Having a hard time buying smaller clothes

I'm having the hardest time buying clothes.   When I am in a store I first immediately go to the size 28 where I was before surgery.  I quickly realize this but for some reason I just can't seem to buy the size 20 that WILL fit me. I keep buying clothes in 22's or 24's so when I get home and put my new outfit on, its not falling off me, but it is too big.   I'm getting better a trying things on at the store but even when I do that I feel this size 22 is baggy and won't go to the size 20's because I am too scared they won't fit.  Its totally this head game I'm going through right now.   Also I'm having a hard time giving up my larger clothes.  The only thing that gives me comfort is that I'm passing them down to my sister  in the back of my mind I'm thinking if I were to need them again I know where there at.  I feel kind of silly about all this and was wondering if anyone else experiences this?  I'm guessing it just is a matter of time of adjusting to all the changes and I just have to force myself to try the smaller sizes.  

I am 18 months out and STILL find myself heading to the plus size department out of habit.  However, I quickly GET OUT of there, LOL STOP buying clothes that are too large for you.  It is just as easy to buy something too small and keep it around until it fits.  Make yourself do this.  And why aren't you trying clothes on???  That is the fun part now, getting into smaller sizes.  If you try something that is too small but you like it (and it is on sale), buy it. You'll fit into it sooner than later. Have you been shopping at thrift stores?  Savers got me through the sizes 24-16 days.  In fact, I STILL shop there because I love a bargain.   Don't let you head rule in this case.  Have fun and reward yourself with clothes that fit you. Let your sister buy her own stuff

It IS a hard thing to wrap your brain around, but it is also FUN when you realize you ARE smaller, and you CAN fit into sizes you never imagined wearing!   My loss has slowed down a great deal and I've only gone down 2 sizes in 5 months, but I have finally reached a point where I'll buy smaller sizes if I get a great deal - 'cuz I KNOW I'll get into them eventually!  I'm pretty solidly in 18's now - some are still too tight, but some are actually getting a bit loose, so it's just a matter of time.   I found a FANTASTIC pair of jeans at Wallyworld when I was a 22.  Bought another pair when I was in 20's, and since they were cheap ($9.97), I grabbed an 18 for "someday".  Before I got into the 18's, I saw the same pair in 16's on sale for $6!!  So I bought 'em ! Well, today I'm in the 18's, looking forward to the day I can get in the 16's!  My suggestion would be to go out and buy something in an 18, just on faith.  If your 22's are loose, then you are most likely a 20.  And before you know it, you'll be an 18.  Allow yourself those WOW moments of fitting into smaller sizes!!!  And have FAITH that you'll get there! MY issue now is that although I can wear most 14-16's on top, smaller seems to = SHORTER!  And I can't handle shorter clothes!  It's a frustration...  I HATE to think I'm going to have to spend the extra $$ in "tall girl" stores now, after having to spend the extra $$ in "plus size" stores all my life.  arghh....

they have stores for taller women?  I'm almost 5'8" so I'm basically average (but bordering on tall), but yeah, as my sizes get smaller, I find they get shorter, and I still have that lower roll that I need to cover/work with.

Yes, but they're few and far between.  And expensive.    I'm 5'11" in bare feet, so more often than not, "average" clothes are a tid bit shy for me.  When I find something that I feel is plenty long, it usually becomes one of my favorite things to wear!  Even my staff shirts - the 2XL womens is too bloody short, so I end up wearing XL mens.  I fit in L, but for the staff shirts, the XL camouflages the muffin top better 

I have sort of the same issues.  There are a few items that I just can not get rid of.  I can wear mostly 14 pants (depending on the brand/cut) and Large shirts but I have a pair of 22 capri pants that "do not fall off me" but they do need constant "adjustement" because if my shirt is a little short, I have to keep pulling them up to make sure they arent lower than my "under garments"!!! HAHAHA  You would think I would have deep sixed these a long time ago, I just wore then yesterday!  I also have some other items that I cant give up either.  I have trouble buying smaller stuff because everything is cut differently and it is hard to know just by looking.  I have been both pleasantly surprised to fit in to something that I held up and thought, NO WAY, and also have tried things on that I thought would for sure fit and I couldnt squeeze into them, and that is sooooo depressing!!  So I hate trying stuff on anymore.   I feel your pain Kathy, that's for sure.  I think I need a lobotomy!!!

As I began shrinking, I've pulled out all my "too big" stuff and bagged it and hauled it to the basement for swapkins, I've got my dresser sectioned off into fits, almost fits and too small yet. LOL every Saturday morning I try on the almost fits and not yet stuff just too see where I am. It's been fun moving things into the next drawer. You'll find your own niche. This is a time to celebrate... I agree with Linda... let those WOWS happen!

Great minds think alike -- I did the EXACT same thing.  It was sooooo much fun to move the drawers around!!!  Then, like you, put the outshrunk stuff in bags/boxes for the next swapkins and labeled the boxes in case someone had an emergency before that date. Now that I'm maintaining, I sort in the drawers by style -- jeans in one drawer (I've never had so many pairs of jeans), capri's, shorts, bumming sweats, etc.  Even more organized -- I now sort my closet by color !!

Glad to see I'm not the only one that does it! My hubs thinks I'm nuts. and that has been the funniest thing! before I had 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of denim capri's and one pair of kahki. NO shorts! and 6 or 7 shirts. now I've got LOTS of everythign LOL. I did learn at the last swapkins that labelilng the clothes will be good for next time. took forever to sort the stuff!

Oh the minds stuff sucks....I remember being sad because I really liked that shirt!!!  And I loved my soooo soft cords.   Put them in labeled bags and boxes and save for Swapkins later this fall.  They are still where you know where they are for now, your sister can always pick through the marked bags/boxes if she wants stuff, and when Swapkins is here, you pack them up, and go freebie shopping with the Swapkins clothes. Soon the clothes you've been handing down to your sister may be too small for her -- will she be upset because too small for her is sending a message from you?  Just curious..... And I would definitely try stuff on down a size from what you think you are in if you like them.  Clothing is numbered different and a pant in one style may fit in a larger or smaller size in another style.  It may be hard, it may be disappointing -- but maybe just for that month.  You WILL fit into them and you WILL be surprised a few times -- they actually fit now.   And if you don't want to buy stuff, send a message out to people on the board as they may have clothing they are saving for Swapkins you can use now.  Helps with the size dropping!!!  I gave lots of my stuff to gal pals that needed stuff but it was too spendy.  When they are done with it, they'll bring it to Swapkins or pass along to another shrinking person. Great job -- happy trying on!!! XXOO