Old Clothes

The season is changing here in NJ from late summer to really being fall and I'm getting ready to put away my summer clothes and pull out the heavier fall and winter stuff. My fall and winter clothes are fine because I haven't worn then since before I got pregnant and I am just now approaching (4 pounds to go) my pre-baby weight. So I know I'll be able to get by on them for a while. My summer clothes, on the other hand are mostly too big more me now. Even though I've lost only 22 pounds many of the pants are to big and although most of the shirts probably are still fine, I'm HOPING that next summer they will ALL be much to big. I'm contemplating not storing any of the summer clothes, but putting everything except underware and shoes in a bag to donate to Goodwill. Most of it is nearly brand new (I bought most of it before I went back to work in June). But I'm scared. I've never been able to realistically think that clothes would REALLY be too big by the time the season rolled around again. So this is how I see my options: 1. Have confidence in myself and in the band and chuck those size 20 clothes because next summer I'll need to buy smaller sizes anyway. or 2. Hold on to them in case something happens and they still fit next summer. Option #2 seems sane, reasonable, prudent, and TOTALLY DEPRESSING. Option #1 seems exciting, confident, and TOTALLY RISKY. WHAT SHOULD I DO? -Elizabeth

I vote for number 1!!! Take the chance and believe that you will NOT need those fat clothes next year. I am not holding onto a single thing, underwear i****ting the trash, anything that is good enough to dontate, I dontate. The rest makes good use as rags...or just feel the FREEDOM of pitching it in the can. I spent a lifetime going up and down and to keep the fat and thin clothes was an old habit that's hard to break. Clothes cost money and we insanely want to be practical and hang onto everything we have. The closets are full, and God forbid you should pull out and try to squeeze into a size that you wore ten years ago, by mistake. If it doesn't fit, it flips us OUT!!! My rationalization in this situation is to believe that style and trends will change and I DON'T want to be caught dressed like 1992. I also don't want to have to resort to clothing that only my MOTHER would wear. The only fat clothing I keep is my stretch pants and shorts...my t-shirts already are way toooooo huge and were giving to my hubby for shop rags. My closet will be sort of empty for awhile, but I am not keeping anything that is larger than my size...I refuse to believe that I will ever need them again. I say go for it, but if you can't quite separate from them, box them up and store them away and out of sight...by March, the need for summer stuff will be good and you will know by then if you truly dare to cut the security strings. It's a kind of compromise. Linda

Dump (donate) 'em. I did the same thing last summer and not one thing fit this year, including stuff that I hadn't even gotten a chance to wear. So . . . .6 bags of clothes (since even things from last winter are baggy, and my husband's lost weight as well) are off to the local church's free clothing giveaway this Saturday. The only thing that I've held on to is one pair of pants that I wore to the hospital on the day of surgery. They're a size 32; I'm down to an 8. It's so much fun to unfurl them and climb into one leg! Bette

Elizabeth- Chuck 'em!!! I'm in the same boat. My surgery was a little over a month ago and so far I've lost 22 pounds. Most of my pants, dresses, and shirts are way too big, baggy, and sloppy looking. I am passing them on to a friend who is losing weight too. I have another friend who is a few months ahead of me and she's passing on clothes to me. I hate to spend extra $$$ right now when I'll only wear them for a short while. I NEVER want to fit into those clothes again. It feels really good to clean out 7 bags of clothes from my closets. Keep up the great work! Warmly, Sallita Ballard

Toss them...I did it yesterday and it was so freeing!! My closet is absolutely empty now but so what!!! Tracy 313/225/150

I did it this spring - got rid of winter pants as well as some summer that were already too big to bother with - felt great! I have only changed about a size or two but I plan on doing the same when I switch to my fall clothes soon! great job!!! banded 11/1 237 / 181 / 140 goal

Get rid of them! By donating to Goodwill you will be providing folks with nice clothes at a good price, and you will find surprises in your closet that you had long forgotten about. And that is a wonderful feeling!!! Chelle 291/261/145

Dear Elizabeth, I spent the entire day going through closets and drawers and finding clothes in MANY sizes. I now have them boxed up and ready to go to Goodwill. I was banded on 5-2-05 and have lost 47 pounds. I'm strangely upset at getting rid of all my old clothes. What's that about? I'm thrilled at the weight loss, but yet I find getting rid of all my "old friends" is a little scary. Jan S.

Elizabeth, Thanks you so much for posting this message.....all of a sudden I got this huge smile just thinking, "OMG, next summer these clothes I am currently wearing will be falling off me. I will never have to wear them again". I AM SO HAPPY.....I can get rid of them now knowing this!!!!! I can't wait to clean out my closet.....thank you, thank you , thank you..... Have a great day and have fun cleaning out your closet too. Margo

I was told by one of the posters here that I had on a nice outfit in my profile, but that a year after my surgery I'll be able to use it as a parachute!! I can't wait!