-->

getting rid of the "fat" clothes

armywife521
on 7/6/11 11:57 am - Killeen, TX
Well I did it. Today I got rid of my old "fat" clothes. I thought it would be cause for celebration, but I found it to be overwhelming and very emotional. I came to realize that they were a crutch giving me permission to fall back into old habits and feel "safe". But now, thanks to the Lap-band and allot of hard work on my part, I am currently down 94 pounds and on my way to a very much healthier happier me with NO crutches!!!! Has anyone else dealt with this??
 Proud to be an Army Wife    
sfnativewm
on 7/6/11 12:24 pm

I keep putting it off.  LOL feel safe in the baggy clothes!   Thanks for your post!  I need to begin to give them away!

~Ann~
Band removed and feeling alive with energy!

(deactivated member)
on 7/6/11 12:54 pm - IL
Yes, GET RID OF THEM unless you plan to wear them again.  I haven't looked back!  It was hard.  Like part of your identity, those clothes made you feel lots of different emotions, those pants used to make you look smaller than you actually were, that top you wore to a memorable event, and so on.  But there is no sense in keeping anything but photos and maybe 1 fat outfit for FUN later.  It's great and normal to have those emotions, but time to move on with your life and know that you don't need that stuff and maybe someone else could use them.  Kudos for coming this far!  MAJOR NSV!
vlp1968
on 7/6/11 9:51 pm
Personally, I was thrilled to get rid of my fat clothes. I had so many sizes I was able to loose 107 pounds and buy only 1 pair of pants and 1 shirt for a vacation. I didn't even need them. I think it's important to get rid of clothes that are too big- you will never need them again! Congrats on needing smaller sizes!
PaintingChef
on 7/6/11 10:27 pm, edited 7/6/11 10:27 pm - TN
I did my first round of closet cleaning last month and it was a little more emotional than I thought it would be. Despite my size, I've always been really into clothing and fashion and there were some items in that consignment pile that I really loved. But as my husband kept saying... "If you loved it then, you can find something similar again, just smaller!" The way I'm looking at it, getting rid of my fat clothes is just a license to do some shopping!

But in all seriousness... I thought long and hard about HOW I would get rid of my clothes and the conclusion that I came to was that I would do it gradually. When I grew out of a size, I would get rid of those clothes, trying everything on as I went to SEE my success and remember how they used to fit as oppossed to how they fit now. (Besides, everyone knows that sizes are subjective. I'm currently wearing things ranging from an 18 to a 24. But all those size 26 and 28 are GONE!!) It's hard and emotional and you do realize that it's kind of a crutch to have them there when they are too big as a fall-back in the event of failure. But what I've decided is that PREPARING for failure is the same thing as PLANNING for failure and I'm done expecting myself to fail.

Congratulations on the clean out! You've earned it! Along with lots of new pretties to fill that closet back up!!
My blog:  PaintingChef

        
sandraleanne
on 7/6/11 10:30 pm - TX
I kept one set to remind me what I used to be and how far I have come. The rest went to a womans shelter here in town, and some to a friend in need.
    
LisaCultJam
on 7/7/11 12:40 am
I mourned getting rid of mine.  There was no way to keep it without having overwhelming clutter.  I felt like someone was asking me to get rid of all I accumulated in life.  It was hoarding and it was a little crazy. 

Purging my closets turned out to be very freeing.  It gave me the ability to organize my room, my new wardrobe and my thoughts.  Now I live like the people on TV and magazines with a beautiful well organized closet.  LOL!!  

Now I get rid of the stuff without blinking.
        2011 goal                                  It works if you work it!  
             
PurplHaze
on 7/7/11 12:42 am
Hi there;
I can't wait to be where you are!  Even though it is early days for me (still on pureed food****ep looking at my closet wondering which pieces I will be able to get rid of first and what I would replace them with (love to shop!).  I do understand that attachment though, there are lots of psychological processes that we have to go through as we lose weight and adjust to our new sizes and new bodies.   For me one of the hardest things will be parting with some of my work cloths. I have a Senior position in a company and over the years have purchased a lot of higher end business attire that wasn't particularly cheap.  However, I have found a group that gives clothes to women who are restarting their careers after experiencing difficult life cir****tances (such as abusive relationships etc) and plan to donate to these groups rather than go the consignment route. I figure if I can give back a little and look at it as a donation, I won't feel so bad about the money I spent on them.

Congrats on letting go and on your very successful weight loss.
Suzanne K.
on 7/7/11 12:50 am - NJ
 I have been hanging on to the same stretch silky black pants for years.....Even with holes, I stitch them up. I keep them and wear them even though they bag off me. I can even lift the stretchy waist band up to my shoulders. I look so silly. I have not gotten up the "nerve" to toss them. I'm just not ready......Hopefully one day.....but for now, I wear them even though they bag off me and give me no shape.....



HW 276
CW 217
GW 165


Lin_2
on 7/7/11 5:54 am
I'm still in the early phases, so I haven't been faced this time with getting rid of a wardrobe. I think it'll be hard. It was hard twice before when I went through a big loss. I remembered the times I wore them. But I agree with Melissa, I will rely on memories instead.
I know I'm probably going to resist more this time since I've been down this road, but I really have the sense that this will be the last time I travel it! (In the past I didn't have a band). One time I did keep my clothes in storage (ie. Mom's house). When I regained, and opened the boxes, the clothes were outdated and not to my taste anymore. It was a waste of space no matter how you look at it!
Good luck!
        
×