OLD HABITS KEEP HAUNTING......

Hello to all, I was just thinking about posting to a problem I am having and wonder if any of you have had this. My daughter has been working at jcp for a week now and she has come across some really great deals. Well... Last night she came by and gave me two dresses that were clearanced to see if I could wear them. She knows I dont stay in clothes that long and they were really cheap. They where sag harbor at that. $40.00 to start with and now $9.50. Well I didnt know what size I would wear concidering I havent shopped at a "normal" store in years. Catherines has always been my store to buy anything just about being 400 pounds for so many years. Well the dresses were 22's. And believe it or not they fit. I was so shocked. But the problem wasnt that at all. It was the fact that I have lead such a sheltered overweight life that I cant seem to get out that rut. They were light and airy and sleeveless dresses. And not to mention a pattern that I would have never wore at all must less looked at. But when my daughter got me to try them on she went on and on about how slimming they were and looked so nice. Well... I cant seem to get myself to get out of the same things I have wore all my life. Drab and dull and very plain colors. Not to mention the 20-30 yr older looking clothes for larger women,mostly darks. They have no elastic and weren't jogging pants. But dont get me wrong. I love my dark colors anyway but I cant seem to catch up with what size I am at. It seems to unreal to me and change has never been my stronger point bu no means. Tanja told me it would take a while to get used to it but when? I feel so self concience wearing anything that might show a lil body skin (arms) or shape. So was just wondering if any of you out there have experienced this. Its not a great feeling even though the size of the clothes were great... Hugs marge

Oh yeah Marge. I think all of us that have lost a significant amount of weight have or are experiencing this. I've probably been a bit different than you in that I've had to dress up for work for my whole working life. That meant I spent thousands of dollars on very nice dress clothes for the SMO woman. I ordered everything as there were no stores I could go into. I really felt I dressed as nice as I possibly could weighing close to 400 lbs. When it was time for me to give up all those clothes, it was bitter sweet as they were all beautiful and very well made. I had suits that I had gotten 10 years out of, that still looked great. Anyway, as I started shrinking, I had to start wearing hand me downs from other weight loss surgery patients and I started shopping at the cheapest possible places since I knew it would be a short time I would wear the clothes. I had a rude awakening to the cheap clothes. They may look good on you the first time you wear them, but, you must take great care in washing and caring for them, because they become ruined very easily. They also fall apart very easily. I haven't been used to this. But, until I truly stabilize, I refuse to spend good money on clothes. So, I'm getting accustomed to these now. I do hope I lose the other 36 lbs that I want to and then I plan on buying some nice things. Right now, I'm wearing a pair of somewhat frayed capris that another WLS patient gave me and a cheap $10 shirt I got at JC Penneys the other night. Everyone keeps telling me today how nice I look...so I guess I do. When I first started wearing short sleeves or sleeveless shirts it was hard to get used to my arms. I have to say though that with all my weight lifting, my arms are looking better than I thought they would. I don't think anyone can understand the enormity of this transformation for us unless they have been SMO!!! We understand Marge... Experiment a bit. Let your hair down. You deserve it! Big Hugs, Lori

Yes Marge it happened to me just today. I'm sitting here typing this in a pair of rather tight but still on me 16's. I just can't seem to take them off I'm so damn happy!! I did buy a pair of 22's and a 1x shirt and a 2x shirt and a sleeveless 18/20 for Wally. I NEVER EVER let anyone see my arms. FOR years I've worn shirts to just above my knee and right down to my elbow and that's how I've liked it. I feel strange wearing anything else. I'm so used to covering all my flaws that I don't feel comfortable showing them. I'm still flawed but I can't convince myself not quite as flawed as before. Do what I did...put on the dresses and take lots of pictures. I got my husband to take pictures of me and I could see what I REALLY looked like. I wasn't thrilled with some of them but when I look back at where I was and where I am now it's a big difference. I know that 18's and 20's seem big to some people but for us it's so exciting and you just want to shout it to the world. I told Lori I'm investing in a tummy cincher to hide this little mini butt roll that my incision has made and then I think I will be MUCH happier with my appearance. I'm going to post pics tonight of my new outfits I'd LOVE to see your new dresses!! GREAT BIG HUGS, Jamie PS We are beautiful butterflies now and we have to spread our wings!!!