe when I'm not in the biggest "regular" sizes (i.e., XL tops), I will feel like I have finally made the transition. Still, there is definitely a difference between a plus 1X and a regular XL (or even regular XXL...regular XXL does NOT equal plus size 2X). Same thing with plus size 18 pants and regular size 18 pants. It's so confusing!!

Yep, still getting over that fear myself. I have major anxiety and actually loved Lane Bryant because it was a small store with limited choices and nice people who didn't judge! Throw me into a mall and I am a total loss! So many choices! And yes, Cherrypie, I do expect alarms to go off! LOL! "Buzzzzzzz...too small, you're deluded.....Buzzzzz"

It is starting to get better now.

You should be so very proud of yourself! I think that you are just teriffic!

I am the same way. I don't need to shop in the plus size section anymore and I know which stores I am comfortable shopping in, but there are some stores in the mall who have my size but I am just too scared to go in them. I'm afraid people will look at me as "the fatty in the room" and I'll feel like an a** for being there. Maybe one day I can step into them without hyperventilating and take my time looking at clothing instead of doing a quick circle around the store and then exiting almost immediately.

16 is such an awesome, but such an absolutely difficult size. You feel too big for the "normal" shops. You're not *really* big enough for the big girl places.

I remember when I went from the large end of normal clothes to the small end of plus-sized. I can't wait to have the problem of shopping both places again.

Exactly. 16/18 is kind of a "no man's land."

I also remember my transition from large regular to small plus size clothes. So weird to be back there again, but in the opposite direction!

Congrats! I am about 40 pounds away from a size 16...save them for me!