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I've been an Old Navy cargos girl for a long time because that's what fit. I've never done skinny jeans or fitted clothes of any kind. But my chunky monkey clothes are too big for me now, as pointed out by my best friend. So we went shopping. And it was overwhelming. I kind of shut down because 1) I have no idea what size I wear. 2) I don't know what my style is. My style before was kind of created for me as I found what fit and went with it. So, yeah, it's a great dilemma to have... But it's still a dilemma.

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I am an apparel technical designer that specailizes in fit. I have a couple of suggestions about what I will do when I get my sleeve and work hard and drop weight like crazy.

1) Fit is not generalize in the world we live in. I can wear a size 24 in store and a size 20 in another. Old Navy is not expensive and a good choice for trendy clothes. Start slow. If you bring jeans, blouse, dresses, and work wear into the dressing room you will be overwhelmed. If you are swimming in your pants, go to Old Navy and grab at least 3 sizes of jeans if you don't know your size. Try the biggest on first and work down from there. If skinny jeans don't look good but you found the right size, try a boot cut or straight or wide leg. Once you find, the right pair stop there and just buy the jeans. The next trip try shirt/blouses. Then the next dresses.

2) If you have a friend that knows how to sew take advantage of them. A good tailor/seamstress will know how to alter your existing clothing to fit you for a longer amount of time. A dress can go down a size with little problem. Pants will be more difficult. (I hate that it's winter and I can't wear a sun dress everyday.)

3)I suggest buying one staple piece like a black pants or a white blouse when you go down a size. You can mix and match with other clothing that may be a bit too big. Then when your white blouse is a size too big you could mix and match with a smaller size of jean or skirt.

4)If you do go into a store, ask the sales associates for help. Old Navy probably won't do this. If you tell them that you have had a sleeve, they will love playing dress up. especially if it is a slow day. Most sales associates will know what is on trend and you will be out of those cargo pants and in something you are comfortable with but still able to rock a trend that will only last as long as your current size.

5)Once you find a size, find a good thrift store. There are tons of great name brand stuff that is barely worn there. Consignment stores can be good too because you won't need those bigger sizes anymore.

6)Bras are going to be a hard one. Non padded bras that are stretchy and a bit smaller would be a good purchase or sports bras.

I hope this helps. I know it is frustrating when there are so many choice that you haven't had before. Take it one day at a time and enlist friends and family to help just like your weight loss.

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I'm having the same dilema right now. I've just about emptied my closet of all the old clothes and I don't want to spend a lot of money for clothes that will last only a few weeks, but I still need to dress halfway descent for work. My boss gave me permission to wear jeans during the weight loss, but I don't want to take advantage of that. I'm trying to find inexpensive staple pieces (black pants, plain shirts) and so far that has been working. I do buy the pants a little snug so they have been lasting a little longer.

I think once I'm closer to the goal weight, I'll really start investing in clothing. It's a different dilema to have, that's for sure!

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Ashcase, thank you so much for all that information! I really appreciate you for taking time to share that. Makes me feel hopeful that I won't be a cargos girl forever. Lol

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Pokeyjo, fortunately I wear a longish sweater at work so it hides the baggy butt as my pants get too big. Lol

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I go to the Goodwill u can't beat the price 3 to 5 bucks for pants and jeans and nice work out clothes to.

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Thanks Ashcase! That was really helpful!

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I love Goodwill. Right now I'm in a size 16 jeans and found a pair at Goodwill that was too tight on me. I was upset but other pairs of 16 will fit. Weird.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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