Do you ever feel uncomfortable shopping in the 'regular' sizes?

I'm just 4 months post op now and I'm starting to be able to buy clothes from the regular sized sections of the stores now, but I feel awkward when I'm shopping through that area of the store, rather than in the Plus Sized, or Women's Sizes areas.  I feel like I don't really belong there or something... it's so juvenile when I  think about it this way, but I can't help feeling like I'm in the wrong place when I look at clothes in the Misses sections. Some of that stuff still doesn't fit me quite right, but so much of it dose now, and I feel great getting it home and putting it on to realize YAY I bought regular clothes.  Now I just have to get over this 'odd' feeling when I'm actually shopping!

Holley, I know exactly what you're talking about, yesterday I was in Sams, looking thru the stack of Jeans for a 14, and was obsessing the whole time that people were probably looking at me thinking, "they don't carry jeans in plus sizes".....and mentally I was getting ready with the response, "I'm shopping for a friend".......btw, I didn't find my size. Nancy

I feel the same way.. in fact, I usually visit the plus sized section first.  After walking around for a few minutes I finally think that I cannot wear any of that stuff and it is really futile for me to be there.  Then I stray over to the regular sized section and feel like people are thinking "Hey fat girl.. the plus stuff is over there.."  It is werid.  I agree fully with you!  :)

I feel the same way.  I keep waiting for the salesperson to walk over and say, "Ma'am, the plus sizes are over there..." It'll become more natural over time I'm sure.  I do love the "regular" sizes though. Take care. Ellen

Hi Holley -

I think we all experience that feeling to one degree or another. I know that I still look at the plus sized clothes as I pass by ... every once in a while, I'll even take a 14W that I think is really cute to see if it will fit. It doesn't. I'm also probably more "mentally" comfortable with some of styles in the plus sizes that are generally cut to "camoflage" where misses sizes are more like to be more "fitted" or be sleaveless.

I know it's hard to shake loose of what's been "comfortable" for so many years. I was shopping with my daughter at Kohl's this weekend and we drifted into the plus size dept. when she said "Mom! What are you doing? You know neither one of us can wear this stuff!" I told her that old habits die hard sometimes. Her response was "It's time to have a funeral for that habit and bury it for good. You aren't ever going to fit into plus sizes again."

I also must say that I still see a pretty chubby girl looking back at me in the mirror. I'm only about 7 or 8 lbs heavier than my daughter, but she's young and toned ... I feel like a look like a sack of potatoes ... all lumpy and bumpy. I think that some of it is true ... the extra skin, etc. does make a difference, but I honestly think that a lot of it is in my head. I see a chubster while everyone else tells me how slender I'm looking. I think it really does take time for our heads to catch up with the incredible changes in our bodies. I also think that we compare ourselves to folks who have never been obese ... and honestly, we tend to have some body "structure" issues that they don't have ... even if they had huge twins.

Just keep going to the misses department. You'll find yourself more comfortable over time.

Barb

Well I'm sorry that so many of us have felt this way , but I sure am glad I'm not alone! Thanks for all your replies ladies.  {{{Hugs}}}

I am almost 1 1/2 years out and still feel funny sometimes... I am currently a size 8/10 and am ok going in most stores... some places - like the Guess store... I feel like they look at me like I am huge and would never fit into the clothes (which BTW are cut super small, I have never dared to try anything on but like to look - they do carry shoes and purses too!).

I also find myself grabbing for bigger sizes. A month or so ago I went coat shopping and started with a 10... I thought it looked a little bit... grabbed an 8... still too big... grabbed a 6 and it fit great. I went and tried on another 6 just to make sure... and sure enough it fit as well. I hold up sizes sometimes and they look sooooooo small - but hey thats what I wear :-)

I get overwhelmed with the number of options that are available in the smaller sizes. We have so many choices now. I no longer have to settle for something that just looks ok. I can keep looking and actually find something that looks good. Belinda

There IS so much more available isn't there?? And you know that is a shame. With such a large percentage of Americans being obese you would think they'd give us more options!

I know that overwelmed feeling though. It's like there's too much to look at sometimes!

I know exactly what you mean!!!  I bought a size 16/18 sweater at Wal Mart a couple of weeks ago from the misses section and didn't bother to try it on because I knew it wouldn't fit me yet but I loved the color and thought, oh well, I'll shrink into it!!  Well, when we got back to my house, my Mom said go try on your sweater.  It freaking fit!!!  But it was tight and I just knew she was going to comment on it being too small.  But when I walked out to show her, she was like "oh, it looks so good on you!"  I about died!!!  I asked her if she thought it was too tight and she said no that it fit me good and was form fitting like it was made to be!!!!  I have only worn it twice because I still feel a little funny and think that people are looking at me thinking look at that fat girl trying to fit into a smaller size!!!  Hopefully this feeling will pass because the smaller sized clothes do seem to come in more colors and styles than the plus sized clothing.