Am looking for advice from all my fellow weight loss acquaintances...

I am thinking of buying myself a clothing item in a size I presently don't fit. That is, I might buy a skirt in size 18 (I'm currently size 22/24). Has anybody tried this? Does having this article of clothing give you a purpose? Something to aim for? I can see myself trying it on sometimes, seeing how tight it is, getting excited as it comes closer to fitting, etc.

Or should I look at it another way? Allow myself to buy this skirt when I reach my short-term goal of getting to size 18? That is, I'll buy the skirt when I get there, not before.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Marie

My personal opinion is to buy that skirt when you get there. It usually backfires for me if I buy it too small...it takes me so long to get there then.

Clothing has definetely been an encouraging reward for me- but I agree, I'd wait until you get down to that size. Do you have size 18's lying around the house right now? If you're like me, you have a full wardrobe in every size up to the one you're at now! What I do, is every month or so, I go through my closet and try on things that haven't fit in a long time, and get SO excited when I discover that an old pair of pants now fits, or that a jacket I could barely squeeze into before now gets just a little looser everytime I try it on. This will at least help you to guage your progress in reaching smaller sizes. Then, when you can fit comfortably into that size, go out and buy a brand *new* size 18 outfit to go along with the old 18's of yours that you can now wear.

For me, (having so many outfits in smaller sizes), it's reward enough just to be able to wear THOSE clothes again! (And spending money on a new outfit in that size just doesn't seem quite so appealing when I know that it won't be long before THAT outfit is too big to wear! I've decided that when I get down to 200 pounds (22 more pounds to go), in stead of a new outfit, I am going to get a new hairstyle (cut off some of these long locks that I've been hiding behind for five years!) and stop by the Lancome makeup counter for a new look.

Just some suggestions ;-)

Excellent advice Kelly_S & wcolleen.

You're right wcolleen, I do have clothing in smaller sizes in the back of my closet. I like your idea of having a session of 'try on' every once in a while. That would be fun and rewarding.

A new haircut or makeover is an excellent reward I think. Not too expenisve either really. I think the small rewards are going to be very important.

One thing I did for myself for motivation and inspiration was to actually hang the garment I wanted to get back into, out where I could see it - daily -. I already had a sexy hot pink dress that I desperately wanted to wear again. And periodically I would take it out and hang it for me to moon over.

It reminded me why I was working so hard at losing the weight... to get back to that gal who felt like an amazon in that dress. And yes I have become that gal again. It took me 8 plus months to get there... but get there I did.

You will too - Patch -

I lost a big chunck o' weight a couple-few years back, and when I'd lost 50 (down to 280), I got my belly button pierced. I'd always wanted it done and had also always associated it with thin women. It seemed a good reward.

My *big* reward this time will be getting either my eyebrow or nose pierced when I break 200.

I do know that clothing as a motivator doesn't work for me -- I just get sick of the dress I bought to motivate me -- begin to loathe it -- and undermine my own progress. Bleh!

Whatever you find that works for you -- go for it and ENJOY the rewards as they come!

SInce I have spent most (okay, maybe ALL) of my 20's in college I did not have the flexible wardrope for work clothing/grown up clothes so at one point I actually paniced and stoped losing weight the first time I started dieting in 1997 so when I started the second time full force in 1999 I started shoping at resale clothing stores so I could aquire a wardrope a size or two down so I didn't have to worry. I still shop at the resale places now- I figure I am not going to stay in any one size long enough to really need (or afford) brand new clothes for the most part.

It has actually helped at times- last December I did not realize how much I had really lost until I pulled out a pair of size 20 jeans to I had picked up- I was going to see how much I needed to lose to wear them when all of sudden they zipped and fit like they were made for me (now in case you are wondering how I didn't notice I had been wearing loose fitting pants for months due to a knee brace and multiple knee surgeries- I just kept pulling the draw strings tighter and never realized just what size I really was). If you look around you may also find consignment clothing shops that carry really good quality work clothes- I have saved a lot of money on my professional wardrope there as well as having made money by selling off suits that were too big.

Christine

Hi,
I bought a silver charm bracelet and every time I lose 5 pounds, I buy a charm. It's a good record of my accomplishments.
Good luck with your weight loss and continued success!
234/thinner

Ha, ha. This is great hearing what everybody uses as a reward. It definitely seems like a reward system is the way to go. I will however, take Patch's suggestion and hang up a smaller size piece of clothing I used to fit into on my closet door. I'm sure I'll fixate but hopefully in a good way.

Thanks all!!! You're so helpful.

Marie

PS - I can hardly wait to fit into a bikini (and feel good about it) ... it's been a long time comin'

I agree with the others, it really IS great fun working your way "down" the sizes in your closet! But it's great to have new stuff, too. What I did, 103 pounds ago, was buy a really cool Southwestern-style belt that was way too small. Hung it out where I could see it, and tried it on from time to time. (Never wore belts when I was size 24, btw.) The day it finally fit, wow, what a feeling! And then as I had to take it up a notch, and another notch ... well, let's just say it was very motivating, and that no matter how worn out that belt gets, I'll never throw it out. (I reached goal two weeks ago, and now wear a size 10.)
So, Marie, enjoy your journey! I think setting short term goals is a great idea, and I wish you the best; you can do this!
Regards,
Jan

I am a real clothes horse; and I do not feel good about myself in clothes that do not fit. I find that there are a number of discount type stores and outlet malls that have nice new clothes (usually off season) at very reduced prices. It allows me to buy a few new items in my new size. If you buy an item in a smaller size than you wear, it is very easy to pass right by it; cause it never fits right and you have wasted your money.

Janet Mae,
How wonderful that you reached goal! Congratulations. It's people like you who inspire the rest of us to find our way and keep on going! Weigh to go. You must be very proud.

My big motivator while I was losing weight was buying a new pair of jeans, always one size smaller than my current size. and i would try them on every so often and it just felt so good to get to finally wear them, and then to watch them get all big and loose on me. so now, of course, i have this whole collection of gap jeans, size 14, 12, 10, 8, and now 6. Well worth it, though, since whenever I start to get discouraged I just go put on those 14s and remember that they used to be so tight the buttons would cut into my stomach.

I think everybody's different in what motivates them, and what the best reward is...and it may even change depending how close you get to goal.

loving those size 6 jeans,
Heather

187.4/134.2/125