Anxious About Buying New Clothes

[Lisa821 29]

I'm almost four months postop and have lost 54 pounds and lots of inches. My clothes are ridiculously big. I need to buy new clothes but I feel overwhelmed with anxiety when I think about shopping. What is with that?? I've always hated shopping but I think that's because it was ALWAYS a disappointment. Nothing every looked good, couldn't wear the cute trendy clothes that the skinny girls were wearing and my size kept going up up up. Perhaps I'm anxious about being disappointed in some way? Maybe my new size won't be as small as I would like it to be? Oh I don't know....I DO know that I am full of anxiety just posting about it. However, I did force myself to buy one new pair of scrubs about a months ago but I'm getting sick of washing them so often. I still wear my old ones but I'm drowning in them...I look ridiculous. Anyone else feel this kind of anxiety? Maybe if I talk this through with my friends(you guys), I will gain the courage to go try on some clothes? Ugh I actually feel nauseous...what a weirdo huh? LOL! Thanks for listening!

[Joiebean 53]

Hey there Lisa. The anxiety about shopping is completely normal. I kept saying I was going to get rid of my clothes.....and I didn't, because I didn't think this would actually work. Nothing else had in the past, so who was I fooling. BUT I had a similar moment like this last week. I'm down 30lbs and it was jeans day at work. I put on my old 18's and, while I could deal with a baggy butt, I had a baggy front!! It looked awful. So I sucked it up, completely convinced I was going to fail...but I tried on my 16's and guess what...THEY FIT! They were snug but they fit and looked A LOT better than the 18's. And you know what....its okay if we "fail" when trying on clothes....cause those skinny little girls "fail" to. Imagine trying on clothes and having no chest to fill them out....or having no butt to fill out the back of your pants. We all have our "things" when trying on clothes. Hey...i really want a new bathing suit, but haven't even gotten close to braving that front yet! I keep putting it off. One thing at a time. Maybe just go get a new pair of scrubs...not cause you 'want' too but because you 'have" to. And then go from there. Start with shirts cause they tend to fit a variety of body types. Pants are hard. I'm just starting to break ground here. But I ordered some shirts last week from Chico's online and got them in last night. I put one on this morning and you know what??? It was tooooo big!! I ordered what I thought had to be my size (cause how far away from an XL could I really be, right?) well I should have ordered a medium. Go figure!! We have your back girl, and if it turns out to be a frustrating experience....well just come on here and tell us about it! Vent girl!

[Lisa821 29]

Thanks Joiebean!

It always helps to know you're not alone in your stress. That's so cool that you guessed the size too big. I would like that to happen to me. Right now my jeans fit a little big when they a straight out of the dryer but after about an hour of wearing them, they are falling off. I hate having to yank them up every couple minutes. I also have the baggy thing going on in the front and back. Looks so weird and wrong. My yoga pants that I sleep in are so big that I rotate inside them when I roll over in bed. Kinda funny actually. I probably need a much smaller bra too. This is so weird. I like it but yet it gives me the creeps. I really thing I need a whole new wardrobe. Because I'm only 4 months postop, I could lose more so I won't buy everything but maybe a pair of jeans, couple shirts and bras? I really don't want to spend too much money but there's always the clearance racks. Thanks for your support and friendly words of wisdom. I will keep you posted.

[Joiebean 53]

Oh!! Totally...clearance and sales...especially online!! They have some awesome deals and if you google whatever store it is and coupons (retailmenot.com usually has them all) you can usually get free shipping! I'm still short on energy so shopping in the mall makes me tired really quickly. Online is great. Looking at your BMI....you are lower than me so the sites I've been looking on have been great. Speigel is doing an 80% off sale to get rid of inventory, Chico's has a great sale going on, 6pm.com has good deals on clothes, Supershoes has a huge variety of scrubs, there are a ton of them right now cause everyone is trying to get rid of their winter clothes. Venus.com is also a really fun site that I got a couple 14's. Their highest size is 14, but I know it will come!!

