Question:
Anybody else finding that they've replaced a food addiction with a clothes addiction
Before the surgery I never cared about clothes. I realize that's because I had so few options, but now I find myself clothes shopping all the time. I like leather and suede and I like designer clothes. I have a friend who predicted this and it annoys me that she was so right about me. I'm wondering if anyone else is having this problem and how you're controlling it because I have to say I'm not. But it sure is fun, if a little rough on the pocketbook. — Traci H. (posted on October 20, 2002)
October 20, 2002
A giant resounding YES!!! My closet is bulging and I still want MORE
CLOTHES I am out of control...is there a clothinghelp.com out there for
me???
Have a Sparkling Day!!
~CAE~
— Mustang
October 20, 2002
LOL.. uhhhhhh.. YES!! My hubby and I both had the surgery and we have
dueling closets. Everything he has now are designer labels. Our poor
Dillards card gets a workout! I have some designer labels but I prefer
quantity sometimes.. I go hit Kohls or Goody's and find a ton of cute
things! Of course now I finally get to LAYER!!! When I had the thick fat
layer on me I rarely even owned a coat. I often wondered how people could
Layer clothes.. Now I cant layer enough to keep warm!!! Of course.. that
means more clothes! Turtlenecks in a variety of colors.. sweaters..
sweaters.. sweaters... sportscoats in a lot of neat fashionable colors!
Wear it girl!!!
— danabky
October 20, 2002
Yep. It's bad too. I'm very lucky because my mom sent me 5 boxes of her
size 12 clothes and she only wears designer stuff I could never afford. (I
have a teenager, LOL) I now my closet, half of hubby's, the computer room
closet, the coat closet (she sent me 11 different winter coats, LOL), 2
dressers, a chest of drawers and an amoire. My kids tell my husband he's
going to have turn the computer room into a closet once I have my tummy
tuck in March. I go for quantity sometimes too. I hit Ross or Marshalls and
get one of whatever in every color. It's fun. Scary sometimes, but fun.
— Tina P.
October 20, 2002
I've had a clothes addiction since I found Lane Bryant stores. I never
felt good in the clothes I wore. I didn't know there was a store like Lane
where I could buy plus sizes and actually look good in them. I'm sure this
addiction will continue after I have surgery too. : )
— J. W.
October 20, 2002
Hey ladies, you should do what I did. I got a part-time job at ROSS!! The
deals on the designer clothes are great plus I get a 20% discount! Need I
say where my paycheck goes??!
— Kim B.
October 20, 2002
I am 10 wks out and down 52lbs. I haven't gotten to the point you all are
at yet but you know what?? We deserve all the clothes we want(can manage to
pay for-haha) After all the years that most of us did not care what we wore
it is definitely a wonderful change!! Enjoy your new look!! You earned it!!
— Sharon1964
October 20, 2002
I've gotten obsessed with clothes, now that I can buy 'em (almost)
anywhere. I shop online, and I have to pause every so often to wipe the
drool off the keyboard.
— Roxanne M.
October 20, 2002
Yes, I have the same problem. I buy at resale, yard sales and e-bay. I
bought a long black leather trench coat in great condition for 20.00 and a
light brown ladies bomber jacket for 35.00. And numerous outfits for
1.00-15.00. I'm over loaded with clothing...but I pay very little for them.
Also, as I shrink out of things I redonate to resale and will be looking
into selling my higher price plus stuff on e-bay to help finance future
clothing excursions. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -135
— KimBo36
October 20, 2002
I am still pre-op, but I am terrified of this. Sad thing is, I am already
a clothes horse. You should see my closet!!! And most of it is expensive
desinger clothes. I have always wanted to try to look my best, even though
I was heavy. I can't even imagine how bad I will be when I lose weight!
Fortunately, I still have a closet full of clothes at various smaller
sizes, so I won't have to buy any for a while. But when I do. . .look
out!!!
— Kathy S.
October 20, 2002
I also did this , but am learning to buy only those clothing items that I
really need. I , too, went to work for a dept store and I get a 25%
discount on anything I purchase. However, substituting one addiction for
another is not healthy. I am seeing a therapist to help me deal with a
number of issues, and this has helped me tremendously. I now recognize that
I had an obsession with clothing.. substituting shopping for eating.. and
am able to control my spending urges. I am still in the losing mode, so I
dont need a lot of things..In fact, none of us needs a lot .. we need to
learn to buy coordinates and mix and match our clothing.. I go to thrift
stores when I need, discount stores, and raid my family and friend/s
closets occasionally. Also, my local support group has a clothing exchange
a few times a year.. this is a great way to get new clothing to you, and
not overdo the budget.
