Shopping.....

How many post ops love shopping for clothes now??? I do!! I love trying stuff on and having it fit! What a nice feeling and I think clothes are cheaper in smaller sizes too. My husband doesn't like my doses of retail therapy but I love it!! In fact I think I'll have some therapy today!! lol Maybe not quite what Theresa had in mind with therapy but one I actually get something tangible out of!! lol

sheri, there isn't anything wrong with shopping as therapy.. it can be a great comfort as well as a HUGE motivater.. so girl SHOP away.. and if in the right shops it can be cheaper than an actual therapist.. LOL I don't have the money to shop much.. I am still shopping in value villiage.. I have only bought 3 out fits brand new.. but I do have another reason for that too.. money is the biggest my my other is that I am still striving for that size 7/6.. so in my dillusional mind I am punnishing myself by not bying new clothes.. and in my body immage (what's that called dis something?? where you see your body MUCH worse than it really is?) I still don't like how anything looks except for a supper tight pair of jeans that actually gives me an ass that isn't hanging on the floor.. this is silly as silly can be and I know that.. I wear mostly size 10.. some 8's, some 12s depending on who made it.. my levi 501's are 31 waist and 33 long.. (through out all the clothing size changes the industry has done I know for a fact that levi 501s have not been tampered with as this is the size my x has worn all his freaken life.. TALL and SKINNY) so I should be HAPPY where I am right?? nope not me!! thats why I worry that "If" I ever hit that 7/6 size it won't be good enough either.. that's why "I" need help!! have fun shopping!! Theresa

Oh girl - you need to let yourself be "bad" and buy some stinking clothing. I think the name for that disorder is Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I think the thing is, if you buy the clothing and you look good in the clothing, you might find that you will quit looking at yourself so harshly. Maybe. I say that because I'm not there yet and I realize I'm still quite large. Looking at pictures helps though. And don't you hate that the sizes changed so much? You can't really seem to trust what you came to know before, you know? I mean, really - I want to be size 10 from 20 years ago, not today...where a 10 is more like a 12. Dina

hey dina, yes body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is exaclty what I was trying to think of.. yes, pictures help tremdously.. also if you put a before and after on your fridge helps too.. (with snacking/grazing) I do hate that the clothing industry changed sizes on us.. that's why I mentioned the 501's.. they havn't changed those.. and that is also why a size 10 today is NOT good enough becuase I know it's not the size 10 of yester-year.. as for clothing in general.. I am more citical of my self now then I was at size 22/24.. this fat poket here and that over hang there (Mostly skin mind you) drives me freaken wonky.. plus I am also dealing with the effects of my skin disease making the BDD even worse. like having no breasts.. can't even fill an "A" cup.. I didn't care when I was fat.. now I CARE. but I don't see this as a total "bad" thing either.. (trying to look on the positve side of a negative problem) see if I just gave in and said oh this is good enough then I would become lazy and quit striving for more.. probably gain all my weight back and so fourth.. but on the flip side (100% gemini LOL) I worry that it will NEVER be good enough.. one more size change and I will go buy a new outfit.. brand new!!! LOL Theresa

I'm early out....but I have BIG plans for shopping. I've been looking quite a bit, but not yet have to/ready to buy. I did look for a new outfit to wear to a wedding in a couple weeks, went to my old usuals (Catherine's and The Avenue and I didn't like a thing, so now I'm going to try Ross. Catherine's seems like old lady stuff to me now and The Avenue didn't have anything but pants. I'm sure I'm going to be looking for "trendier" things as I get smaller. Enjoy it! Michele

Hi Michele! If you live any where near the Clack. Town center, go into TORRID! It is a plus size store with some CUTE dresses and skirts. They are alittle grunge on the music, but I got a darling cherry dress there, then took it back cuz it was too big!! They might have some besides the CTC locations, but I dont know! Good luck!! Sarah

Thanks....yes, I've gotten quite a few items there....love that place! I've got a great black evening dress that I can't wait to wear. I bought it on clearance for 20 bucks and it was just a bit snug, so I haven't worn it yet. I told my SO...when this fits, we're going out! lol Right now...I need something just a bit tamer for a wedding, and it needs to not be too expensive since I won't probably wear it for long...that's why I'm heading to Ross. In about 5 minutes, actually! Thanks though! Michele

Also wanted to mention Deb's in Lloyd Center....all geared towards the 20 year olds but I like it...trendy and they do have quite a few dresses and skirts. Hmmm, it's got me thinking I need to go there! And they're are pretty inexpensive. Not the highest quality mind you, but cheap for temporary is a good thing. See ya! Michele

I sooooooooooo want to never have to shop in the "women's" section again. I won't step foot into Catherine's if I can keep from it. I'm not sure what you are looking for Michele, but I just tried to give my friend a really pretty dress that is size 24 and she brought it back because she didn't think she would wear it much. It's a slim skirt, more fitted looking. It has an overcoat styling with double breasted buttons down the front in a uniform style (think Nutcracker here...). It is a burgandy with violet undertone....not iridescent but smooth and more of a sense of the other side being that color and this just seeping through. It has a burgandy or deep blue (can't remember!) velvet collar and the buttons are the same velvet covered with brass accents. I hardly ever wore it but I loved it. It fit me just right for a short period of time, and it was too warm to wear while I was that size this summer. It is more of a winter dress with long sleeves. It comes to about the knee in length. Anyway, let me know if you are interested and maybe I'll get a picture fired off for you. I'm going to find a new home for it soon since it will be the right season for it. In fact, I have a ton of dresses from size 26 to I think 22 that I need to unload soon as well. Dina

Thank you so much for the offer, but I think I'm set! I found a really nice pink sweater set w/black trim. It's adorable and very me! The outfit you described sounds really beautiful! I hope you can find someone closer who can put it to good use. I've had a bunch of 18's given to me that are all upper quality and perfect for fall/winter, I'm looking forward to getting into those. With the exception that it's almost all pants....I'm not a pants person, except for casual. Take care down there! Michele