Clothes in Stages

One of the things that happens when we lose weight is that we will inevitably need to buy new clothes. As exciting as this may be, there is also danger in the process. Here are a few things I might caution you from my experience.

The first one for me was something I really struggled with - shopping in the wrong section or trying on clothes that don't fit.  Now this is not to say that I was weaseling my way into the teenage section and trying to fit into clothes that just didn't look good on me. Actually it's just the opposite. Every time I went into a store to look at clothes I was drawn to the "plus size" section and or clothes that were way too big on my shrinking body. Why would I do this? I was excited that my body was changing and getting smaller. Wouldn't I want smaller clothes? Of course, my brain just didn't have a picture of smaller Paige yet and out of habit would gravitate to the bigger clothes. With that comes the "fat style" shirt, I like to call it. Basically one style fits all. Just big and baggy and will cover the rolls. That's all I knew. In fact I always looked for cute colors and maybe a unique pattern to go along with it, but as far as any style to the shirt, well when you're obese that doesn't exist. Your body unfortunately becomes the style.

Really the only way for me to get through this one was to take my best friend along. Even then, for a while this was a struggle. Probably because she is a size 0 and looks good in anything she puts on. I was nervous. I can't shop in sections where there is style and curves and tapering. In fact when you've been obese for so long you have a warped sense of what clothes look like and how something may look on yourself. I can't tell you how many times my friend would hold something up or bring something into the dressing room and I'd think "There is no way I can wear that!" Then I try it on and it not only fits, but it looks cute! Having someone there as your coach/guide is a huge thing, especially when you're tapping into clothing you've never had the chance to experience. 

         (This was one of those dressing room moments.)

The other thing I might caution you about is not letting your brain get stuck on a certain size while the weight is coming off. I fell into this habit and I often times had my friend telling me as we were thumbing through racks at the store. "You're not a 10 anymore, you're an 8! Or You're not a large top, you're a medium!" This continued for most size phases I went through and it's just how our fat brain works, so having that special person/friend to take with you is extra important. Why? Because sure the clothes you pick will fit - you're picking things that are too big!  Even if they are only a little too big you shouldn't buy them. You want only ones that fit your true size. This can be a hard one. Even now, I find myself rummaging through 8's when I go to a store and I'm a 6!! It's goofy and silly in some ways. I know a lot of people who'd die to be a 6! It all goes back to training our brain and owning what we've accomplished.

The last thing I wanted to mention about clothing is related to the stages of weight loss. I found it very helpful to just get the basics when I graduated to a smaller size. Couple pair of pants, few tops, and whatever else you need to get through the next 15 pounds. I find that this is particularly important if you have a lot of weight to lose like I did. It's exciting to buy clothes in a smaller size but you don't want to get too many and get attached to their cuteness, get comfortable with them, and settle for anything less than you have your mind and heart set on achieving. In other words you don't want to settle for just a partial weight loss. You want to go all the way to your goal.  In fact, I didn't get the most adorable, cutest clothes until I hit my goal and went on a shopping spree. In the meantime, it was basics and plains, just to get me by.

Shopping can be fun and should be, especially when you're changing your life around. Have fun with it. Take that friend with you. Only buy what you need. Shop in the right department. Get the right size and celebrate what you are becoming!  

                                               

Same week, same weight, clothes that are too big, and clothes that fit! 

Get Rid of the Clothes.....All of Them!

One of the hardest things about losing weight and changing your life forever is the moving forward and never going back. This includes emptying the closet once and for all of ALL clothing that no longer fits. Believe me, this was not at all easy. In fact, looking back it was probably one of the hardest things mentally I had to do on this journey.  Yet it has played a key role in my success and where I am today.

As we lose weight, why is it that we want to hang on to those clothes we slowly start to grow out of? Seems somewhat crazy doesn’t it? I mean we should be celebrating and getting rid of them. But we don’t. Do we even like them? (I know for me, most of them were big and baggy with a lot of “give” around the mid-section so I could easily hide or tug at my shirt to hide the rolls of fat.) Are we keeping them around just in case for some reason we can’t keep the weight off and we need to grow back into them some day? Are they a source of a security blanket in our lives? Whatever the reason may be, you will not change who you are and your lifestyle if you can’t let go of the past. Clothes being a BIG part of it. Get them out of the closet and more importantly, out of the house! It will never be a lifestyle change until you can agree to do this. Like I’ve said before, I at one time lost 40 pounds but then over time slowly put the weight back on. The scary part was that I really didn’t know how much weight I was gaining back because as the pounds crept back on I would just slide myself back into those clothes that were hanging in the closet, waiting to someday be worn again. Can anyone relate? 

This is how getting rid of my clothes once and for all played out for me. I knew for a while I was needing to do this (getting rid of the clothes that is). It was agreeing with myself that kept holding me back. It really is a big deal to commit to never going back.  To believing in yourself enough that you can accomplish anything you want. I remember my trainer had suggested it was time. Time to get rid of the old and start dreaming about the new. (Often times I’d show up to a workout session in clothes that were way too big and needed to be recycled.) I remember being on pins and needles of sorts for several days leading up to this point.  “I’m ready. No, I’m not. Yes, I am”....and this went on. It was a summer evening and my husband was working. I’m guessing it was close to 9pm or so. I felt like it was time. I remember sending a message to my friend Tammy. (She's one of my support team members. Read about my support team here.) The message back was...”On my way!” She was at my doorstep within 10 minutes and the project began. Piles and piles started to mound on my bed, along with belts and several pairs of shoes that were now too big because my feet weren’t as fat. I had doubts about what we were piling up several times. “Oh, I like this. This still fits.” It was very hard and emotional as I was saying goodbye to my old life. The things that had provided me with security for years were going to be gone. As we bagged them up and hauled them out to the car I knew there was no going back. I remember lying in bed that night feeling somewhat numb but relieved at the same time. Tomorrow would be a new day and even if I didn’t have anything to wear, I was one step closer to being who I wanted to be and nothing was going to stand in my way. Not even clothes that were too big, hanging in my closet waiting to be worn!

By tackling this project head on, you will have no choice but to press forward, with faith, believing you can become anybody you’ve always dreamed of being. Yes, it’s scary. Very scary! You saw the picture of my closet when all was said and done. I had nothing left! I felt empty and scared. But one thing was certain. After taking that step, I knew nothing was impossible for me and that I was on my way to being who God had created me to be.