Get Fit Slowly

32 responses so far ↓

• 1 heather // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:00 am

  you can always have your larger pants taken in, saving you money (this i learned by watching my dad lose and gain the same 15 pounds for the last 20 years)! shirts, unless they’re button-down, probably will need replacing though. altering jersey fabrics isn’t quite as easy.

• 2 Luke // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:11 am

  Thrift store!

• 3 Denise // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:19 am

  Aha - shopping! A topic I know quite a bit about! I would say go to Marshall’s or T.J. Maxx and look for a few transition pieces you like that are within the price limit you are willing to spend. I used to walk Lloyd Center during lunch (when I worked, back in the day) and I would always finish by cruising through Marshall’s. You would be surprised what you can find in there for just a little cash.

• 4 Daisy // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:49 am

  I’d go with Denise’s suggestion and buy some ‘cheaper’ transition clothes. It’ll make you look and feel better to have well-fitting clothes.

  You might want to swing by a tailor and see if they can alter your pants, some do it pretty cheaply, much cheaper than buying new clothes. Some have done amazing work for some of my clothes. Make sure it’s reputable one, or you’ll find yourself having to buy new clothes anyways

• 5 Derick Valadao // Aug 20, 2008 at 7:32 am

  I would like to offer advice from personal experience.

  Going from 200 to 154 in 4 months meant a ton of clothing needed to get tossed out. I shopped and tossed. I now regret that decision.

  My body fat percentage at 154 was a fair bit higher than it is now. What has changed was my body composition.

  I took up jogging recently, which means I needed to work my core and my legs extensively in order to get my form to a point where I could be comfortable enough at high speeds to breathe. As a result, my abdomen became a bit bulgier, and my thighs and glutes became stronger. As a result, the tapered legs and slim waist jeans I bought months back no longer fit well. It was time to go shopping again!

  If I had kept some of the slightly bigger clothing I may have avoided wasting some money. While not everything can be reused, it can be saved for a while yet. My new rule is to toss pants because of length, not width. You won’t be getting shorter anytime soon, but width and body shape can change far sooner than it will take you to save up enough money to go on another shopping spree.

• 6 David Baker // Aug 20, 2008 at 7:36 am

  I have the exact same challenge. In the last six months, I went from a 38 being a bit tight to a 36 being a bit baggy. I need to wear suits a lot at work, so I have several that are just baggy on me now. I think I kind of look like Columbo. Since I plan on losing a bit more belly, I have decided to suck it up and wear the baggy suits for a bit longer before I start replacing them.

• 7 Greenman2001 // Aug 20, 2008 at 7:56 am

  Mac, I’ve lost track of where you are on the ladder, so I glanced at the stats at the bottom of the page. Is it the case that you and J.D. both weigh 189.2 lbs? And, does that mean that your target weight is 174 lbs?

• 8 Peter // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:02 am

  Haha, I feel your pain. I don’t know of any other solution either, except going to a good tailor. There’s a silver lining though: wearing clothes that really fit your body makes you look like a million bucks. Whatever you do, keep your largest pair of pants. That way from time to time you can take them out as a reminder of how far you’ve come

• 9 Sarah // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:12 am

  Thrift stores - so good for this problem. Admittedly, it’s generally easier for women to find clothing at thrifts shops (based on my experience shopping for my husband at our local joints) but you can’t beat pants for 6.99 - especially if you’re going to be donating them back in 6 months. I’ve lost 35 lbs and transitioned my wardrobe at least three times buying almost nothing new.

• 10 Mark // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:21 am

  While I realize your underwear comment may not have been utterly serious, I’d urge you to avoid any extra elastic on the waist, and to make sure what you do wear isn’t too tight. Over-strong elastic can restrict blood flow, which is the primary cause of cellulite, besides being uncomfortable.

