Question:
Was it hard to make changes in your wardrobe after your weight loss?
I have always loved clothes even when I wore a size 34. Now after 127 lb loss its really difficult for me to change my style of clothing--maybe I still feel larger than what I really am. I still have a ways to go to reach my goal. I'm very happy with the loss but still hang on to my old styles like blazers, longer skirts, classic looks even still trying to shop the same stores! ...anyone else with the same problem? — debmi (posted on January 4, 2004)
January 4, 2004
Have charge card and travel!! Now you can go to department stores and PICK
what YOU like. Ain't it grand??
LAP-RNY 10/08/02 down 140 or so. Belt lipectomy two weeks ago. Life IS
grand.
— Steve B.
January 4, 2004
It is so much fun! You are going to have a blast when as you near your goal
weight, if you have a good time buying plus sizes. lol
You have to make that change! Don't live in the past, but the future.
There's a new you and you neeed to bring her out. You need not go wild just
explore with the fashion scene a bit.
I was so Thankful I didn't part with some of my smaller wardrobe (kept
thinking I would be in them again someday)
This may sound weird to most, but I look to good in some clothes and hate
to wear them, only because I'm 54 and now have a great figure again! Now,
that the girls are riding high again too I feel awkward/self conscious
wearing shirts/T-shirts because I look sexy in them. lol Am I not crazy?
But, believe me ....going from tight 24's to 4's now, I'm in heaven!
I'm like a little kid in a candy store! By the way...My hubby loves it and
doesn't complain one bit!
Congratulations on your weight loss and good health. Keep it up!
— Hazel S.
January 4, 2004
I've gone from a size 26 pants to a size 14 (for now), down 106 lbs. I was
biting at the bit to change my wardrobe. (I'm 44, so no spring chicken
here either,lol) I always hated the way I dressed, and always dreamed of
wearing stylish clothes, and picking out thing I WANT to wear and having
them fit and look good, not things I have to wear because that's what came
in my size. The minute I realized I did not have to shop in PLUS size
stores, I cut up and cancelled my credit cards for those shops. I refuse
to ever need them again. I love wearing color, instead of always black
mumu type things. Do you have someone that can go shopping with you? That
way you can have someone there that will help you pick a new
"style" or even just add a style. I don't stick to one style
now, I like sporty, dressy, casual, sexy, and have things that will go with
the mood I am in that day. Good luck to you. And congrats on such a
wonderful weight loss. :-)
— KellyJeanB
January 4, 2004
I couldn't wait to shop and tear up my Lane Bryant card!!! I was a little
shaky when I was a 14 or so, not knowing quite where to go, but I have to
hold myself back now. I am a little self-conscious about my jumbo belly,
and try to conceal it with wearing my shirts and sweaters out rather than
tucked in until I can get rid of it next summer. I also do not wear
low-rise pants. I'm 46 for goodness sake, and feel that it is not
attractive for my saggy flesh to hang over my jeans. I watch for the sales
at Macy's and Lord and Taylor, and if it's less than $20, it's fair game.
I used to be a shoe and handbag-aholic, now it's sweaters and jeans and
slacks. Funny thing is that I finally gave my old thin stuff away about a
year before I decided to do the surgery, and could kick myself, but I
certainly don't mind getting reacquainted with Ralph, Liz and Tommy!!!!!
Seriously though, my sister, LC, told me that I should be wearing more
fitted clothing post-op, and it did take me awhile to give in and do it.
My suggestion would be to go to a store that carries all size ranges, and
take a variety of sizes and styles into the dressing room. You will
surprise yourself at how great you will look in things that you never
thought you'd wear!!!
— Fixnmyself
January 4, 2004
I know exactly what you are talking about! At 475 lbs. size 5X (out of the
human range, more like the horse blanket/small tent zone) I wore long
dresses to try to conceal as much of me as possible. Now, at 245 and still
losing, I remain in the plus sizes (depending on the make a 20-22)but find
that I still choose to cover. Only now I'm covering my Shar-Pei like upper
arms and incisional hernia (a corselet works wonders with that!) I still
gravitate towards simple, tasteful clothes, long skirts (I still, alas,
have my porch pillar legs) but just slightly more fitted to show off the
waist I never knew existed. I get frequent compliments on my emerging
Rubenesque figure and have seen clothes that I could fit into; the question
in my mind is always just because it fits the body does it fit you the
person. As a hospital administrator, I have to abide by a strict dress
code, hence the blazers and such. But even in what I term my "play
clothes" I still prefer the long sleeves and subdued colors. Still
hiding? Perhaps. But when I see pics of other WLS patients wearing
spandex and vinyl and thigh-boots I think, "Good for them!" but
know in my heart that even if I make goal (another 45 lbs. at least) I
could never do that! I do appreciate being able to find "play"
clothes at places like Wal-Mart and Target and not having to automatically
grab the largest size (even once lamenting out loud that a particular style
shirt I wanted was only available in sizes that were too large! heeee
heeee heeee whodda thunk!) I think your taste can remain the same, even
if your body has undergone some drastic changes. Your options certainly do
widen, as my credit cards will attest to! :-)
— Anna S.
