Question:
Help, I need to clean my closet out. But I am scared to get rid of fat clothes?
I am 6.5 months post-op. I have lost 100 lbs. Closet is full. I am scared to get rid of my fat clothes. I have always needed them again. How have others dealt with this? I really want to get rid of them not just box them up and pile them somewhere else. But how do I know I will not fail this program too. Please help, any suggestions from people who have been at goal for a long period of time. Thanks, Jane — Jane L. (posted on October 18, 2001)
October 18, 2001
Honey, get rid of those things! You are not going back , unless you really
want to. And I would find that hard to believe. I kept one "fat
suit" the one I wore in my before picture. I get both legs into one
now with room to spare! Also kept 1 pair of before undies , my God , I
could reupholster my husbands recliner with them! Size 8 from 24!142lbs
from 278. You have no reason to hold on to that stuff. Let it go!
— Rose A.
October 18, 2001
Put those clothes in a box and send them to someone who hasnt had surgery
yet. Mine are gone, NEVER TO RETURN!! That way you guarantee they wont be
needed. You are going to suceed with this surgery and you will not need
them this time.
— Kathy H.
October 18, 2001
I too have lost 100 pounds. I kept all the clothes until I had a nice big
stack. Made sure they were cleaned and repaired. Then bagged them up in big
large garbage bags and took them to my county homeless shelter. I felt good
giving them to people who could really use them. I also felt it was
important to acknowledge my accomplishment and not keep things around I'd
never use again. Think of it like getting rid of training wheels on a
bicycle. Congratulations, by the way!
— [Anonymous]
October 18, 2001
I'd say, get rid of them. I have donated many items, and some I just threw
out. Before surgery I would never go shopping so some of my clothes were
so bad, that they had lives of their own haha! I did keep one pair of
pants, the ones I wore to the hospital. I wear them around the house when I
feel that "I haven't lost enough weight" syndrome coming on.
There so baggy that I could fit two of me in them and still have room to
spare. Another good idea, is to sell them on Ebay . My mother who also
has lost a lot of weight, sold many professional looking outfits on there,
and has paid off many of her bills that way. Good Luck!
— [Anonymous]
October 18, 2001
I hate to tell you this Jane, but you're NOT going to need them! Actually,
I love to tell you this!!! I hated to get rid of my clothes every time I
gained weight so had a closet full of stuff that was too small. As I got
smaller I got rid of the big stuff (that felt so good!) and used up the
clothes in my closet. I'm now smaller than anything that I had saved so I
finally am going out to get a whole new wardrobe - with my husband's
blessing and delight! I do agree that you should give the clothes to a
homeless shelter or an organization that helps battered women.
— georgiacarol
October 18, 2001
Congrats, great loss. I myself have lost 80 pounds since july 23rd. Just
yesterday I put nearly all my too big clothes in garbage bags and hauled
then to the attic. I figure eventually I will donate them to a clothing
exchange or goodwill. I decided the mental adjustement takes time, and so I
will not beat myself up over trivial things.
— bob-haller
October 18, 2001
I, too, had a hard time getting rid of things- I think it
was a perception problem- I still thought I needed them, even
when they hung on me. Also- when I was large- I wore clothes
baggy to hide in. I am still uncomfortable tucking shirts
in and wearing clothes that actually fit. I digress, however:)
What I have done is every time I buy something new, I remove
something old and bag it up or give it away (clothing exchange
at BTC is where much of my stuff has gone). I still have some
"comfort" things- IE a HUGE old sweatshirt that is warm and
fuzzy that I wear after a shower. When I baby myself long
enough, I will get rid of it. It has taken me almost 2 years
to even develope some sort of a sense of style- so I take it
slowly and am enjoying it. It has been an emotionally healing
way to get used to not being fat. Good Luck!
— M B.
October 18, 2001
Don't be scared Jane. YOU WILL NOT NEED THOSE CLOTHES AGAIN! Actually I
cleaned out my closet 3 times while losing weight. It actually was kind of
sad as I remembered buying each & every item & how much time &
effort I devoted to finding clothes that fit decently & looked nice.
Hard to part with (gave all my old clothes to the DAV-Disabled American
Vets). Now all the clothes in my closet are less than a year old. Also
don't make the mistake I did of buying too many clothes too early. Ended
up getting rid of practically brand new clothes that got too big. HTH
— Lori_B
October 18, 2001
I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in this. I have a tendency to want to keep
my clothes also ... "just in case." I, too, have always needed my
"fat clothes" eventually after every drastic weight loss, then
needed them again. My mother thinks I should keep some too. GEEZ, THAT felt
really good...not! Therefore I shall give them away! hahahaha
— Betty Todd
November 23, 2001
Hi Jane,
I know how you feel.But guess what!I have fat AND skinny clothes!!!! Why?
Well the skinny clothes are from when I was skinny(nearly 20 years
ago-jeans thank God they're timeless LOL ).I kept them because during every
"diet" I would tell myself I'll be able to wear these
again.Sometimes I reached that goal although short-lived,most times I
didn't.
The "fat" clothes I have,most are too small as well.Right now I
have one pair of pants that I feel comfortable in wearing (no bulges or
overlapping)and about six tops.However my closet contains 7 pair of pants
in the 30/32W range,10 pr.'s of 24's (3 still have price tags),and too many
to count in the 14 - 20 range.The way I figure I have something to
"lose into" LOL rather than "gain out of".As I move
down,I am going to donate my clothing to my local women's shelter.They have
a need for plus sized clothing for their residents.I look at it this way:
If you give them away or throw them away you'll be more likely to stick to
the gameplan because why would you want to go and buy plus-sized clothing
again! Besides,from what I hear you'd really have to mess up big time (no
pun intended)to regain 100 pounds without having a wake up call
(dumping,snug clothing, extended plateau period, etc.).I personally feel
that for the first time in a long time I WILL HAVE CONTROL!
Just keep your head up and follow your regimen and you should never need
those "fat clothes" again.
Additionally,since I am not a fan of sewing,I have tapped my aunt who is an
excellent seamstress (yep she will be altering some of my clothes as I
lose)and quilter to make me a "memory" quilt.I have taken my
slacks and tops that are too worn to donate and cut squares and rectangles
out of them.She is making them into a patchwork quilt! Maybe you or someone
you know could do the same and each time you look at it or lie under it,you
will receive POSITIVE reinforcement:self-satisfaction of reaching your WLS
goals AND you will have rid your closet of THOSE clothes!
Sorry for going on and on...oh By the way I go to the Dr. next week and I
will receive my surgery date!I hope it's before Christmas if not here's to
a new me in the New Year.God bless you and continued success! Julie
— Julie S.
November 24, 2001
How about donating them here? There are many men and women that are in the
same predicament and need clothes. Everytime I go to the exchange site
here the person doesnt have any more clothes. That way you can get a
minimal price and also get rid of the items as well as help out some other
desperate person (like me).
— [Anonymous]
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