Where do I start?! :(

[MathsMadMummy]

I'm starting to veer off in the direction of looking like those women at the start of a Gok Wan show. Help.

Haven't bought any clothes since some maternity stuff before DS (my 2nd child) was born in August last year. I was losing weight quite fast (BFing) but that stopped when PND kicked in, am about 5st overweight although I don't look that much overweight IYSWIM? Am gradually trying to get in shape now but it's slow going.

When I was doing well I'd told myself I wouldn't buy anything until I'd lost more, and then I'd buy less but higher quality. I've got loads of fairly nice clothes but nothing fits - anything between size 14 and 20, some too big, some too small, others just don't fit my flabby body shape. I just want to live in trackies ATM.

DH and my mum both keep saying they'll treat me to new clothes but I feel I don't deserve it. In my head I think maybe it is a good idea to revamp my wardrobe a bit but it makes me nervous and I have no clue how to go about it.

YK I don't know what I'm on about, feel free to ignore this!

Mathsmadmummy - I think its a good idea to buy a few nice bits to get you through this next stage of weight loss. I always feel more motivated to lose weight if I'm feeling better about myself generally.

Would it be worth booking a personal shopping session in somewhere like john lewis or debenhams to give you a few ideas?

In the meantime - how tall are you and roughly what size? Are you working or do you want stuff for being at home with the dc's?

Sorry to hear about your pnd - is that getting better?

What size are you now?

There are some lovely clothes out there and if you have nice hair and makeup and some good funky necklaces, that can make all the difference!

I won't ignore this!
My advice is try not to live in trackies as it does nothing for your self-esteem. I have mild PND too and recently have treated myself to a few new clothes and making more of an effort every morning trying to put on something different and nice every day. This has lifted my spirits so much. A few weeks ago I went through my wardorbe and made a big pile for the charity shop filled with things that didn't fit or that I didn't feel 100% happy in. Discovering clothes I'd forgotten I had and enjoying wearing them again.

You DO deserve new clothes, your body has gone through a lot in the last months/years with pg and BF and you deserve a treat so take DH and DM up in their kind offers to treat you (lucky you! I'm ). As well as it being a treat, imo it's a necessity.

Enjoy the revamp and let us know how you get on!

PND is sort of static, am going to GP soon to get some medication. It's not severe anyway, thankfully!

I'm 5ft5ish, probably size 16/18 but it's hard to tell! Boobs have got massive bigger due to BFing, so it's hard to find nice tops, though I've at least got decent nursing bras now. My shape's changed since 2nd PG - this time there's more flab on my hips so a lot of my old tops ride up. Not a good look!

I'm a SAHM so just want easycare, practical stuff, but decent enough for when we're out and about (not much ATM but I'm working on it!). I'm 23 BTW, so I like youngish clothes.

I've thought about the personal shopping thing actually, Mum's had sessions and is going to treat me to one at some point - was going to be for my last birthday but I've postponed indefinitely - just not up to it yet.

I don't know, should I just get rid of everything that's too big, and get a few cheap-but-nice things that fit well?

Go to H&M, buy some cheap clothes, revamp yourself 2 or 3 outfits, and feel good about yourself, you can always ebay them or charity shop them when you have lost the weight. But this is you at the moment, and you need to feel good about you, irrespective of your size.

great bag, great shoes, nice bracelet.These 3 things do not require a certain "size",they will cheer you up no matter what.Perfume boost as well to kick start your new look, these things all require no dieting.

Yeap - h&m and new look are your friends.

Buy a few magazines - look and grazia are good and work out the type of stuff you like.

I am facing a similar problem, just feel quite blurgh. My plan of action is to mainly buy nice jewellery, shoes, bags etc. as they will last whatever weight I lose or gain. I am going to stock up on some basics aswell - 3-4 pairs of carefully chosen trousers and jeans (not just something grabbed in my size), plain vests/strappy tops, plain long and short tees and then add into that a few more bits that I really love.

thanks for the advice and reassurance ladies.

lol @ handbag... I've never had one... was always more of a surfy backpack (and now changing bag) girl! hmm maybe it's time I changed that too?! I have seen lots of lovely bright necklaces too.

And look on the C4 / Gok Wan website - it gives some pointers as to what shapes for what sizes IYSWIM.

mathsmadmummy also get a long length waistcoat for over tee shirts etc, they skim the bumps ifyswim.They are in all the shops at the moment.

And a fab pair of sunglasses and paint your nails too.

thank you all I might go shopping today if DH is up for a trip into town!

MMM, I may be really wrong, but from what you've said, it sounds like you are having a similar time of it to me- fluctuating weight, putting a large amount of weight on quickly, depressed...

It may be worth asking your GP about the possibility of hypothyroidism, or under-active thyroid. As I say, I am no medical professional, but something struck a chord, and it can be ruled out with a simple blood test.

I have started on medication for it, and feel miles better and am -slowly- losing weight. It may be worth checking out.

Oh, and buy some nice dresses. Tea dresses give you shape and make the most of your -ahem- assets. Something like This

hi mathsmadmummy, sorry you feel so rubbish.

i reckon you should chuck out everything thats too big. just do it. its cathartic!

then what you need to do is go to primark and buy some control pants. they are £5 each. you can get either the high waist shorts style ones or even higher waist nippers which are like normal knickers at the bottom. they saved my sanity i tell you!

once you have got them everything sits much better and they give you a lovely smooth outline to work with.

if you dont want to spend loads on 'interim' clothes then firstly dont buy any jeans (so depressing once you have lost a bit more weight and they are useless) leggings/long tunic tops/long cardigans might work plus they are cheap cheap in new look/primark/h&m so when they are also too big in a few months you can chuck them out too.

in the meantime go and buy yourself something nice like the other posters suggest - earrings/bracelet/handbag whatever. you deserve it - pnd is fecking hard work.

good luck x

Ooh that dress tethersend linked to is lovely!

Here's my suggested plan of action to add to very good advice above:

Definitely chuck out everything that's too big. Make a definite plan to do that this weekend (assuming you have time). And throw the stuff out or give it away (supermarkets often have charity donation things at them which take clothes) straight away.

Sort what you do have by size. And pack away anything that's really much too small just now. Don't put it in the back of beyond, but put it at the top of your wardrobe or in the loft in a suitcase or box that you can get to without huge amounts of effort. But just get that stuff out of the way just now too.

Then look properly at what you have and make a decision about what you need as an interim.

Depending what you find you have that already fits, I would say go for some good bf'ing tops that are comfy and practical - great that you have good bf'ing bras now so get 2-3 tops that will work. I don't really know where to try for that kind of thing but sure someone here willb e able to advise.

Def get a long cardi or waistcoat thing for an extra layer and as we still have variable weather. It can act as a substitute coat when it finally warms up.

Get a nice necklace or bracelet (depending what you're more likely to wear - I oculd never wear necklaces when bf'ing as dc always pulled at it)

Get some nice shoes, comfy, not necessarily heels, but something that makes you smile when you look at them.

And finally, book a hair appointment as I always find that helps with my overall feeling about my appearance.

You do deserve to be nice to yourself. If you can't face the whole style consultation now, promise yourself you'll do it soon and in the meantime, find another way to be nice to yourself (like hair, or make up if you're a make up person maybe?)

OMG mathsmadmummy, you are me! Got this post from 'depression list'. I'm the same 5ft6 and size 16/18 also bfing ds who was born end of august and my boobs well I hate them! I need to loose weight too, a couple of stone and I'd be happy! Don't even get me started on underwear I feel like the 'frumpy grey knickers no matching bra' freak! I had a catalogue sent through yesterday, Joe Browns it's great not cheap but not massively expensive either. Jewellery wise I'd opt for 'Silver by mail,' very inexpensive and beautiful. Reading this thread has actually got me thinking,life isn't all that bad and yes we must go shop, even if it's 1 outfit we feel good in and we wear it until it falls apart!!! Thank you for your inspiration!Really lifted me today.