Question:
Clothes Sizes Changed???

I've lost 56 lbs. and my clothes are getting pretty baggy so this past weekend I decided to go shopping however while shopping I became very depressed because I ended up buying the same size that I was wearing... What gives I see a lot of people posting that they've had to purchase new clothes... Why not me, I would have thought losing 56 lbs. would at least be a couple sizes smaller... wasn't the case for me this shopping trip. :( not sure I want to go again...    — * S. (posted on September 28, 2008)

September 28, 2008
It kind of depends on how heavy you were when you had WLS, if you were very heavy, it will probably take longer and more pounds loss to see a big difference. Were your "fat" clothes tight? If so, maybe now they fit more loosly. I would say just relax and try again after another 15 - 25 pounds. And be sure to exercise a lot because that is what firms and tones our skin and body. It will come, hon, and at least for now, save your $$ and be happy to wait. Lyn
   — SkinnyLynni2B

September 28, 2008
Hi there 56 lbs THAT IS FANTASTIC. I agree with Lyn's posting - give it some time. I too dont know what you started at but i started at 338.5 and was wearing 30/32 all elastic - so we all know that you can gain and lose MANY lbs and still wear the same clothes when they are made like that. It took me a good 75 lbs to really see a difference in clothes but IT WORKS SO HANG IN THERE, I am now at 165 lbs and wearing 10's and 12's and mediums in shirts - once you get to a certain point then every 5-10 lbs really will be a size. When I was fat I could never understand how people would say, "Oh im going out on Sat and need to lose 5 lbs to get into my dress" I was like, yea right like that would make a difference, BUT IT DOES NOW.............. keep up the good work Kim
   — Kimba523

September 28, 2008
Remember that there is no standardization in sizes and with plus sizes there is a huge variation. I have two tops---the SAME item in different colors marked exactly the same size from the same mail order company. I bought them at the same time even. They are completely different. One is in my sewing pile to be taken in, the other I wear on a regular basis. Go figure. Also, I have pants from the same store in 3 different sizes. It depends on the cut, the fabric, and some other mystery factor as to whether or not something fits. Buy what you like, don't look at those numbers; they are not a measure of anything!
   — Tina G.

September 28, 2008
Ah yes. Welcome to my world. I started at 228 and had lost 55 pounds. Since I was always pulling up my pants I decided it was time to shop. I was surprised to find I was only 1 size smaller. I spend a week in front of a mirror trying to understand why I could see a change but it didn't reflect in my clothing size. Gee I even had to buy new sunglasses because mine kept falling off my thinner face. One day as I was dressing I saw the light. I had stretched the elastic in my pants and that was why I had only lost one size. I feel sad because I had been so heavy that I had stretched the elastic however I'm happy I've taken care of that prioblem with my RNY. Also as a side note...when I shopped for pants I purchased the exact same LL Bean pants as I was replacing so it wasn't a difference in manufacturer. After loosing 60 pounds I shopped for jeans and discovered I went from a size 22 to a size 16!
   — Caribou ME

September 28, 2008
Ah yes. Welcome to my world. I started at 228 and had lost 55 pounds. Since I was always pulling up my pants I decided it was time to shop. I was surprised to find I was only 1 size smaller. I spend a week in front of a mirror trying to understand why I could see a change but it didn't reflect in my clothing size. Gee I even had to buy new sunglasses because mine kept falling off my thinner face. One day as I was dressing I saw the light. I had stretched the elastic in my pants and that was why I had only lost one size. I feel sad because I had been so heavy that I had stretched the elastic however I'm happy I've taken care of that prioblem with my RNY. Also as a side note...when I shopped for pants I purchased the exact same LL Bean pants as I was replacing so it wasn't a difference in manufacturer. After loosing 60 pounds I shopped for jeans and discovered I went from a size 22 to a size 16!
   — Caribou ME

