Question:
how to dress for work while losing all the weight?
I'm hoping to have a VSG in May or June (pre-op appts this week) and since my Dr. says the 6 mos results are running about 60% of ewl...I'm expecting to lose about 140 pounds by Christmas. So many other questions I've had have been answered here, so maybe you can help with this one too. How am I going to manage to dress professionally for the next 6 months while losing so much weight? I'm not rich, and can't see buying new clothes every few weeks. But I can't be the saggy baggy elephant either! By the next year, I can buy myself a whole new wardrobe at my goal weight...but what about in the meantime? Thanks! — abeeba (posted on April 14, 2008)
April 14, 2008
I joined my local freecycle group. You can go to www.freecycle.org and
choose your city and state and sign up on the yahoo group or msn group for
your area. And post you are looking for dress clothes in your size as you
need them. I had one woman that had LapBand a month before I did on the
group that gave me all of her clothes as she melted out of them and never
had to buy clothes. I am a month post op now and have clothes up to size 16
and I just put them in totes in my basement and pull them out as I need
them. If you have any questions about the community group freecycle--feel
free to Private message me. You don't have to purchase anything--its all
free. All you have to do is pick it up. --Karen
— Karen M.
April 14, 2008
April,
I have he money to buy my self a new wardrobe, but it is a silly thought as
you chnge sized every week or two. rist, find a retired tailor in your
area. I found a lady that was a nurse, retired, but she is a great
seamstress. She charges 1/2 what the alteration shops did, and she remakes
my suits, shirts, jackets and pants for very little money. She will take
in a pair of pants for me untit the pockets look bad. She they takes in
the side seams and even takes in the eams on both sidesof the legs. I also
found 4 high end consignment shops and a charity resell store that have
good clothing. I am the CEO of a company with 300 employees, so I am
expected tolook good every day. I go out with clients all the time. I
find suis that fit me, with some alterations for $10.00 sme timethat had to
cost 600.00 new. While I can afford to buy clothes new, It is athroughing
away good money, cause some times I can't wear something more than once or
twice before it has to be atered, and then I might just get 3-4 wearings
out of them even with alterations. Also look for thnks you like that don't
fit right, and are too small. Illed my clset and markedsize down and
sorted that way so I have stock when I needed it. One of the stores has a
by one get on free on Wednesday's and that is when I buy the smaller items
forstock. No one eery says anything to me at work or at the countryclub
except how great I look, becausew everything fits, and I don't let anything
look baggy. Some of the second hand items I have bought I wished that I
could keep because I like them so much. I even trid to find the brad of
one f the suits so I could buy one later, and was surprised that it came
from a ver high end men's store. I have found things with the price tags
still on em, and just paid 1 or 2% of the original price. If your town does
not have these optons, go to the next larger town.
Best of success to you.
— William (Bill) wmil
April 14, 2008
I am going through the same thing I had surgery March 10,2008 and have lost
32lbs. I also am not rich and dont have alot of money. I fortunatley had
alot of dresses that I can still wear and don't look big as I loose weight.
I also went to Ross I am not sure if you have one there. I bought a few
more dresses that was smaller then the ones I had and they are working out
quite well. I felt dresses would be easier to work with with the losing of
the weight then pants because went pants you will see all that sagging and
with dresses you don't. Ross is a store that other stores send there left
over items to so I am only paying like 14.00-19.00 for the dresses which is
affordable to me. I work in the public and go to church every Sunday also
so I have to dress professional. This is what I decided to do and it is
working out for me. I you find something that will work for you
— mskim
April 14, 2008
I am 2.5 yrs out from RNY, and what I did was make thrift shops, found it
was cheap besides picking up name brand items...even at my goal...I still
go there....love it....good luck on your adventure....get ready for the
ride of ur life...u will enjoy every minute of it.....Linda
— txblonde
April 14, 2008
If you start going to local support groups, they often have "clothing
exchanges and swaps"....If you look up at the top menu bar...then
click "people" section here in this forum, you will also notice a
"clothing exchange"....After a year, don't go out and buy a new
wardrobe. I did. I spent some 1500.00 in a ton of new outfits from Lane
Byant in size 14/16's...I was so proud of myself for being that small in
years! And within a few more months I was weraing a size 6...While I was
glad to be thinner than I thought I would be...I wasted so much money
getting ahead of myself. Then I bought a bunch of new things in a size
6...and gained 5 lbs! OY! 5 lbs on a small person is almost a full size! I
suggest you only invest in sales and bargins and try thrift shops for
now....If you have a Ross or Kohls or a Target store where you can pick up
a few decent sale prices in the 50-75% racks just to keep yourself looking
neat...then I would wait until your weight has stabilized for more than a
few months...and only then begin buying the pricier items. It's a hard
lesson learned...Just pick up basics that you can mix match for now and try
new hair styles and big jewelry to disguise the same ole' clothes! People
are going to be so shocked at your loss that they will hardly notice your
clothes...and if they do...They will TOTALLY understand! :)
— .Anita R.
April 14, 2008
i have one word for you...leggins! they are the most comfortable things
and just wear them with a nice long blouse and ballet slippers and your
good to go....i also shop at the salvation army...i never thought i could
find anything good there but you'd be surprised the amount of designer
things they have there that only costs a few bucks....hope this helped
— lizzie42
April 14, 2008
Find a local Goodwill. This is what I did and it works for now and
cheap.Also if you have a support group see if they have clothing exchanges.
Ours does and I got some nice stuff free there.
— Alvernlaw
April 14, 2008
I understand not being able to afford new clothes. I have found that you
can get really good clothes, at second hands stores. My family and
friends have clothes that they do not wear so they pass them my way.
That is a few ideals.
— bethiny
April 14, 2008
I'm still pre-op, so unfortunately I don't have the clothes problem yet.
:) But, try looking for Goodwill stores in more affluent areas...not only
is the stuff not going to be as picked over, but the quality of the donated
clothes are better. Also, like someone mentioned above, consignment shops
can be good, for buying as well as for selling your too big clothes. I'd
also try to stick to basic colors that can mix and match (black, navy, tan,
etc), and add accessories to change it up some.
— MyAlterEgo
April 15, 2008
I was just going to write and tell you about www.freecycle.org and then I
read the last post. I have belonged to it for years. First when I lived in
AZ and now that I live in ID. I gave my old clothes away on freecycle as I
was losing weight and I always see them on there. You can just get on and
ask for clothes also.
— Claudia C.
April 15, 2008
I am nearly 5 years post-op RNY. I totally understand trying to keep
enough clothes that fit right. I went to thrift shops, savation army
stores, and goodwills plus yard sales. That's how I supplied my wardrobe
for over a year. Hope this helps you.
— maggie1952
April 15, 2008
The Salvation Army has 1/2 price clothes on Wednesday. I have gotten some
great new stuff...designer clothes and barely used. I buy blouses for as
cheap as a $1...pants $2.50.
Really nice stuff. I have sticker shock at consignment stores. (That's
where I take my "SA Designer" clothes when I outgrow them.)
— JTR
Click Here to Return