I actually had FUN shopping!

My sister is getting married and I will be the maid of honour. We went shopping for my dress yesterday and it was such a great experience!!!! Before when I was a size 22, I would have had to pick what fit me and did not make me look stupid. I didn't really have a choice in the dress. Now...at a size 12, I had the entire store to choose from and EVERYTHING fit beautifully.

I still did not find a dress, but on the way back home I realized that whereas before I would have returned frustrated and angry at not finding a dress, now my frustration was due to the vast choice of dresses before me and my inability to make a decision. I'm agonizing over fabric and colour...and NOT about looking like a fat pig (which is what I would have said to myself before).

This might not seem like a such a big deal to those who just have 20lbs to lose. But all those who have returned home crying after a shopping experience, I'm here to encourage you! It feels sooooooo GREAT!!!

I've been there (and back again!).  I had a horrible experience 6 years ago when I was pregnant and 80 pounds overweight and the only dress I could find that wasn't just a tent was this horrible lime green with scratchy fabric.

Congratulations to you!

Congratulations, Anijig!  What a wonderful feeling!  You worked hard to get here, and you deserve some bragging rights and a sexy dress.  :-)  Stories like yours are a VERY important source of inspiration for many people on this site, and I'm so glad you decided to post about this.

That's awesome!  You will look FABULOUS no matter what dress you choose, I'm sure :D

I am positively thrilled for you!!!  How exciting it is to have a positive shopping experience.  Enjoy the wedding.

I cannot wait to get to that point. I have had so many experiences where I had to find what fit and looked presentable...No matter whether it was my color, whether it was appropiate for the occasion, etc. I literally have had to go through the rack, grab every 18/20 or 2x not even seeing what it was, and then go through everything to see if it something I can at least tolerate. I have cried and/or been angry many days on my way home from a store. Congrats to you!!! I am inspired. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you SOOOOO much for sharing, I was a size 28 when I started, now 26's are starting to fall off, I can not wait till I am into a size 16 or 18.  If I get below the 16, that will be icing on the cake (no pun intended) for me.  It is so encouraging to see someone else winning this battle!  Thank you again for sharing and keep looking for that perfect dress to show off your accomplishment!  Have fun at the wedding!!

Not only will you look great in whatever dress you choose, you don't have to fear the many photographs that go along with every wedding.  You won't feel like you have to hide in the back.  Wonderful!!

thanks for sharing! this is such a motivator seriously i like hate shopping because i have such a hard time finding clothes i actually like in my size but i cant wait to go to size 12 or even 10 for once in my life and have a variety of clothes to actually pick from!!! 

-tina

p.s. enjoy the wedding!

Congratulations on your weight loss! Your drop in sizes is truly inspiring!  I bet not only the weight loss helps you look better, but you sound SO confident! 

Have fun at the wedding!

Congratulations!!!  I know exactly how you feel.  I've lost 45lbs and now I'm a size 10-12 and some 8's.  It really does feel wonderful to try on clothing you really like and can WEAR them.  Keep up the good work and for others out you will have the joy of shopping for smaller sizes soon.  But most of all my health is so much better.

The wedding should be a joy for both you and your sister.

Congratulations! That is awesome!!

Update...

I found my dress and the wedding was fabulous!

I posted a few pics of the wedding in my gallery. (I'm the one in hot pink). I also thought it was high time to post some before/after pics. So you can see my journey from 293 lbs to 178lbs...and still going strong!

Oh my - you look amazing! Congrats on your success!

Congratulations!  I am jealous! Although I am a 16 I am a 16 petite.  I would like to send a letter to clothing manufactures saying, "Petite means SHORT dangit, not small!!" because most stores and catalogs cut off petite at size 14.  Whereas you will have 100 choices at 14, you get 10 at size 16.

I am soooo looking forward to being size 14.  I have seen it in over a decade and girl, I am ready!

Anijig you look absolutely wonderful!  I too am so jealous  but very happy for you!  Your success is very inspiring, thank you so much for sharing with us!!  I especially love seeing the before and after pics!

Congrats and you look very happy!

oh my! you are gorgeous - in both the before and after pictures. I only wish I looked as good as you at that size. I'm at 168 lbs and I don't look HALF that beautiful! glad you had a good time. :)

inspiring pictures- you look beautiful and glowing with health!  You can see that you are sisters in the photos!