September 28, 2008
It is frustrating but again they are only numbers...focus on how you feel.. I started out my journey at 445lbs in size 32-34 jeans and 32 tops...I am now 313lbs in size 24-26 pants depending on cut and still a 32 top...I was so stuffed into my clothes that they stereched to fit my body and were all misshapen...My topsa re very comfortable now I don't pull at my clothes..I can brethe in my jeans... Don't worry about the numbers on the scale or clothes, just worry about how you feel at the end of the day when you still have energy, or at the top of 2 flights of stairs when you don't feel like you will die...or even after a meal when you feel satisfied without eating all of the remainders in the serving bowls..
   — lori042499

September 29, 2008
Don't fell bad. I have lost almost 100 lbs and am only down 2 shirt sizes and 4 on the bottom and I just recently bought these sizes. It takes time and is different for everyone. It will happen!
   — MegLynnFinn

September 29, 2008
I lost 130 pounds before having WLS and am still wearing the same clothes I started out in. They are bagging now. One of the issues for me was that I had pretty much stretched my clothes totally out of shape and the seams were almost bursting. I am finally down one size from a 5X to a 4X in pants. It's been a LONG time coming. Hang in there and do not get discouraged. You're going to be loving buying new clothes soon.
   — norakeno

September 29, 2008
I don't know what your size is or where you shopped, but it sounds like you were pretty disappointed with your trip. First of all, congratulations on your 56 pound weight loss! That is just sooooooooooooooooooooooooo great! 2nd, don't ever let your size or weight dictate whether or not you are depressed or happy. Your body size is going to change, so rejoice in the things you have done and the success you have had. Don't fret about what isn't, but love what is. You have done well, and this was a little bump in the road for sure, it would be for anyone, but it is just a bump in the road, a bad moment, not a bad life. Take a breath, take that walk and drink that water, and go for the next successful week! Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

September 29, 2008
You might think back to how those sizes fit you before WLS. They were probably tighter than you realized. You may have also had some clothes somewhat stretched out. It took me a while to actually go down significantly in sizes. I kept wearing the same clothes until they hung on me. If your old clothes are baggy on you then you have lost inches. 56 lbs is awesome.
   — corky1057

September 29, 2008
I didn't see a difference in my weight til l lost 65 lbs! Tilt hen I was wearing my baggy fitting clothes too. At 65 lbs I was definitely ready for a few sizes smaller. You really don't want to buy too much until after the first year...and even after that...because your body tightens up a bit and weight and muscles or something weird happens...My legs and arms thickened up (muscles?) But I lost weight...I went out and bought all kinds of expensive gorgeous clothes in a size 14 at 1 year Post op...WHO the heck knew I'd continue losing to a size XS and wearing a size 6...Then as soon as Ibought some size 6's I gained 7 lbs and movedinto an 8 or even a 10! So trust me and wait or buy sale stuff for a while til you have lost more weight and give yourself a year,a the least! I was okay to start buying at 15-18 mos post op! That's when I settled into my body and my skin for the long haul...I still wear all my clothes except a few size 6's that look painted on and I can't breathe all that well in those jeans....(breathing is good, ya know?) so I save them just incase i ever lose that 7 that came back! LOL You will get there! Once you lose those initial "fat pounds" The smaller you get the less you have to lose to lose sizes...It just amazed me how 7 lbs on 315 lbs of woman was a glass of water...On a 160 lb woman it's the difference of an entire pants size! So now the real fun begins! Enjoy!
   — .Anita R.

September 29, 2008
I've lost 99 lbs. since 3-9-08, my tops are hanging off my shoulders, but I'm still wearing the same pant size, although they are begining to get a little loose. Most of my weight is in my abdomen, plus I have edema there as well, I'm sure I will lose it there eventually. Don't give up, and thank God for the weight you've already lost. May God Bless You Abundantly,
   — KathieV

October 26, 2008
There is a huge variation in sizes. It sounds like you are doing great, and you will go done in sizes very soon. I am now post-op. I was wearing a size 26-28 before the surgery. I now can wear clothes anywhere from a size 8-12. For me it just depends on the particular piece that I wear. Good luck, and keep up the good work!!
   — Jane65

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