Buying Clothing to Fit the New (but not final) Figure

I am really struggling to know how to clothe my new body.  The size I had been wearing is really baggy (that makes me feel good).  Then there is the size I fit into now - look much better.  But then there is the size I WANT to be.

If I buy the size I "want" to be, and hopefully will be, I can squeeze into, but have a huge muffin top.  But I hate to buy clothing for where I am at now - because I hope to lose some more. 

And the sales are all going on NOW.  Do I buy stuff I fit into now, or buy stuff I now have to squeeze into, and hope to be my final size?

I realized that if I buy the size I hope to fit into, I have to buy larger tops, to cover the muffin top! 

And then there is the huge discontent I still feel with myself!  I know I am so much better than I was, but I am NOT where I want to be, and still can grab a lot of fat in the middle section - where I still carry it. 

So while I should feel proud of myself, and good, for dropping a size, I am very down on myself, and after working so hard, and doing everything right, that I still have this "middle" that I still feel like I have to hide!

Or should I hide? 

Oi, oi, oi.  What to do about this clothing issue/shopping issue/contentment issue in this whole weight loss deal.

Any suggestons?

I would say if you can squeeze in now then buy it, if they didn't fit at all that's one thing but you must not be to far off from your goal weight.  Plus nothing is worse then buying some cute jeans and then weeks later you have jeans that aren't flattering cause they don't fit even though you just got them.  I'm dealing with that now.  I did just get a few new things that fit but I'm still loosing and will be so mad when my new jeans don't fit anymore!! but you cant be too upset if the size you didn't like it too big right?!  So congrats on the weight lost so far and squeeze in and just hide the Muffin for a little while

I'm in the same place you are right now! Everything in my old size is terribly baggy, but I don't want to waste money buying a whole new wardrobe in my current size, because I still plan to lose. I'm going to go to Ross (super cheap) and check out some thrift stores just so I'll have a few outfits until I lose more weight.

first off, you need clothes that look great on you. so buy some clothes that fit the now you. that being said, you know you're not gonna stay this weight, so you have a couple options: buy stuff that fits perfectly now, but only a few basics, like one pair of jeans, a pair of pants and 3 or 4 in-season tops.

you can also buy clothes that will shrink with you. what i mean is a-line skirts, clothes made of stretchy fabric, or with (gasp!!) elastic waistbands--that stuff'll fit across at least 2 sizes up or down.

but if you see something you utterly adore that only comes in your goal size, or that you'll think you wanna wear when you get to goal, or will only be season-appropriate once you get to goal, go ahead a buy a few pieces. not a lot, maybe 3-5 pieces. b/c you may not be that size when you get to your goal weight (maybe you'll be smaller!), so having a bunch of clothes that don't fit would be a total waste of money.

Please refrain from getting down on yourself because you have fat on your body. Revel in the fact you are down one size! You took the steps to get there, hold your head high. You haven't stopped being a success and you are still on your path, and it takes time.

Yes, it is nice to have a goal pair of jeans to fit into, but go to the thrift store if you have one and pay $5 for them, NOT the outrageous prices in the department stores.

I purchase my clothing at the thrift shop for now, or they are handed down to me by my girlfriend who had gastric bypass. (but even the majority of her old clothes are now too big for me). I pay basement prices and always get compliments because I know how to buy clothes that look good on me.

No muffin tops, please. It's not attractive, no matter how big the shirt is.

Isn't that what eBay is for? Cheap clothes, right?

Seriously... spend enough time on there and you can come off with some pretty amazing bargains. Half my wardrobe consists of stuff I've found on there for cheap or stuff from charity shops.

You can also invest on some pieces that fit you well now.  Then, when you get to your goal weight, have them altered to fit your new body - that will save you money on buying a new wardrobe later on.  Or, you can also alter the clothing you own NOW rather than buying new things.  Usually alterations aren't expensive - but you can pick and choose a few favorites that you would like to keep wearing, and alter those for now, until you reach your goal...

Ive wasted money buying cloth that iddnt fit a month later but i just agve them to some one that could wear them after i was done.

same here I'm wearing some jeans today I got maybe a month ago and they're falling off jeans also stretch a lot when worn so if you can put them on in the dressing room now. I'd go for it.  I'm not a big fan of thrift stores or Ross, I'm not patient enough I like to see something look for my size and go.  Really do what you feel comfortable doing buying some jeans or anything else that's a little too small that you cant wait to wear can be added motivation as well!

The last time need new stuff b/c I lost weight I invested in a mix and match 'travel'  wardrobe.  I forgot what it was actually called  but the fabric was that slinky wrinkle resistant stuff.  It worked great for work since we're supposed to "dress professionally" and going out too.  All together it was like 8 pieces and I added a few extra tanks.  As it got to big I made the elastic smaller or threw a belt over the shirt.  Because it was slinky and always flowing it took a long while before it looked too big on me.  Because I had the basics covered with that, when I stumbled onto a huge blow out sale on jeans I bought a pair in every size between what I was and where I wanted to be. I still have those, I will get back into them. :-)

Also I took some of my favorite large size pieces and the one I spent a lot of $$ on to my seamstress and she cut them down to fit me for a fraction of what new would cost.

Happy shopping.

Me too!  I've resisted the impulse to buy too many clothes, and what I do buy is from a local charity thrift shop that is known for designer labels.  I take them my shrunk out of clothes to consign and use that money to buy something in my smaller size.  I have just one nice outfit in the closet for special occassions, but being retired has it's advantages - I can wear casual clothes every day.

I make sure that everything I buy is mix and match, and washable.  I go for reliable fabrics that I know will hold up, because when you have fewer clothes they get washed more often. 

I also have one thing in the next smaller size, waiting for me and motivating me.  So far this has worked as I've gone from size 22 to size 16, on the way to 14, and finally all the way down to size 10 - the size I was at age 40.

Treat yourself!  You got down to where you are now, you deserve to have clothes that fit and look good.   The sales are on, so you're not going to spend too much money, then later, when you get down to your goal size, you'll want new clothes anyway, and you'll deserve them for all the hard work you've put into the diet.  You look good  now, you might as wear clothes that look good now!!!!

What is a muffin top ?

N/M : I goggle it...

First off, I know how frustrating this can be.  I lost some weight a few years ago but steadily gained it back.  When I gained weight I packed all those clothes away in storage knowing I wouldn’t be big again forever.  Since I’ve started calorie count I’m almost down to that size again, but not quite, and I have almost NO clothes that fit me right now.  Everything I own is either too large or too small and neither looks good.

 Your best bet (and what I’ve done) is to buy just a few things in your current size to get by.  You deserve to look good n the body you have now that you’ve worked hard for, and that doesn’t work all that well in ill-fitting clothing.  And, from my own experience, you don’t always know how long it’s going to take to get to that next size down, either (the dreaded plateau!).

 You can always sell the clothes later, pack them up for goodwill, or even have a clothing swap party.  Friends of mine do that all the time.  They invite women within about a 3 size range to bring all their unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories (with a minimum amount for each to bring) and you either hang them all on a rack or put them all in a pile and everyone can check out everyone else’s stuff and hopefully you all go home with something “new”.  Anything leftover the hostess brings to a charity shop.

 And congrats on your weight loss! 

I agree with most above, Buy some clothing for the know you and put away the baggy clothes. Don't look back and there will always be a sale some ware for you to get for the future you. When the clothes know you are baggy you will feel even better if you keep the today baggy clothes. Funny I made myself dizzy!!

Hope this helps?

Fortunately (and unfortunately) for me, my weight has always gone up and down.  Now the clothes I have either fit really baggy or like a glove.  I did by a pair of pants that were cute that I could squeeze into, but it took about 2 months for them to fit perfectly, however, I am going to keep loosing so they'll probably be lose anyway.

I see buying clothes in a different size like buying certain clothes in the wrong seasons bc they're on sale.  You may love them now, but months from now you may not even like them, your body may fit into them differently than you thought or you may just forget about them...what a waste of money.

Buy some new stuff for now...slimming, so they still fit someone later and take it from there.  Focus on the present. Celebrate the complete weightloss with the shopping trip later.

Hey

I try to buy things that do fit my now, but that will still look good when I go down  a size. Things like

- loose summer dresses with tie waists/sashes that tie at the side or back. If I lose enough weight I can just tie them tighter.

- dresses and tops that are slinky/floaty enough that when they're a bit loose a belt over the top will look good.

- A line skirts that fit snuggly around my waist - as I lose wieght they end up fitting comfortably just under my belly button/on my hips. As long as you're careful with skirt lengths (go for the shorter end of what you like now, so that when its sits a few inches lower its not too long).

- Close fitting jeans with a bit of stretch in them. When I lose weight I tumble dry them, and the heat shrinks them by enough to fit with a belt.

Thats how I get round it - this way I only have to replace clothes when I've gone down two or more sizes. I do however have some gorgeous things in the cupboard for when I lose more weight!!!

I am the person who started this string, and I have to thank you all.  You guys have had a LOT of good advice here, and different perspectives on it all.  Not everyone takes exactly the same strategy, but obviously we all face it! 

One thing, I realized in thinking about all this, is that I have been trying to buy a pants size, one size too small (the size I hope to fit into) - that creates the muffin top. So then I buy tops too big, to cover the muffin (glad you looked that up - its a good word to know!)  So maybe its better to buy pants the size that fits me NOW, and then I dont have to buy too large of tops, to cover the muffin.

I am going to try looking at an upscale consignment store.

I am going to try buying a few clothes at my "now" size.

You are right - I dont know if I will get to that smaller size, or honestly, how long it will take. 

I do deserve to look good now.

A couple years ago, the baby doll look was in, and I do have that.  It doesn't exactly flatter my new shape, which I kind of would rather not totally hide.  But there are some good styles now, with some "fullness" to them, that still can cover my tummy a bit, without me feeling like I am wearing maternity tops.  Cotton looks better than most t-shirt material or many "knits".

I even bought an exercise top that is not oversized.  That was really hard for me to do, since I am used to "hiding" myself, and thinking that anything fitted is only for "perfect" bodies.  Someone told me I look better in slightly fitted, even with a tummy, than wearing sizes too big for me.

Logistically, its hard to know how to clothe the evolving body, but its also hard "emotionally" and to know what flatters, what we feel comfortable wearing, getting used to our new bodies in clothing, feeling proud of where we have come, not expecting ourselves to be "model perfect" to wear anything except "tents."  I hardly have "abs of steel" although I have been working on them, and for me - for my age (52) - I've made a lot of progress.

You've given me ideas, and some confidence to "celebrate now" without going overboard. 

Thank you.