All too often, women who want to lose weight wear clothes that don’t fit. They feel like it is an admission of failure to go up a size. They think it is a waste of money if they are focusing on losing weight. I think this is detrimental because wearing clothes that are too small provides a constant reminder that your body isn’t where you want it to be. It puts focus on what you dislike about your body. It highlights all of the parts you want to change. It ends up making you feel shameful about where your body is now. Not to mention the fact that you will likely be wearing clothes that are a bit out of style because you have been stuck in this trap for a while. All of these things lead to self-sabotage in your weight loss efforts because it feels like your efforts are futile. Instead, wear clothes that fit and look flattering. You will start to feel more confident which will lead you to be more motivated in your weight loss goals. Research shows and we can all attest that we simply feel better when we think we look attractive. That can be as simple as a wardrobe update. That is all fine and good, but what about the money, right? Yes, it can be expensive to buy a new wardrobe. I am not suggesting that you do so if you aren’t happy with your current weight and you are actively working toward weight loss. There are a few things you can do:
Participate in a clothing exchange. I have to give a shout out to my friend and neighbor Karin Palle. She organizes a clothing exchange for each season. Women clean out their closets and bring her all of the clothes for that season. She organizes them in piles by size and then we have a shopping party. I have gotten some pretty cute items! If you don’t want to go to the trouble of organizing your own, find one online. I just came across a plus size clothing exchange group on facebook the other day. It is a completely free way to get some new items and it forces you to get rid of the clothes you need to let go.
Shop at the thrift store. There are so many cute clothing items that can be found at the DI or Goodwill. You just have to be a little patient. It is more difficult to find what you are looking for when it isn’t clearly laid out by style like a department store, but you can find some great pieces.
Focus on buying clothes that have some flexibility. By flexibility, I mean two things. 1) Clothing that can be used several ways. Find pieces that can create different looks, so you have versatility and 2) Clothing items that can be worn for quite a while as you lose weight. Skirts are a great example. They are easy to adjust if you lose weight. They can be pinned or taken in easily.
Michelle Lewis
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Michelle Lewis has been working in the mental health field since 2001. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Weber State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals.
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