Take care
Hugs,
— Gina Landers
October 20, 2002
Yes, I have the same problem. I buy at resale, yard sales and e-bay. I
bought a long black leather trench coat in great condition for 20.00 and a
light brown ladies bomber jacket for 35.00. And numerous outfits for
1.00-15.00. I'm over loaded with clothing...but I pay very little for them.
Also, as I shrink out of things I redonate to resale and will be looking
into selling my higher price plus stuff on e-bay to help finance future
clothing excursions. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -135
— KimBo36
October 20, 2002
Gail, I am right there with you on the replacing food with shopping thing.
It has really gotten out of control. To make matters worse, I lost my job a
couple of months ago, so I can't *afford* my shopping addiction, but it was
a blow to my self esteem so I wanted to shop more!! Ugh! I am trying not to
buy too many new clothes, cuz I know they won't last long, but it's so much
fun to be able to shop in a *regular* plus size store! I was in a size 30!
Now I am in 22s. I am killing the credit cards. I already see a counselor
and we are working through this, but it is tough. Man, on those days I feel
down and can't eat..especially if my husband is out of town on business
travel as well..I can really do some damage. And don't say lock up the
credit cards, because I've tried that. I couldn't lock up the food before,
either. I need to work on the *issues*. Best of luck to you!
— sheltie
October 20, 2002
GINA, I am right there with you on the replacing food with shopping thing.
It has really gotten out of control. To make matters worse, I lost my job a
couple of months ago, so I can't *afford* my shopping addiction, but it was
a blow to my self esteem so I wanted to shop more!! Ugh! I am trying not to
buy too many new clothes, cuz I know they won't last long, but it's so much
fun to be able to shop in a *regular* plus size store! I was in a size 30!
Now I am in 22s. I am killing the credit cards. I already see a counselor
and we are working through this, but it is tough. Man, on those days I feel
down and can't eat..especially if my husband is out of town on business
travel as well..I can really do some damage. And don't say lock up the
credit cards, because I've tried that. I couldn't lock up the food before,
either. I need to work on the *issues*. Best of luck to you!
— sheltie
October 21, 2002
I laughed my butt off when I saw this posting because I am soooooooo with
you. LOL. I have noticed that all of a sudden I'm so picky about my
clothes, what I wear, wanting to buy something all the time....to make me
look better. I'm becoming a vain girl. LOL. I guess clothes are better than
eating all the time. We have to have something, right? Shop til you
drop.....
— mbradley35
October 21, 2002
I can help! Not only have our clothes gotten cheaper, but we can finally
shop in places that never carry our sizes! I have started shopping at
Goodwill and resale boutiques. They have designer names and good quality
clothes that may have never been worn or are still in good condition
because they didn't get abused like our plus sized clothing! Yes, you are
still buying clothes, but they are cheaper by the dozen! I also buy
jewelry and love it! Everybody wonders where I got the money from, but I
just buy it all cheap!
— Stephanie N.
October 21, 2002
I know exactly how you feel. Before surgery I loved lunch time because we
would all go out to lunch at all the great food places in town. Now I
spend my lunch time shopping. No everyday, but at least 2 days a week I go
to the mall on my lunch. It is so fun to see the sizes decreasing. I
started out in a 16/18 and I bought my first pair of Levi LOW RISE SIZE 8
jeans lastweek. What a great feeling. I also bought a pair of size 6
dress pants. My mom told me to try on this jacket and I said, "Mom
that is a petite size M...that will never fit!!" And guess what...it
fit perfectly. I will not allow myself to overspend, but I love this new
life. I can actually by sale items now and get good deals on
"normal" size clothes. We will all need a second job before we
are done...keep shopping and feeling good.
— Cindy M.
October 21, 2002
Ironically before the surgery I absolutely hated to shop.....Now I cannot
wait until I'm down in size to go wild in the stores! I'm not there yet
but am hoping by the spring to be! Live it up Girl!
— Bambi C.
