Hello all!

I recently stumbled upon a cute pair of skinny jeans online that I totally want. The dilemma is do I buy them at the size I am now? Or should I buy them at the size I would like to be and use them as my motivation to stay on track with my calories and exercise routine?

Has any one found success using clothing as a reward (something you will eventually fit into, hopefully) as a great motivator for staying on track? Or should I wait to buy them when I do lose the weight?

I like to use smaller clothing as rewards, in a sense, but I typically only buy ONE size down from my current size, and I never ever ever spend a lot of money on something that doesn't fit me right now. Most of my "reward" clothing comes from Goodwill or eBay.

It's nice because I can try on a pair of my smaller pants every week to see if I've lost anything (another form of measurement!) and it helps me to keep my wardrobe stocked as I go along. In fact, I'm wearing a pair of my motivation pants today! I guess that means I need to buy the next size down now

So, I wouldn't advise you to go crazy and buy something 3-4 sizes too small nor would I advise you to drop a lot of money. But if those pants are on sale and in the next size down, do it!

Congratulations on wearing those motivation pants!

I guess I will but a pair but halfway between my size now and my goal size.. they are on sale for half price and cute! A mini-goal (hopefully) victory! And if they still have the pants when I finally get to my goal weight maybe I will buy another pair C:

Have you been your goal weight before (as an adult)? You may find that the size isn't right at your goal weight, everyone wears the pounds differently. I agree with only buying down a size or two.

I would greet with the others. I bought a size 10 pair of rock n republic jeans on clearance for 20$. They're long like me. However I will have to be at goal weight or possibly past it to fit into them. they've been collecting dust for 3 months already. I'm likely looking at next yer before I fit into them. I recommend size down. It takes me 30 lbs to drop a size because of my height and butt. Everyone is different.

I have a pair of size 8 Old Navy capris that I paid $4 for and I want to wear them some day even if it's only once.

I have never been a size 8, it's all a fantasy dream. The lowest I could get to was a 10 and it was vanity sized clothes I'm sure.

But for $4, a girl can dream of being an 8!

I'd never invest more than that as even when clothes are the right size, the cut/length/waist varies so much on styles.

I did all the time. But beware, there will come a point where you buy a pair of pants you will never fit into.

I have at least 5 pairs that will never, ever fit me.

I've done it many times and it has never worked as motivation. I just don't respond to this kind of motivation it seems. I've kept things in my closet that I keep hoping I'd fit into and now when I look at them they're not even in style anymore! So I made a big bag for goodwill. I no longer keep clothes in my closet that don't fit me, it's been demotivating if anything.

I don't buy stuff that's WAY too small becuase it can be discouraging if I'm not losing fast enough or if I never reach that size, which might happen. I did however recently buy a GORGEOUS dress on Sale that's very sexy and I was able to fit in it but it does not look GOOD on me right now due to some flab coming out of places it shouldn't haha. But I felt that since at least I could fit it ON... it's a good size to strive for to fit WELL in soon. I'm thinking it will look good one me once I reach my ideal weight. So it can be good. if it's a good deal But it's important we have clothes that fit us well right NOW too.. we gotta be comfortable. I know that if I wear clothes that are too tight, I feel gross... if I wear clothes that fit well (or a bit too big now), it makes me feel BETTER and motivates me to keep going.

Physically or mentally as an adult?
At around 21/22 I was wearing size 0 pants, now at 25 I am wearing a loose size 11.

My goal would be to be a size 3, because when I was restricting my calories to lose beyond that I only ended up starting to binge eat my way (and weight) up to what it is now.

I ordered the pants in a size 7... And even though I do not have them yet, the thought of them certainly has kept me on track the past two days! Last night I maintained a good caloric deficit, didn't eat crap and got a good nights sleep for my holiday workout this morning- 2 hours and 15 minutes on the elliptical!

Booya!

Definitely don't give up on those dreams! I doubt they are just a fantasy, you will reach that goal one day!

And for $4, who can go wrong?!

I know what you mean, 42 lbs down for me and my same pants still fit and I am still wearing the same 2XL shirts (XL way too small still.)

On topic, I was given a leather jacket and when I got it, I could not even zip it up. Now I can zip it up, but still tight. Probably won't fit until 225 lbs. It's a very nice (>$300) jacket so I'm looking forward to wearing it and it helps keep me motivated.

I'm not against buying goal clothes IF they're on sale

Hello! Newbie here.

The last time I tried losing weight, Old Navy was having a crazy sale, so I bought myself new blue skinnies a size down, and a pair of "fantasy" white skinny jeans in a size 2! I eventually fit into the ones a size down (even though they don't fit anymore), but I don't know if I'll get to the white skinnies ever! It's okay, though, I still take them out occasionally for inspiration.

This time around, I'm sticking to mostly rewarding myself with things like shoes and nail polish that I can enjoy right now, and when I lose the weight in the future. That way I don't feel bad if the weight doesn't come off right away, as long as I'm rewarding myself for positive changes and good behavior.

I just don't have the budget to buy clothes unless I need them. I have sizes ranging from 14 to 26 in my closet, so there's not been the need. In about 15 to 20 lbs I'll need a size I don't have. I'll probably go to Goodwill to get some things to hold me over until I settle at my maintenance weight.

Even if I had the disposable income I don't think buying smaller clothes would motivate me. I find trying to squeeze into something that doesn't fit only depresses me. More often than not I put off even trying on a smaller size until it's kinda loose.