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AIBU?

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Original poster

Buying clothes too small

89 replies

funnygreen33 · 25/04/2021 15:30

Basically with the lockdown restrictions lifting, I have decided to do something about my weight. Prior to the lockdown starting 12 months ago, I was a size 8 5ft6 and very active. I watched my diet and made sure I was active. Since last year I am now a 12.

I am thinking of buying size 8 jeans as motivation to help me lose weight.

Has anyone else tried this and does it work?

OP posts:
wigglerose · 27/04/2021 12:07

By the time you losr the weight styles may have moved on or it's the wrong season and you need shorts not jeans for example. Buy clothes you look good in now.

roastpotatoesss · 27/04/2021 13:04

You can't hate yourself into loving your body OP, that way madness lies! Buying something new that doesn't fit you will just make you feel like a failure every time you look at the offending item.

Try on your old size 8 clothes as a measurement of how your diet is going if you must, but buying something new is bonkers and a waste of money.

roastpotatoesss · 27/04/2021 13:05

Also don't be too hard on yourself- we've been in a global pandemic, life has changed completely. So what if you've gained some weight? It doesn't make you failure.

Stepawayfromdrgoogle · 27/04/2021 13:10

Even with weight loss your shape may have changed such that you don’t manage to fit back into size 8 clothes.

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 27/04/2021 13:11

It’s never worked for me. When I have lost weight, by the time I’ve lost enough to warrant new clothes I wanted something new and different anyway.

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 13:20

@roastpotatoesss

You can't hate yourself into loving your body OP, that way madness lies! Buying something new that doesn't fit you will just make you feel like a failure every time you look at the offending item.

Try on your old size 8 clothes as a measurement of how your diet is going if you must, but buying something new is bonkers and a waste of money.

I tried on some size 8 jeans yesterday.

Lets just say they don't fit

OP posts:
Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 13:22

@JeanClaudeVanDammit

It’s never worked for me. When I have lost weight, by the time I’ve lost enough to warrant new clothes I wanted something new and different anyway.
Is that because your sense of fashion/style changes?
OP posts:
Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/04/2021 13:44

I was up about 5lb from the start of lockdown one, so not enough that I've gained a dress size, but enough that some things didn't look nice or feel comfortable.

I got a pair of Topshop size 10 no-stretch trousers out of the wardrobe and hung them on the back of the bedroom door and have been trying them on every week to see how they sit. Much better now than a few weeks back!

Might that be a better approach than buying something new?

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 13:49

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

I was up about 5lb from the start of lockdown one, so not enough that I've gained a dress size, but enough that some things didn't look nice or feel comfortable.

I got a pair of Topshop size 10 no-stretch trousers out of the wardrobe and hung them on the back of the bedroom door and have been trying them on every week to see how they sit. Much better now than a few weeks back!

Might that be a better approach than buying something new?

I did try on my True Religion (really expensive brand) jeans yesterday. They were far from fitting which upset me. I thought about buying something new as it might motivate me more, than the older clothes I've worn for a while. Though the joy of fitting back into them might motivate me.

Yes non stretch is the way to go. New clothes are so so stretchy. Its no wonder some people say I fit size 8, 10, 12 jeans/dresses etc. Without the stretch, most wouldnt even be able to pull them up.

OP posts:
ThankYouDebbie · 27/04/2021 13:51

I found it more satisfying to have to start complaining that my trousers were too big and didn't fit anymore Grin People really start to hate you.

Wexone · 27/04/2021 13:54

I don't think this will work, I was in a similar position to you had clothes in my wardrobe that didn't fit but only one size smaller. It killed me that couldn't fit into them. The in Sept last year, I hit my goal weight ( I was suppose to be getting married last year that was another motivation) I then tried everything on that was in my wardrobe - took a few days. Sold or donated anything that didn't fit. My god it felt great to fit into a pair of jeans that I have had since I was in college, it was like I had a new wardrobe. I have bought new clothes since but am very strict on them, if the cut fit, quality etc doesn't suit it goes straight back. So my wardrobe is not full of stuff am not happy with . When we went back into lockdown I forced myself to wear jeans and trousers some days to ensure my weight didn't creep back up. When we had the lovely sun at the weekend I pulled out a beautiful summer dress that I bought years ago but never wore as was too small, it felt great to put it on and it fitted . Use your old clothes as your motivation, and save up to treat yourself when you hit your target. Best of luck

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 13:59

@ThankYouDebbie

I found it more satisfying to have to start complaining that my trousers were too big and didn't fit anymore Grin People really start to hate you.
Or the classic "don't lose anymore"
OP posts:
Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:04

@Wexone

I don't think this will work, I was in a similar position to you had clothes in my wardrobe that didn't fit but only one size smaller. It killed me that couldn't fit into them. The in Sept last year, I hit my goal weight ( I was suppose to be getting married last year that was another motivation) I then tried everything on that was in my wardrobe - took a few days. Sold or donated anything that didn't fit. My god it felt great to fit into a pair of jeans that I have had since I was in college, it was like I had a new wardrobe. I have bought new clothes since but am very strict on them, if the cut fit, quality etc doesn't suit it goes straight back. So my wardrobe is not full of stuff am not happy with . When we went back into lockdown I forced myself to wear jeans and trousers some days to ensure my weight didn't creep back up. When we had the lovely sun at the weekend I pulled out a beautiful summer dress that I bought years ago but never wore as was too small, it felt great to put it on and it fitted . Use your old clothes as your motivation, and save up to treat yourself when you hit your target. Best of luck
Wow well done you. Can I ask how much you lost, what size were you/now?

