I've lost nearly enough to shop in a non-"fat lady" store (Lane Bryant and Avenue). Where should I go first? Where do you think is the best place to shop now that you are thinner?

I shop at Dress Barn too. Just recently found out the same thing.... 1X and XL are not the same. I walked out with a XL, and I was soooo proud of myself for fitting in just an EXTRA LARGE..... EXTRA LARGE seemed TINY after wearing a 3X for the past decade or two!!!!

Totally get what you gals are writing about. I posted on the NSV thread last night that I went shopping with my girlfriend and got into size 12 slacks and was trying on XL tops. They were too big and my friend knew it. she kept bringing me. medium and smalls... which fit. I started out a year ago at size 26 pants and 4X tops. Oh and I shop at Walmart and Penney's a lot because I don't stay in the same sizes for long.

It's the most amazing feeling in the world to be able to go to reg dept stores i.e Macys, L&T and not have to tell my friends to hang on while I check the plus size section. I'm down to a large from a 2x and loosing more weight so I'm pretty exited!

Do you have Mango and Zara where you live? They sell very stylish clothing and not too expensive.

I love Ann Taylor, too (as a previous poster mentioned). Also like White House Black Market--you can pick up their stuff cheaply at an Outlet Mall.

At first I did Walmart because I was in the losing stage so I got cheap stuff because I knew I wouldn't be in them long. Now that I'm below goal, I shop at Sears, JCPenny, Macy's, or Dillard's. Wherever there's a sale. Good luck and continued success.