[Joiebean 53]

and you can try them on at home without the pressure of being in the store. Don't have to take people along with you, just try on in your house and send 'em back if they don't work. But I think you're underestimating yourself!! Go for it and see what happens!

[FishingNurse 1,210]

Lisa I felt the exact same way. Now I can't stop buying SIZE 10 JEANS.... oh and they look cute!!! It goes away. Almost everytime I go shopping I am pleasantly suprised what fits me and how it looks..... Give it a try! I wear scrubs as well (I am a nurse) and I went from 2x to all large and medium now-- and I buy all of them from the clearance racks. They are all cute. There are no cute 2x scrub tops!

[Pookeyism 1,143]

I was wondering if anyone ever felt this way - i don't get nauseated, more very impatient.

It has not changed any - grrr!

[Doreykn 113]

When I had to get new jeans, I went to resale shops! 2 pairs of jeans for $10.00 (like new too)... I will continue to hit the resale shops until I meet my goal weight! I started giving away my old clothes! Hard to do, but I'm doing it!

[Lisa821 29]

Resale shops!! Yes...we have two of them in my area. I went there and got great deals on clothes for my kids. I never thought of that for me. Sometimes they even have things that were NEVER worn. For the last 10 years I've bought the same brand of jeans because I got sick of trying to buy them in "regular" stores and they never fit right. I held most of my weight in my back side. The jeans I have now, that are too big, are size 20-22. The one pair of scrubs I did finally buy were size L and I had been buying XL(which were a hair tight). That was about a month ago and I've lost 12 pounds since then. My scrubs tops are so big that I'm ready to sell or give them away. Most of them are XL. I'm going to make it a goal to find time to go shopping this weekend and buy a couple things. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm also going to check out those websites that you suggested. Thanks for the tips!

[june13sleever 223]

Don't buy a lot. You will lose more and it is a BIG waste of Money. I literally am down to 3 dresses, two pairs of pants and one shirt that fit right now. I am getting rid of everything else.

When those get too big I am going to go naked. Shopping at a thrift store sucks because sizes are all over the place.

I have 14 stuff if anyone wants it!

[Lisa821 29]

LOL! Naked!! That is funny, I love it!

[Queen of Crop 1,103]

Interesting post! I was never a big shopper either but if it zipped up, I bought it as I was convinced I would never find anything else that fit! Now, shopping is so much fun because so much looks good on me for once in my life! I'm still wearing a lot of tops that I had before (they just look so much better now) but I am down to just a few pants. I'm shopping at H&M (cheap, basic stuff), Target and Ross. My problem is not buying too much because I am still 25 lbs from goal. I think once you start wearing things that fit and that are cute, you'll start feeling better about shopping. I think the online idea is great, try them on at home.....Zappos.com is fantastic for this as you don't have to pay to return anything. Have fun with it! I have two photos on my blog where I'm wearing the same clothes but one is pre-surgery and one post-surgery. What a difference; but I'm happy to be able to wear them still.

www.queenofcrop.com

[Lyra 43]

Have you tried taking along a good friend/family member with you? When I get to that stage the only person I'm willing to go with is my BFF, who is also practically my sister. She's the most nonjudgemental person I know and is one of my main cheerleaders. We're gonna hit the thrift stores for awhile until I get to goal. It might make your shopping more fun, and less stressful!

[Pookeyism 1,143]

When I had to get new jeans, I went to resale shops! 2 pairs of jeans for $10.00 (like new too)... I will continue to hit the resale shops until I meet my goal weight! I started giving away my old clothes! Hard to do, but I'm doing it!

I am giving away clothes too - just remeber to keep you reciepts for donations. It WILL add up, and it can come off your taxes.

I think I am going to start selling the better pieces and save it to go into a friends piggy bank for her VGS.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I have very few cloths that fit right now. I bought some Levi jeans that I out grew in about 4 weeks. I also have a size 11 that I outgrew but I still wear them with a belt. I have bought some clearance sexy blouses from Victoria Secret and that's it. Oh recently I bought a size 10 blazer and M blazer with 1 blouse that is a little snug across the shoulders. I love my new body. It's absolutely beautiful. This hard work is paying off.