Thoughts of regaining / not parting with things

I guess this post is mostly to the folks at goal or near goal but certainly not limited to that. This is about clothing. I did give away all my big size clothing. Gave alot to friends, local folks at support group and some donated to a local shelter. But the clothing that I've last grew out of. I didn't give that away. Why? Fear. Or it is practicality. Statistics show that we will experience some weight gain after getting down to our lowest. I just feel that I cannot dare give away my size 12, 14 and 16 sizes. I am a renowned packrat (why else did I have clothing dating back to 1981). I think I always had visions of fitting back into things no matter how out of date. But at this point... I think it is a fear of regaining. Knowing how easy a 10 to 20 lb gain can come on and needing bigger clothing. So is it fear or practicality? Anyone else? I don't subscribe to the XXX lbs gone forever. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for the weight I've lost to stay off my body for the rest of my life but I've been up and down the scale far too often for good and not good reasons that I cannot honestly say the weight is gone forever. I really truly hope so. Kathy

Regaining weight scares the bejeebes out of me. I have nothing larger than a size 16 except one or two pairs of pants that are smaller 18s. One of the girls in my support group is about 5'3" and got down to a size 6 and is now wearing a size 14 again. That scares the hell out of me. I want to get to a size 12 jeans and I'd like to stay there - I expect I will get there and probably bounce back to a 14, that's just the norm that I've seen from people way way out from surgery. It's like our bodies are on the losing track and gets to a point and says, "Hey, we went a little too far" - even my surgeon says that when you get to your lowest, you will likely gain about 10-15 pounds back. Of course he says that it doesn't HAVE to happen, but he's seen it enough in his 30 years or so of doing this surgery to know that it's more likely than not. I have to tell you, about being a pack-rat, my mother still has the dress that I graduated high school from in 1987, but what's interesting is that it's a size 16. It would fit my bottom half but fall off of my top half. So I guess I'm the same weight (approx) that I was when I graduated, but it's just in different places, LOL! I think you're being a bit practical, but I wouldn't keep any sizes that are more than one size larger than what I am now. Michelle

If I gain past a size 8, Im going to be in serious trouble. For years and years I kept my fat clothes and had sizes ranging from a 14-24 and I got rid of all of them. I have even since got rid of the size 10s and 12s. I didnt think about the regaining part. When it gets cold again I will have to buy new pants anyways, I have one pair, and 3 pairs of shorts. Thats sad but thats about the extent of my wardrobe. I have shirts out the gazoo though. Im just going to have to be very discipline with myself or pray I win a shopping spree lol. I know I could actually fit into a size 6 in the waist but these notorious legs of mine arent ready for a 6. Candy

Jamie, I struggled constantly with fluids for the first 8 weeks, and finally my doc and nutritionist told me it was more important to drink than to eat, so if having to wait before and after meals is decreasing the amount of fluids you need, cut back your meals so you can get in more fluids! You don't want to get dehydrated! Karyn

Kathy, I've given away everything that is too big at this point. I plan to continue doing that until I get to an "acceptable" size, then I plan to use my clothes as measurements of where I'm at. All my life I think part of the reason I've failed at diets is because I kept the bigger sizes....I don't know...I've still got a long way to go...my opinion may change. But, believe me, I'm very afraid of regaining, especially because I'm losing slow compared to others. Lori 384/245/168

I am now a size twelve, but like you, have kept and stored most of my 14's. It is truly from the fear of regaining and having nothing to wear. I really hope that doesn't happen, but looking at my history before WLS, it's no wonder I am saving them!

Maybe you could just say something along the line of I just cleaned my closet out and wanted to know if you want any of the clothes I dont want anymore. You dont have to say that they are to small. Or clean out some other stuff to and tell them you are getting rid of it and if they want to look at it before you take it to the church..... or if your not comfortable with that just donate it somewhere.... I am glad you are doing so good. love marie

Sounds like WOW moment to me Ginger! Congratulations! Where is a *hug* emoticon when you need one!? I have had other SMO's offer me their 'too big for me now' clothes. I didn't find it insulting, but for me personally, it is extremely depressing. I turn down their offers because of that. Secondly, I have been every size from a 13 to a 5x. I have tons of clothes in my closets that I can get back into as I lose weight anyway. Enjoy your moment Ginger! You deserve it! Huggs, Ruth (aka Twinnie)

Ginger I'm not sure what to tell you about the clothes because I've been wondering about mine as well. I'm not out of mine yet but I was thinking I'd offer them to my Aunt but I don't know how she'd take it. I've always been the biggest in my family and now people are scrambling trying to lose weight..it's almost sickening. As for the dressing rooms, my tears have scattered on the floors of dressing rooms from Georgia to Texas!! I would stand there staring at myself and wondering how in the hell did I let this happen??!! I always had to shop in sections that were way to old for me and it was so depressing. I've never,ever been able to wear young trendy clothes. It would always look so good in the store window and then on me it was like a nightmare!! My husband stood faithfully outside of each dressing room door waiting for the downpour and the frustration. The sad thing about it is the sadness was quickly ended by a trip to Chic-fil-a or McDees and all that "how did this happen to me"...flew right out the window, for that one moment I felt good again. I always joke I'm going to be a "hoochie" when I lose this weight but really I think I'll still cover my arms and things that I don't think are attractive. My dream is to be able to shop in any store that I want, not just the two that I currently shop in. (via the computer) Take care, Jamie

thank you thank you thank you for your response! sometimes i feel like there is something so wrong with me but it's good to know i'm not the only one who had this problem. i'm with you on the whole food thing...i like to eat still. i make better food choices but i by no means ever skip a meal. i am thinking of cutting myself back to 1 hour of cardio..aerobics/elliptical machine and then 30-45 minutes of toning/weight lifting a day. i think that's ok...not overboard but enough to maintain. my trouble is i go onto fitday.com and fill in my food then fill in the exercise and i expect that they have to match up or i'll gain. i'm sure that's not right but that's the way my mind thinks. i know you have to burn more than you consume to lose but i don't know how to determine too many calories for not working out constantly. i right now always eat less than 1500 calories...here lately it's been less than 1200. see and i don't want to starve myself either. geez...i miss the good old day when i didn't care what i ate....not really but it was a lot easier to just eat and not count everything!! this is hard work! thanks again.