I used to dread the change of seasons. I never knew whether or not I'd be able to fit into the clothes I wore the year before--especially the winter stuff. In fact, wanting to wear a warm coat I couldn't zip was once the motivation for one of my weight-loss schemes.

This year? YAY! I'm slipping into the comfy corduroy jumper (perhaps a tunic to you non-Americans) I own in two colors. It was way tight this time last year--one of the reasons I took my Atkins self in hand in January 2005.

In fact, I no longer have two wardrobes--the fat one and the thin one. I'm more and more confident--in my Atkins groove--that the same clothes will fit, summer fall winter spring. Who knew "old" clothes could be a reward?

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I loved getting into my "too small" clothes. Now I have none left so I have bought myself a "too small" denim dress to wear next spring.

It will be nice to feel comfortable buying many clothes in the same size. Which I was just telling my mom I won't do until I have kept the weight off for a while as yet another reward.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

Barb,

That is sooo cool! What a wonderful feeling. I'm so glad you took your "Atkins self" in hand (love that phrase, hehe!) Buying new clothes is great, but being able to get into comfy, old corduroy that was tight before, that's even more meaningful.

Much love,

Fluffy

Super, Barb. That is a great feeling!!

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Heather
182-2/27/08

Bunches of clothes all in the same size is one of the great rewards of this way of life.

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Barb, I so enjoyed meeting you at the KC l/c feast! You are indeed a very beautiful woman and I commend you on maintaining your weight loss and this WOE. Please come and visit our journals whenever you find the time!

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196/135-135

This is something that I'm really looking forward to. I actually maintained my "fat weight" long enough to wear the same clothes this past summer that I bought last year, but I think the thrill will be better when they are SMALLER clothes!

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Katie
275/238/150
Restarted 01/08/2007
37 pounds lost!
http://justanotherfatgirl.blogspot.com

I'm happy that now my "skinny" clothes are fitting me comfortably. (Like the pair I wore today.....knowing I'd be eating my Thanksgiving meal!)

Now, I can work my way through the blue jeans "store" in my closet. I have jeans (15 pr.) from size 13-size 20. When they get too big, out they go! This way, I have to maintain or lose to be comfortable.

I have a pair hanging by my home gym, for inspiration like they did on "The Biggest Loser". One girl brought the wedding dress she wanted to be married in, one man brought his bullet-proof vest.....he's a cop and it wasn't covering him NEAR as much as he wanted.

Clothes don't lie......the cleaners *really did* shrink DH's jeans.....now he wants some new ones for Christmas......in the next larger size! LOL!

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I went shopping this morning in that "store" in my closet. Why? I was down to a new low: 219! Since I have been camped out in the upper 220's to mid-230's for so long, I knew a loss of 12-16 pounds usually equals to one size difference.

I tried on several pair and found 5 more pairs of pants and jeans that fit now! There are a couple that are more snug than I would like them to be, but if I'd just exercise and firm up, they'd be okay. Talk about inspiration!

I'm putting those size 20 (comfy, baggy) jeans in the garage to be picked up by one of the charities. I looked at myself in a store window yesterday (with those jeans on) and they look terrible. Too baggy and unflattering. I can almost pull them down without unzipping them.

Now I have a pair of dressy jeans, 3 pair of work jeans, and a pair of dress pants I can add to my wardrobe.....for free! I have about 5 pairs of jeans that are Lee brand and I didn't try those on....they are the same size as these, but Lee are notorious for running on the small side. Besides....I can try them on when I get down a few more pounds.

I'm at a nice size wearing 13/14....and that's only 3 sizes away.

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Maxibee--what fun! Shopping in your closet. Hope you'll continue to donate those big sizes, and fill your closet with new things when you reach your goal. Forever.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Yanno, I sort of miss closet shopping. It's excellent reinforcement. But, hey, I'm all about new stuff that's for sure-- as long as the new stuff continues to be my small sizes.

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

I wish that I didn't have to closet-shop. When I was at goal before, I bought a bunch of size 10 and 12 pants, and snug-fitting shirts, and got rid of all of my size 14 and up clothes. Then I gained, and got pregnant, and gained a LOT more, and had to scramble to buy big clothes after I delivered because I didn't have anything bigger than a size 14, and I was an 18/20 after I delivered. So I am closet shopping now, and it is encouraging on the one hand, but I'm still kicking myself for being in this position in the first place. Not to mention the fact that my size now falls between my small clothes and my large clothes, so now I have to buy "midrange" clothes, and I hate having to do that. Example: I have lightweight "summer" skirts for church, but my longer, heavier "winter" skirts are too big. Normally, I would think "yaay!", but Christmas is coming and winter skirts are more expensive than summer skirts, and the styles this year leave a lot to be desired for some reason, so I don't have the time or the cash to purchase new skirts. Grrr. So I end up wearing the same 3 skirts over and over, waiting until I lose enough weight to fit in my smaller winter skirts (of which I only have 2, but oh well...).

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Jen
Mother of two boys (5/14/04, 4/1/07)
Done Atkins more times than I can count
Trying to get back at it!
Low carb forever (even if I do keep falling off the wagon!)

Jen ---- there's this wonderful invention called a sewing machine. If you don't have one, find an alterations lady. She may be able to take in your too big things for much less that the purchase of new stuff. Having something that fits is motivating. If alterations are out of the question, shop the sales! This is a great time of the year to find bargains.

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

About every other month, I make a trip to my local thrift store and give myself about half an hour to look....I used to buy more work jeans in my same size, but now I'm doing the closet shopping.

Someone else here bought some stuff at the thrift/resale store to get her through until she got to goal.

Of course, one must be discriminating when buying clothes from one of these places. I've purchased clothes NEW, with the tags still on them, but mostly barely worn jeans and blouses. I bought 4 pr. of jeans and a piece of material for a sewing project for around $16 last time I went. If the jeans get stained or torn....I can throw them away (or scrap them for another sewing project) with no guilt.

You may be suprised at what you can find. Then, when you can....go closet shopping!

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Thrift shop! Good idea.

On Monday, I put on a basic black skirt I've had for years. Once upon a time, I had it altered already (in a previous smaller state), but now it has safety pins cinching up the waist. I thought--to heck with this! Buy a new skirt!

So I headed to a Sale, and luckily found an almost identical skirt. Called up the alterations lady, who is taking four inches out of the waist. It isn't easy for us two-size people to find skirts and pants that fit off the rack. But this skirt is going to fit, now and forever.

Judy, once upon a time, I could sew. Sort of. Wonder where that woman went??

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal