Feeling fat and in need of motivation

I went to the mall with a friend today to buy some new items for my spring wardrobe. Big mistake. I soon realized that I couldn't fit into any of the beautiful clothes. To make matters worse, the employees were extremely attractive and fit women who could make a paper bag look like a red carpet dress. I, on the other hand, looked like a pig that just consumed 1000lbs of lard.  

I guess I'm just looking for some motivation because I'm feeling extremely discouraged. I feel as if no matter how much effort I put into losing weight, I will never look or feel as good as those women.

 Has anyone else experienced this?  

Yeah, malls are hardly the most inspiring setting for anyone. Really we all know this. The "standard" set for beauty by the mainstream fashion industry is largely unobtainable. One thing that hit me hard (and I'm under 30) was the appearance of size 0 about 10 years ago. We didn't have that when I was a teenager. 

What the HECK is that size 0! Really we *want* to encourage that?

Some ideas for better clothes shopping. 

1. Go with someone who is about the same size as you, it's really hard to watch a friend who is super skinny model item after item that will make you feel bad about yourself.

2. Go to stores that you know have a good range of sizes that is compatible with your body type. I teeter on the boarder line between regular and plus sizes. It felt weird going into a plus sized store for the first time. But after I went I was hooked. The sales staff were great, very positive, friendly  and outgoing. And the clothes not only fit but were cut for my body type. This made shopping much more fun. 

3. Learn what looks good on your body and avoid trying cuts that are not flattering. Short cuts, and straight cuts look awful on me. Empire waists and A-lines are my friends.

4. Find some healthy beauty images. I'm so glad Dove is going mainstream with the campaign for real beauty. Check out some sports figures, alternative magazines and throw out any beauty magazines, they only make you feel ugly (irony that). 

Stay positive and stay motivated. 

I used to look at every shopping experience in the way you described it. It made me feel fat, unattractive, just plain negative. I looked at the employees and felt steam practically roll out of my ears. Finally, I got tired of looking at sizes and comparing myself to everyone else. I just got frustrated. Shopping for yourself should be FUN- not torturous. I know, a strange thought huh? :P

Anyways, look for clothes you know will fit and look good. Like supersized said above, find what fits your body type. I know there are certain fashions we all want to wear, but sometimes they just aren't meant for everyone. I was just at my fav store NY & Co the other day and tried on some khaki dress pant capris. Lets just say I put them back very quickly. Do not look at the sizes either, it's just discouraging. If you have to go up one or two, or more, don't let it bother you. Every manufactuer is different. Even within the same brand I've found the same size doesn't fit the same.

It's not how much you weigh or what size you buy, it's how the clothes make you LOOK and feel :)

New York and Company is my absolute favorite store of all time!  They carry a wide range of sizes and awesome clothes (esp since they have pretty good sales in between seasons). 

Feeling fat in certain mall stores is something I think a lot of people have been through, so you are certainly not alone.  Finding stores that fit your lifestyle (ie. more professional and grown up looking clothes verses the size two party clothes a lot of stores carry) is much easier than fitting yourself into some strangely conceived notion of thinness and beauty.

Try to enjoy yourself next time you end up at the mall!

Wow you're definately not the only one Infinateheart!  I know exactly what you mean.  EVERYTIME my b/f and I went shopping together I would walk out literally crying.  We went on vacation one time, to Montreal and I wanted to shop there, and i felt the same way there, and I stopped walking, and walked over to the side and was crying to him about how they are so skinny and I feel stupid walking in there.  To make matters worse... most girls find comfort in shoes. but with me i have wide feet so all the sexy shoes i want to wear and other girls my age (mid-20's ) wear , dont fit me. 

The suggestion given were great! Honestly for me, one day I was like you know what I dont want to do this anymore.  I want to feel good and shop like everyone else instead of walking out crying.  So I just didnt go to the malls or stores. and I concentrated on ME.  This is when I decided to join the gym, eat right and get support from CC.  Since then i've lost 15 and now when I go shopping I feel great. And I dont care anymore that i'm not skinny like those girls.  i feel so much better now, that i have that confidence back.  that I can walk into ANY store at this point and not feel like an idoit.  I still find clothes that dont fit right , that may look better on a skinner body but its come to a point now that it doesnt matter, b/c  I have come to realize that I cant look like them even if i tried, but why would i want to now anyways, I like the way I look.  So I think building that self confidence up first would help you out alot.  I have a friend who is a size 0 i could never go shopping with her b/c she looked so skinny and i felt fatter than ever.  but now we are still alot different in sizes ( I only dropped 1 size), but i'm okay with it now, i dont feel like i did before. So even if you may never look like these women.  its okay.  b/c you would have that self-confidence..