I think I need to start wearing clothes, like getting dressed in jeans/trousers/dresses even if its only to go shopping. That way, it will show me once i've lost it, if I start to regain.

OP posts:
Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:11

@wigglerose

By the time you losr the weight styles may have moved on or it's the wrong season and you need shorts not jeans for example. Buy clothes you look good in now.
Yes. I think I'll try and fit back into my older clothes
OP posts:
Wexone · 27/04/2021 14:14

I was 10 stone 8lbs( am 5 ft 5) now down the 9 stone mark. Was around size 10 mark sometimes a 12 (one of the signs I realized had to do something as never had to worry about my weight before) Now am a size 8 or a EU size 34 ( This is important as some shops class a EU size 34 as a 6). I do agree getting dressed differently will help you plus will boost your confidence. I wore a nice shirt dress, blazer and a pair of converse the other day just to Aldi

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:16

@Wexone

I was 10 stone 8lbs( am 5 ft 5) now down the 9 stone mark. Was around size 10 mark sometimes a 12 (one of the signs I realized had to do something as never had to worry about my weight before) Now am a size 8 or a EU size 34 ( This is important as some shops class a EU size 34 as a 6). I do agree getting dressed differently will help you plus will boost your confidence. I wore a nice shirt dress, blazer and a pair of converse the other day just to Aldi
I need your strictness and determination to do the same. I've not weighed as too afraid. But trying on my jeans yesterday certainly made me realise!
OP posts:
Wexone · 27/04/2021 14:24

Its was very hard, and took me about a year to get to my goal, And got very slow at the end. I love my food especially carbs. If I can do it you can too.

edwinbear · 27/04/2021 14:24

I did it with a pair of beautiful silk PJ's that were on sale in The White Company. I was at my heaviest, and MIL had given me some vouchers as a birthday present. I adored these PJ's on first sight, they were about 50% off and I thought they would make great use of birthday vouchers, but they didn't have my size. So I bought the smaller size, they fitted about 12 months later and I wear them regularly now. Grin.

ThankYouDebbie · 27/04/2021 14:24

I'm about the same as @Wexone but a bit shorter and a bit lighter Smile. However, I can just about admit now that at mid-forties and with several years decent dieting and exercising behind me, I'm never going to lose my belly, it's mostly post-baby stretched skin at this point - that shit doesn't disappear. Another reason why buying clothes to fit into might not work, because you don't know how your shape will end up.

It's really hard to say how you reach the tipping point that you really ARE going to do something about it though. For me, vanity was very high up in the mix, I love clothes and I want to look decent in them. I did a very strict 5:2 for about a year, now I maintain on a modified version.

Keepnamechangin · 27/04/2021 14:25

I did this long time ago in my early 20s.
I was overweight and size 16 and I thought if I buy size 10 jeans I will get inspired to lose weight and fit in them.
It did not work much.
I lost some weight but clearly not enough to fit into size 10- I managed to put them on but I could not buttoned them up or even pull them up well completely around.
In the end I binned them- those were years before EBay and FB so I just binned them instead of re selling them..in mid 90s.

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:25

@Wexone

Its was very hard, and took me about a year to get to my goal, And got very slow at the end. I love my food especially carbs. If I can do it you can too.
Well done. I'm glad you achieved your goal. I just need to get started. My jeans are waiting for me haha
OP posts:
rookiemere · 27/04/2021 14:26

I'm inspired now to get a pair of jeans I no longer fit and hang them up in sight. I've not put on much weight during lockdown but due to advanced age it seems to stubbornly accumulate on my stomach.

Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:27

@edwinbear

I did it with a pair of beautiful silk PJ's that were on sale in The White Company. I was at my heaviest, and MIL had given me some vouchers as a birthday present. I adored these PJ's on first sight, they were about 50% off and I thought they would make great use of birthday vouchers, but they didn't have my size. So I bought the smaller size, they fitted about 12 months later and I wear them regularly now. Grin.
Thats amazing. Well done. So it worked well for you :)
OP posts:
Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:27

@rookiemere

I'm inspired now to get a pair of jeans I no longer fit and hang them up in sight. I've not put on much weight during lockdown but due to advanced age it seems to stubbornly accumulate on my stomach.
What brand and size?
OP posts:
Original poster
funnygreen33 · 27/04/2021 14:29

@ThankYouDebbie

I'm about the same as *@Wexone* but a bit shorter and a bit lighter Smile. However, I can just about admit now that at mid-forties and with several years decent dieting and exercising behind me, I'm never going to lose my belly, it's mostly post-baby stretched skin at this point - that shit doesn't disappear. Another reason why buying clothes to fit into might not work, because you don't know how your shape will end up.

It's really hard to say how you reach the tipping point that you really ARE going to do something about it though. For me, vanity was very high up in the mix, I love clothes and I want to look decent in them. I did a very strict 5:2 for about a year, now I maintain on a modified version.

What made you decide enough was enough? I've heard good things about 5:2 but I feel I'd be hungry if I skipped breakfast
OP posts: