Officially down 83lbs...

[Guitrman 11]

Officially down 83lbs... I feel so amazing.... NOTHING FITS ME.. but I refuse to buy clothes yet! Setting small goals and hitting them...

at 100 I will need too! LOL

To all the new people please hang in there and do your best. YOU CAN DO IT!

G

[MegInNOLA 531]

Congratulations to you! You're off to an awesome start!

[kellyw74 258]

WOOP WOOP!!

Good for you!!

Kelly

[wishes 125]

Lol, I totally understand your mindset. I think after surgery I will be of the same opinion. Congrats!

[Ms Lady in NC 1]

Like you, I am in dire need of a new wardrobe but refuse to slurge just yet. I buy undergarments as needed but found out after my first month how silly it is to spend hundreds on clothes for a few weeks only to repeat the cycle all over again. But being a female, doubt I could wait that long. I usually go to Ross or Marshalls and shop in the clearance section for basic colors or styles. There is also a consignment store I take my clothes to now and because I am a thrifty shopper, sometimes get more than I paid for an outfit and go buy a new size that way. I just can't seem to handle the "droopy" look in my pants but can get away with tops or skirts for a couple sizes if I buy them a little more tight fit in the beginning. I say treat yourself to at least 1 outfit every new size, if for nothing other than having it in case you need to go somewhere and not look so bad in unfit clothes.

[Rev Me Up! 75]

GO SHOPPING!!! That's the best part :-)

You will be amazed at the sizes you can get into and how amazing you look!! Even if you just go to Walmart for a pair of jeans and a couple of t-shirts. Seriosuly, go do it. It feels wonderful, and you will look fantastic.

Congratualtions!!!!!

[SKCUNNINGHAM 298]

You are having wonderful results - revel in your accomplishments!

[Cindy-Lynn 10]

You're doing great. I can't wait to be in your shoes!

[imawhodat 3]

Great job!!!

[biggriz 3]

Hey Nice Job!!! I can't wait to be there myself!

Keep it up and share your wisdom with the rest of us.

[Yassy2 0]

Congrats! I just got approved for my surgery, but I was a size 4 - 8 years ago and I still have the nice clothes I used to wear back then (like shorts and sun dresses from like BCBG & banana Republic, ETC) in my attic. I'm look at them once in a while wishing I could fit in them. SICK I know. LOL. But I've been battling weight for so long I just thought I would be like this for ever. Again, congrats on your success and I hope to be in your shoes in less than a year.

[CaliforniaJenn 0]

83 lbs is amazing! You are an inspiration to those of us just getting started on this journey.

Maybe just go buy a few staples of clothing in your new size...then people will notice more how much smaller you are! Sometimes it's hard to tell if someone's lost weight if the clothes are drowning them out.

[kellyw74 258]

I shop clearance raks because I never stay the same size for long and paying a lot for clothes sucks anyway, let alone when you only wear them like twice!!

I paid $8 for a pair of jeans like 3 weeks ago, have worn them twice and they won't stay up on my hips now. I don't feel so bad about it, like I would if I would have paid $50 or more for them.

I also just bought some new white dress pants for work and yesterday was the second time I wore them, it looked like I pooped my pants. That is how baggy they were! They have to go in the don't wear pile now!! It is sad, but so gratifying at the same time! Expensive too!!

That is why goodwill, Ross and Kohls are my friend right now!! Visit one today!!!

Kelly

[Tenshi 34]

Congrats! I so look forward to being at this point some day.

[Wheetsin 714]

Do you by any chance wear 36x36 - 42x36 pants or 2XL shirts? I have boxes of them that I need to get rid of (hubby's).

I haven't lost any sizes in the last 2 years... haven't gone up either though. I did the "new qwardrobe per size" thing. It was costly, but a good investment for affirmation.

A few strategies you can use, 'cuz we're all going to need smaller sizes at some point before we're completely done.

- Focus on basics. A pair of black slacks, and a brown-toned pair - solid or print. Completely interchangeable with any career wear. WHen rapidly changing sizes, I became completely hooked on the camisole (LB style stretchy tank) and cardigan sweaters. I now wear their canisoles layered with something else almost every day. They go on sale for about $9 -- the cheapest way to completely change the look of a shirt.

- For casual, a single pair of jeans can also be cuffed up for island capris.

- Shop clearance for upcoming sizes. I just got back from buying some summer clearance. I don't expect to lose any sizes this summer so I just got my current size, but since empire waist cross dresses were on sale for $9 I'd have bought the next size down if I did. If I had any clue what size I'd be wearing next summer I would have bought it too.

- I can find really fun and unique things at Marshall's and TJ Maxx (saw someone else mentioned them too).

- Have a local support group? Me and about 6 other ladies from mine all had surgery a few months apart, and all started around the same size. Usually when one of us was getting out of a size, another was going into it. This worked really well, except for pants (I'm about 4" taller than the next tallest)

- Pants can be reasonably taken down about 2 sizes before they start too look really weird (IME, anyway). Most dresses can be worked for about three sizes if you tuck the waist - same with skirts.

(I know the dress & skirt tips probably don't help OP too much, but most subsequent responses were from females)