Help! I can't stop shopping!!!

The shopping bug has bit me! Ahhhhgggghhh! I've gone from a 30/32 in tops and bottoms to a 18/20 in some tops and 22 in bottoms. I have never been able to wear cute stuff...even from the big girl stores...and now I can. I can't stop!! And the worse thing is knowing that I may get to wear some of these things once or twice before I can't wear them again! I mean we're talking hundreds of dollars of clothing (Lane Bryant, Avenue, Torrid) and shoes, and accessories oh and not to mention the unmentionables lol I tried shopping at goodwills and consignment shops - its just not happening...big girl sizes are hard to find in those types of stores. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel so guilty afterwards but I can't help myself LOL April 366/275/somewhere below 200

I buy only when needed, and only about 3 outfits at a time, I do the mix and match. It's hard for me right now trying to find shorts that fit as I am able to get into size 14-16, and 18 in tops. Most of the clothes now are more for the fall and warmth. It's too hot to think of winter clothes right now. I don't shop at the mall, can't afford it, plus my immune system is too low to be in crowded places. I wish you joy in shopping, but I have found I got to wear things longer then just 2-3 times. There's a lot of yard sales going on lately, check them out and save you some money. Better to buy used clothing for now then buy brand new ones and have to get rid of them. I buy just 3 outfits that can be interchanged so it looks like I have more then just 3 pieces. I go to thrift stores and find what I need then I can always give it back to them after I have gotten some wear out of the clothes. I can't afford to constantly go shopping like I would like. So I watch the papers for big yard sales. Plus my best friend has a ton of clothes boxed up for me as she's lost a lot of weight, clothes that she got at the yard sales and flea markets that look brand new. She has an eye for taste and we both love her taste in clothes. I'm blond and fair skinned, she's a redhead with fair skin so we can both wear the same colors except for purple and yellow. So once I lose a few more pounds and get rid of some of the excess skin especially in the dunlapped over tummy and saddle bags, I'll be able to start trying on her clothes. Oh it's great getting skinny. Have fun, Kathy 277.5/182/130 or less surgery/current/goal

Hey April, I had to do a ton of shopping a few months ago and found a lot of stuff at Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart. I got almost all my basics from there and then hit the clearence racks at Lane Bryant, Avenue and other stores like that. Wear just one "cute thing" and the rest basics and you will get a lot morew clothing for your money. When you go shopping and find something, ask them to hold it for a day or so and see if you still "have to have it". Most of the time, I forget that I asked them to hold something for me. Try taking only as much cash with you as you intend to spend. Or a friend and have her hold your purse and not give it back under any cir****tances. I got a few skirts with elastic waists and when they get to big, I get a drawstring put in them and get a bit more wear out of them and will be able to at least get to the next season. And things that still fit but are the wrong colors, i.e. too summery, how about dyeing them another color. My hot pink peasent skirt is going to become purple in a few weeks. -Maria

April I live not too far away. Save some after you shrink out of them. I will need some after surgery and if you want to sell them, let me know.

April, here's something I also do, when checking out the clearance racks, I bought in a smaller size. Then when I got to that stage, I had new clothes that I would be able to wear longer. I also informed my family, if they outgrown something, and it might fit, send it to me. My mom and sister are bigger then I am in size, so, when they clean out their closets, I get their clothes. It has really saved me money especially since I only get a Social Security Check, and My VA disability check. They don't pay enough to go on big shopping sprees only to just get rid of them a month or so later. Remember we're like infants learning how to eat, and although babies grow out of their clothes as they get bigger, we out grow them as we get smaller. It's pointless to constantly buy new clothes, when there are a lot of good used ones out there. Don't forget our clothing exchange right on this site. Leave the checkbook and cards at home. Love ya, Kathy

I feel really guilty about buying anything, cause I know it wont fit for very long. I have been trying to make it on the clothes that I have that were once "too small" but unfortantly I didnt keep all the sizes I was going up to my biggest weight... I would get discausted and throw things away. School's about to start at the end of Aug. and I know that I will need to shop then, i'm gonna try target... and have you guys tried Deb's? They always have clearance stuff and its cuter and younger than some of the other stores!!!

My daughter had given me a gift card to Lane Bryant before my surgery. I finally decided about 2 months ago that I needed to spend it before nothing in the store fit me anymore. I hit their clearance rack and got 4 pair of pants (2 size 18 & 2 size 16); two office/dressy blouses (size 16) that will look good through a couple of size changes; and a couple of cami's. I'm in the 18 pants now and the 16s are not too far away. I've also been fortunate in that just as I ran out of sizes in my closet, a friend at church came up and told me she had some dresses she thought I might be able to wear and a lady at work just brought me a box of clothes in size 16 and some smaller. Even my daughter-in-law and my daughter have called with clothes they have either undergrown or have had given to them that they thought I would want. Thank God for friends and children! They're keeping this momma from being nekkid! I am going to have to buy a winter coat though. My old ones are size 24 & 26 and now fit like tents.LOL Hopefully I'll be able to find one in a consignment shop.