Iwan you have lost 4 lbs! You are posting here! You are on the right track. Focus on the positive things. That will make you shine inside and out.

I definitely buy shirts and pants that won't fit for another 5-10 lbs!!!

It's funny I found this thread, because my mom and I were talking about changing clothing sizes just this morning. She has a client who has opened a resale boutique for women in San Antonio that will sell larger size clothes. We talked about how as you gain weight or lose weight you have all these clothes that don't fit and you can take them in there to sell. And as you are losing weight, you can't afford a whole new wardrobe every time you drop a size, so why not pick up some clothes at the resale shop, then sell them back once you drop another size.

I think it's a brilliant idea. With the number of people with weight problems in America (and elsewhere!), and with women who are trying to lose weight not wanting to shop at traditional stores, this seems like an idea that could really take off. So if you don't have a shop like that near you, open one up and you'll have first pick of all the clothes that come and go.

/me jumps up on soapbox... and doesn't look down cuz i'm terrified of heights.

You arent ugly on the inside... very few people are... and there are men (not stupid boys who are more interested in arm candy than a real woman) who would be interested in you.. You have to love yourself first - no matter what size you are... you love yourself.. and the men will follow...

Remind yourself of your good qualities... you are more than a number on a scale..

Iwan here is my take on that.....screw thoes kinda guys, because they will forerver be looking past what is with them to what could be with them, the chicks that end up with thoes kinda dudes are miserable and unhappy, no matter how cute and skinny they are I agree with Mal love youreself and the rest will fall into place!!! And from yur posts you are NOT ugly in anyway i can see

Ok. Iwan: Why are you sitting around 'hoping' that 'Mr. Right' is going to knock on your door? Get up off your ass and start enjoying your life, start taking risks, go to the movies by yourself, go to a restaurant by yourself, go to a club with friends---Stop worring about dating and enjoy yourself. Trust me. After 7 years of marriage I can tell you that you'd better enjoy yourself now because after you're married you'll be pickin' up his clothes and dirty dishes for the rest of your life!!

If you always wait for someone else to make the first move you're never going to go anywhere.

Next rant: You are not overly over-weight. 80 pounds left right? Thank your lucky stars that you're not my husband---he's 474 pounds, he has 300 pounds to go. Why do you want to date a guy that's only interested in you because of your looks? It has been my experience that guys who know they're hot are a$$holes and they attract slut girlfriends. Find yourself a nice guy who likes you for you and not your size 0 jeans.

Ya know...since I've turned 30 I just don't let anyone tell me what to do or feel anymore. It's made me a bit brazen and somewhat of a bitch---but I know what is right and I know that I'm right about what I'm saying to you. It's a bit harsh but sometimes we all need a little shake to wake us up.

That said: I'm too cheap to buy clothes that don't fit me. I already have a closet full of clothes that 'used to fit' and I'm now hoping I 'will fit' in a few weeks.

I should start a journal and post pics so you'd understand what I'm living with here. I may not be as big as some of you but sometimes even skinny chics can't get a date because of their faces. I have 2 siblings and none of us are attractive, but I'm considered the "ugly one". And I've accepted that and I don't hate myself, I am for the most part happy. Just lonely, but I'm getting used to that. I figure if I lose weight it would be one less thing working against me, but I'm not losing weight to get a boyfriend, I had a husband that I divorced because he treated me like dirt and I was 60 lbs lighter when I met him. I'm losing weight because I don't want to die young, I'm doing it for me and for my son.
On a happy note, I live in such a remote area those pants I ordered probably wont get here till october, so maybe...MAYBE by then I'll be able to fit in them, but that is a stretch considering right now my 18's are tight when they come out of the dryer and only losen up a little bit with wear.

You consider yourself the 'ugly one'?

Wow....that's just not a healthy way to see yourself.

Well, I guess it all depends on what you consider healthy. I don't think its healthy to lie to myself. Things like this are pretty concrete, there is no standard of beauty that will ever consider me attractive. But, I can change my size!

Oy, you sure sound like me Been there, still doin' that I am working on it, I promise!

For some reason I think my pant size changes daily, like this moring my jeans fit right now I'm thinking I wish I had wore my 20's to work for all that roomy comfort, but by the end of the day in those they are hanging off my rear. the good ol' saggy bottom look.

I love to buy cute clothes that are smaller, but I try to find things on clearance. That way if I don't fit into it right away, I don't feel guilty or pressured for spending tons of money. I also have been investing in a few belts. It is fun to shop, but it can get expensive buying new clothes each time a size is dropped.

My latest find (in August) was some really nice tankinis. I bought 5 different sets marked down to $60 for the lot. They're were all 1-4 too small on me when I bought them, but the largest one fits me now and when I go on my honeymoon in the Keys next month I know one more will probably fit me. It's very fun!

Some of the old shirts that I grew out of are now to big for me!!! Yippee!!! I can't wait for my pants to start getting to big. Ok, rephrase I can't wait for my gut to shrink so that the pants that are to big for me everywhere else but my gut will fit.

I'm holding out as long as I can, some of my pants are looking like clown pants
I have gone from a 52 down to 44 since I started.

I do have an almost new pair of Levi's in 40 that I hope to start wearing in a another 2 months or so

I'm down to a 2X in shirts now instead of 3 and 4X, I want to have a bonfire
and burn all my fat clothes when I hit goal, I'll save one of the big jeans as a reminder

I guess I'll check out the thrift stores and yard sales for most of my transitional clothes

A bonfire, thats a great idea John! Although, I think I'll donate mine to a women's shelter or something like that because most of my clothes are pretty new, I just went shopping last month, in fact, I tired to use that as an excuse not to lose weight but my conscience wouldn't let it fly. I can't wait to get to the point when I can say "oh, you can have these, they don't fit anymore." while trying to keep a big grin off my face.

I never buy clothes that are too small for me - I'm having a hard time buying transitional clothes as it is, but I don't like the idea of wearing super baggy clothes. I don't think that we're going through all the struggle of loosing weight in order to wear clothes that just make us look frumpy!

As it stands, I have 1 pair of levis, 1 pair of capris and 1 skirt in the size I'm wearing now (16). I plan on donating all my old clothes except for my size 20 jeans that I will keep using for pictures as I lose weight.

I was wearing some 22's but most of my old clothes were 20's - they were just too tight for me

yep, I'm keeping my fat pants to take pix with, but just one pair. Actually, I should hang them on my fridge as a deterrant.