October 21, 2002
It is very easy to get carried away. I know I have. But here is how I do
it and I am not in any financial difficulty because of it. First, do NOT
use the credit cards-its the quickest way to get yourself in trouble-the
interest charges are such a waste of good $. Use your checking account
only. Put aside some $ each week in the checking account for you to use on
clothes. Then, visit every consignment shop, thrift store in your area,
and I mean within a 30-40 mile radius. In my area, I have visited dozens
of them and have selected a dozen or so that I love to shop at. Some of
them are pure junk and others are really worth your time. I am (always
have been) addicted to designer labels, like Jones New York, Lands End,
LLBean, Liz Clairborne etc, as their clothes are so well made. I have
found ALL designer label clothing at these places, and now have a really
nice wardrobe, at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. My problem now
is that I refuse to go to the nice stores, like Macys and Nordstroms, even
during their sales as I can get much better bargains at the consignment and
thrift stores. Here's a hint: visit the consignment and thrift stores in
the nicer upscale neighborhoods as the clothes in the stores reflect the
community that surround them.
— Cindy R.
October 21, 2002
i had surgery on 2/26/02 and i was weighing 345 i now weigh 258 the wieght
is coming off slow but i went from a size 30-32 and i am now in a size 20
some 18's and i love to shop i never in my life wore 3 1/2 in heels and now
i love them they give my feet a work out but it is all worth it i also like
more tighter fitting clothing now to show my shape i never knew that i had
every thing i see that i like i buy i just cant help it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Latisha M.
October 21, 2002
Guilty as charged! LOL LOL LOL...I loved this post! I gave away four big
closets full of plus sizes, shopped on the way down to goal & since
then, shop every chance I get! My husband does not understand me or how or
why I love to try on clothes! (before, I just bought the biggest I could
find & never returned anything).
— Barbara B.
October 21, 2002
OK!!!! I admit it!! I am addicted to WALMART!!! I have
had to shop in BIG MEN'S STORES all of my life and pay
outrageous prices too. Now I cannot go to Walmart without
buying something for myself!!! Kmart is not too bad either.
I got some Rustler jeans there a couple of weeks ago for
$8.00!!!! I vow never to shop in "SPECIALITY" stores ever
again in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— OLD RODEO C.
October 21, 2002
I consider this to be a positive thing. Before my surgery, I hated shopping
for clothes, since I looked like a house in anything I wore. Now that I
have lost weight, I take so much more pride in my appearance. At first,
during the excitement of losing the weight, I was shopping all of the time.
Now, i moved to shoes.....who knew???It's fun to beautiful isn't it?lol
— twenc
October 21, 2002
Oh My God! I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one addicted to clothes now.
I had surgery 4/18/01 and am at goal. Started at a size 24-26 and now wear
6/8. I've never worn that small of a size in my life! I too gave away tons
of clothes and I am trying to replace them all at once. I have to stop!!!
Ha Ha!!
— Janice B.
October 21, 2002
I'm at goal and a size 4. I NEVER thought I'd see that size!! It seemed
like when I was fat, I could only find size 2 and 4. Now that I'm that
size, I can't find anything that small. So when I do, I HAVE to buy it!!
It is getting touch on the purse but I also needed some new clothes. I've
put a stop to buying for the time being. Maybe a new summer wardrobe but
that won't be until March!!
— Patty H.
October 21, 2002
I can't wait to be in your shoes. For years I've been buying clothes
because they fit, not because I liked them. One of my greatest desires,
post-surgery, is to be able to pick clothing because I like it and because
it looks good on me. My friends can call me anything they want, as long as
they don't call me fat.
— Arlene S.
October 22, 2002
I am not even at goal yet and I am buying clothes all the time. Even
before surgery I shopped all the time. I am so glad I am not the only one.
Guess I will have to give away more clothes when they are too big.
— tulagirl
October 24, 2002
Well looks like the votes are in we're all addicted to clothes. However
you may want to try my solution to the enormous cost of shopping for a new
size every other month. Take your butt to a thrift shop in a nice area!!!
Rich people love the generous tax donation they get from the designer rags
they were twice and can't bear to be seen in again. I got a pair of (not
designer but a good example) JMS Jean with the tags still on for less than
$7.00. My Kids even got into the act and my son now dresses in hillfiger,
Gap, Old Navy and Aeropostal. Oh I almost forgot I got my first pair of
OLD NAvy Jeans. Uhhh Yeah they were also less than $7.00. Happy
Losing!!!!!!!!!
— Melissa R.
October 24, 2002
Now that I am out of the dreaded Women's section, I have gone a bit crazy.
The problem is I am still not where I want to be - size 14, as opposed to a
size 8-10. I feel I need to get a grip, but it can be hard when I can
justify my shopping sprees with the "At least I am in NORMAL
sizes" mentality, you know?
— rebeccamayhew
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