January 4, 2004
I had a hard time changing my clothing style until I told my 16 year old
daughter... "I have no idea what I should be wearing". She was a
great help to me in dressing more youthfully, and now she thinks I look
better than her. I wear jeans with knit shirts tucked in, boots, sassy
hair, jewelry, perfume, etc. My look is TOTALLY different than anything I
would have done before. It's a change and I love it. Lisa A/ lap RNY
5/13/03 291/169/140
— Happy I.
January 4, 2004
I would have to say I have changed my clothing style yeh!!!! For years all
I could wear were big loose long shirts that covered my huge tummy, and now
I love jeans, keeping buying them because I could never wear them before,
even as a teen because of such an apron of fat. I love the younger style
sweaters, and shirts, I try to dress modestly, but my 40 year daughter, and
I trade clothes, she gives me all her hand me downs, size 8-10, and I am
loving it. I still wear normal dresses maybe a little shorter, and tighter
than before because I have a shape, but I know I am 62, and feel good, and
will not wear old looking clothes like some grandma's of 11 might like. I
think I am going thru my second childhood, that I never had this much fun
with clothes in my life, thanks for the cute post. Love Suzie
— lostitall
January 4, 2004
I always wore big shirts and sweats, I was a sloppy dresser and not at all
comfortable being big. Now I wear 4/6 and at first I wore my clothes a
little tight fitting as I was so proud. But since I turned 50, I have toned
it down and wear looser dress pants or jeans but I ALWAYS tuck my shirt or
blouse in. I even went last week and bought MY first matching bra and
underwear from Victoria's Secret. What a thrill that was. I feel like NOW I
actually have a sense of fashion.
— Connie M.
January 4, 2004
Hi there, Deb! I guess I'm a little different. Even when I wore a 32, I
made sure I dressed the best possible. I love my clothes and all my
friends, slender or otherwise, always loved my taste in clothes. The major
problem I find is trying to find the same styles, but in my current size!
There is only one thing that has changed, I wear jeans now! None of my
friends have ever seen me in them. I still think of myself as large so I
notice I have a tendency to go into the plus size section and, on occasion,
I still wear larger shirts. I happen to be one of those unfortunate humans
who doesn't have a butt, but is all chest. I do have to agree with some of
the other comments, have fun and shop! Vi. open RNY 9/23/02 down 151 lbs.
— Vi F.
January 4, 2004
Change is hard. I cant believe how many differnt styles there are to pick
from. I dont go shopping unless I have someone with me or I'll buy stuff
too big. My biggest problem now is getting rid of all my old clothes. I'm
in a size 8 or 10 down from 28's or 30's but I still hang on to the 14's
and 16's just in case. I have a deep rooted fear of gaining the weight
back (a friend who is 8 years out RNY did!!) Going to my local support
group helps (they keep my straight) and having a DH who gently makes me
recycle my old clothes is a plus. Good luck to you. ~Sidney~ Open RNY
10-23-02 down 130+ and under goal
— Siddy I.
January 5, 2004
It takes quite a while for the brain to catch up to the fact that you have
a new body. In fact, long term post-ops say that it can take years and the
longer you were obese, the longer it will take to "see" that new
b ody.There is nothing wrong with sticking with clothing that makes you
comfortable-in fact, classic looks never go out of style. In fact, tailored
clothing or clothing that fits your new body will make you look slimmer
rather than trying to hide your body with large clothing, as we all did
when obese. As you continue to lose weight and go shopping take a friend
with you whose opinion you trust and let her pick out something for you
that perhaps you might not have chosen and give it a try. I'm a believer
though in dressing your age. In other words, in my mid-40's even if I had
a Brittney Spears belly you wouldn't catch me in a belly baring shirt.
When obese, I wore large sweaters/shirts over stirrup pants alot and tent
types of dresses-nothing fitted. Today, I wear alot of short waisted
jackets, dress pants with the blouses tucked in and I love all the
designers!!
— Cindy R.
January 5, 2004
My style of clothes has changed completely. I'm 40 (although I don't look
it or feel it). I used to wear big baggy sweaters and baggy pants. Now I
wear very form fitting clothes. Tight jeans, shirts that show my flat
tummy off (hey, it may not be age appropriate, but I can pull it off!!) and
fitted dress pants. You should wear what you feel comfortable in.
— Patty H.
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