• 11 moneyclip // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:31 am

  I went from 350 to 200 in a year and have went from a size 46 to a 38, and waited until last month to buy new clothes. It’s been an experience to say the least. I waited to buy clothes and I decided to shop at Goodwill for all my new clothes because I am continuing to lose weight, with a goal somewhere near 180 to 175 less if I can do it. I bought a whole wardrobe of clothes from Goodwill for about $60 US. I highly recommend this if you are planning on shrinking down any more. Once you lose more weight, take your big clothes to Goodwill, get the tax break and then buy some more in the smaller size. The clothes are fantastic, you have loads of brands to choose from (I bought Ivy Crew, Gap, Banana Republic etc…) and many of them were brand new clothes. I know I will lose more weight so it’s just a matter of time before I have to buy more. Give Goodwill a try as no one really knows where you bought your clothing anyway.

• 12 monica // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:51 am

  That’s what I call a high quality problem!

  I had a similar problem for months with a far more sensitive item of clothing: bras! My boobs seemed to be the first thing to shrink when I lost weight. GREAT. So I ended up wearing sports bras for MONTHS until I finally went to the store last month and restocked. I feel SO much better for it. It’s really important to feel good and confident in your clothes. Uniboob doesn’t do it for me.

  Hit the thrift store! But not for bras or undies. =)

• 13 deepali // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:55 am

  Find a good tailor to alter the clothes you want to keep. Donate the ones you know you don’t want to keep. Buy a couple of cheap but nice-looking transition pieces.

  Best yet, raid a friend’s closet.

• 14 Maria | Never the Same River Twice // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:56 am

  I definitely vote for the “transition” wardrobe unless, like David Baker, you wear suits for work or own high end clothing. In my area it runs about $7-$10 to get khakis altered, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to get $25 pants altered.

  You could purchase just enough pants to get by for now and see where the weight loss takes you, then celebrate achieving your goal by upgrading your wardrobe by purchasing some quality pieces that make you look (and feel) great!

• 15 sjean // Aug 20, 2008 at 9:23 am

  Agree with the transition cheapers stuff, but also remember that it isn’t unusual to wear pants more than once before washing (unless you actually get them dirty).

• 16 jes // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:16 am

  Transition wardrobe or thrift store, buy very few pieces, but spend enough to look good. You’ve put a lot of work and determination into getting fit and you deserve to show it off.

• 17 Kym // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:33 am

  I second the idea of going to the thrift store! You can buy just a few pieces, and it won’t cost much at all. Better than running around with your pants falling off

• 18 Andrew is getting fit // Aug 20, 2008 at 11:21 am

  Wearing smaller clothes that fit makes me feel good.

  My problem is that I’ve replaced my entire wardrobe twice. I think visiting a tailor is a great idea. I’m going to take my suits in and see what they can do.

• 19 Debbie M // Aug 20, 2008 at 11:46 am

  I have ideas. First the weirdest one: Clothing exchange party. Everyone brings clothes they don’t want, you try on each other’s clothes, take what you want, and donate the rest. If that sounds boring or unmanly, think of other things to do, too. Have beer and pizza? Have episodes of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy playing? Have a tool exchange party at the same time?

  Other ideas:

  Borrow.

  Thrift.

  Garage sales.

  Hire out your laundry.

• 20 Pam // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:30 pm

  Everyone else has great suggestions. I’ve lost 100lbs over the past 5 years (about 30 more to go) and I run into this problem once or twice a year. I do buy new clothes each time, always a bit too small for me so that I can “shrink” into them, but what I suggest is keep at least ONE pair of your “fat pants”. Preferably the biggest, ugliest pair. I wish I still had a pair of my size 26 pants to show my new friends, who have only ever known me at a size 8/10! And to remind myself on those bad days that I have come a long, long way.

• 21 Pam // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:32 pm

  Also something I do is buy a few versatile, high-quality pieces in my new size rather than a whole new huge wardrobe of clothing. I can rotate the high-quality pieces and wear some of them twice a week and no one notices. It’s important in my line of work (finance/sales) to dress well so I can’t buy the cheap stuff.

• 22 Pam // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm

  One more thing Once you buy new clothes that actually fit properly, EVERYONE will start noticing and commenting on your weight loss. It’s a great feeling.

• 23 BD // Aug 20, 2008 at 3:28 pm

  Get a tailor. Problem solved.

• 24 Madrisa // Aug 20, 2008 at 5:54 pm

  There are some higher quality used clothing and consignment stores that are much cheaper than buying new. It’s the end of the season now, so there are sales everywhere, including in the better consignment stores. Many of these clothes are in such good condition that they look like they’ve never been worn. Of course, it’s harder finding men’s clothes via this route, but it’s worth a try.

• 25 SKB // Aug 20, 2008 at 9:09 pm

  I agree with the thrift store idea - if you like something a little nicer, try a consignment store. But even at the “worst” thrift stores, I can usually find something that will tide me over when I don’t have enough $ for what I really want, or need something for a short time. Some thrift stores take more time to look through…

• 26 d.a. // Aug 21, 2008 at 12:48 am

  Another vote for a tailor. Even if the pants were only $20, it’s still cheaper to get the waistband taken in, and more environmentally friendly to boot. Less waste. Added benefit: taking it to a local tailor supports your local economy, too. Win!

• 27 Chicago Girl // Aug 21, 2008 at 8:10 am

  I agree with the comments about getting pants taken in if they are clothes you want to still wear. A few inches on the sides should still be wearable and sometimes they can sew the seams so they can be let out again if needed. (not that you will ever need to do that)

  The other option is going to a place like wal mart or Old Navy and getting one or two interim pairs that you can wear if you still think you will loose 15 more lbs in the next 5 months. Old Navy Jeans are $25 and they have a sale rack in the back of the store with even further markdowns.

  I have been buying jeans and basics (T-shirts, sweaters, polos) latley from Old Navy since my job has a casual wardrobe policy and it has saved me a lot of money in the past 3 years. Target has somewhat cheap things too, although they are always higher priced that WalMart and usually Old Navy.

  You can also get really good discount prices at Kohl’s if you have their credit card and wait until they send you 15-30% off coupons in the mail and you buy things that are already on sale with the coupon. The problem is that you don’t know when Kohl’s will send the discount card and the stores can be overpacked with stuff, crowded with people and really disorganized. The same problems I have with WalMart.

• 28 Leah // Aug 22, 2008 at 7:12 pm

  another thrift store vote! I get jeans for $5 or less at my local thrift store, and slacks are not too much more. I really recommend checking it out to see what you can get. The thrift store clothes can tide you over until you feel more stable with your size (or, maybe you’ll find that you can use this as part of your GRS repertoire too).

• 29 Kirsten // Aug 23, 2008 at 8:45 am

  Another vote for the thrift store - that’s how I manage my up-and-down weight. I teach at a private school, so I have to look pretty spiffy, but I can manage pretty well by knowing which thrift stores tend to have donations from well-off people.

  I like Debbie’s idea of a clothing exchange. It doesn’t have to be a party - you can do it one-on-one if you manage to locate any friends who have pants tucked away that they don’t wear anymore. Awkward, I know, but hopefully as the frugal trend gains momentum it will become easier to bring it up and convince friends to swap clothes.

• 30 Caitlin // Aug 25, 2008 at 8:14 am

  Why not have them taken in? Fits with your frugality goal as well. I don’t know how much it would cost but it wouldn’t be much - I know you can get hems on jeans taken up for $10 in New York City so it wouldn’t be much more for taking trousers in.

  Or you could really impress us with your frugality and learn to sew.

• 31 Darren // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:01 am

  Go to Men’s Wearhouse. Buy yourself some decent pants. When you lose a little weight, pay the $15-20 to have them taken in — and never have to pay it again.

  Men’s Wearhouse has a deal that once they touch a seam, you never have to pay again.

  Yes, it’s going to be $40-60 for a pair of pants. Yes, there really *is* a difference between those and the ones you bought at Walmart (in fit, style, comfort, and durability at the very least).

  Once you have and alter a nice pair of pants, it could easily last you for 10-15 *years* with no additional cost save the gas and time to drop them off and pick them up.

• 32 Miguel // Aug 30, 2008 at 1:30 pm

  Go to a thirft shop. I went down 12 inches in the waist, and 3 shirt sizes… I had to change my wardrobe 3 times. I will probably have to go down one final size before the year is over, but all in all, I have spent about a 100 bucks on a “new” wardrobe. Only go for the high quality and new or barely used stuff.

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