Basically, right now, I'm in between Plus and Regular Size clothes. I am trying not to buy much until I'm at or closer to goal, but being a professional, I need some key pieces that aren't too big, especially pants. I do not want to look sloppy at work. I feel so out of place shopping in the regular section. I feel like people are looking at me like "IMPOSTER.....get back to your department." Okay, maybe not that extreme, but you get the point.

Will I ever overcome this?

I don't know if you'll overcome it, but you stated how I feel about clothes shopping very well. I keep waiting on security to come and drag me, kicking and screaming, back to the plus size section!

I am sure that you will. And as someone that is only 2 weeks out, I can tell you that I can't wait until I can be a regular size. I am a size 24. My favorite store to shop is Target, but their plus size section seems so marginalized. On a little corner, with so little options. Cheer up!!!! You are right there where a lot of us would love to be!! And it is only going to get better for you.

OMG! I always feel like that! My wife (any other gay sleevers out there?) is small - at the time of our wedding she was a size 2. Great thing about the lesbian relationship is being able to clothes shop and shoe shop with your beloved without the grousing. I felt like every time we went into JCrew or the Gap, people would think I didn't belong there and were staring at me. It made me hate shopping - I'd find a comfy husband chair and sit outside and wait for her. Now that she's pregnant, when we go maternity shopping I think the sales people think *I'm* the pregnant one!

I worked in a nice retail clothing chain throughout college and I can tell you that you would have to be wayyyyyy out of your size range for a salesperson to even blink about what section you are browsing in. People come in all different shapes and sizes so I never stopped being surprised whose butt fit into which size of pants! Even then, you could be shopping as a gift for someone else. Being able to fit a pinky toe into regular sizes is a huge accomplishment - keep your head held high. You belong there!!

:-) At the end of the school year, I went summer-clothes shopping and actually burst into tears in Penney's because I felt so disoriented--I knew exactly where to go for "my" clothes--the women's department, duh, and Lane Bryant, and Avenue--in these "new" stores, it seemed there were so many choices, and I had no idea what size I wore or how to find anything! I had a little melt-down.

At that time, i was just about a year out from surgery. I was almost used to being at my goal weight, and I was almost used to NOT being "the fat one." I can tell you that in three short months of summer, somehow I have blown right into "YAY!! I can shop anywhere, anytime, for anything!!!!" and it's a fantastic feeling! YES you will get past that discomfort. YES you will learn your "new" body and its sizes and what looks best, and YES it will be FUN.

This is a HUGE deal for me--I, too, have to dress professionally for work, and I always dreaded trying to find appropriate plus-size clothes (I wore 26/28 prior to surgery) that didn't look like tents.... SO difficult! And I used to sweat so much during hot weather or when I got hot working (I'm a conductor, so a pretty physical occupation) that my clothing also had to not look gross when dripping wet--another layer of complexity. Now all those problems have been solved--I rarely break a sweat any more, even in this HORRID south Louisiana heat and humidity, plus I can wear button-up blouses without worrying about a clothing "malfunction." Oh yeah, you'll get used to it!

I can totally relate. Happened to me when I was a size 16/18. Now I am a 12 (single digits come soon pls!! ) and shopping in regular stores. It feels awesome to have some many choices but I still feel weird and I feel that people are staring at me thinking fat girl get out of our store. I know it's my mind playing tricks on me. It hasn't gotten use to the idea that we are not that size anymore. Congrats!