Do you purge too large clothes if you fluctuate? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you purge too large clothes if you fluctuate?

ElleH

Veteran

I know all the closet editing wisdom in internet land say to get rid of clothes that don't fit. I change size too often. Not drastically but enough to affect fit. If I eat the wrong food or am premenstrual I go up in size so I don't only change from poor eating choices or doing a cleanse, though I have lost 20 pounds over the last couple of months through cleansing. That is my largest range, 20 pounds but it is enough to affect fit. Mostly I go up & down 5-10 pounds.

So should I keep clothes that are too big?

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from HeleenH

JR

Veteran

Well, if you have a habit of fluctuating, it might be wise to keep them, at least for your regular range.

In my case, I purge them ruthlessly. I am determined to burn my bridges behind me. I am so cheap, that it is a great motivator not to put the weight back on.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

The first thing I thought is how many clothes are you talking about? I don't see any problem with keeping a few great outfits - so that you can feel good even when your "normal" clothes don't fit as well. If I was in your situation I wouldn't be keeping many.

bj1111

Veteran

i did a huge purge of things that were too large, because the temptation to loosen up on healthy eating and exercise because i have more comfy clothes is too great.

i've increased about 1/2 a side and the snugness of my jeans and, especially, my new clothes (brocade skirt, macrame dress) is providing adequate incentive to watch what i eat.

Thistle

Veteran

How often does your weight fluctuate? How long have you had it under control?

In a health and wellness seminar I went to, they said only 5% of dieters keep the weight they lost off more than 5 years. At that point, you would want new clothes anyway, but something to consider.

If you are constantly fluctuating those 5-10 pounds, it seems like you need both sizes or else you will be constantly buying new clothes because the ones you have do not fit and are not flattering at your current size.

Raisin

Veteran

I would say if you fluctuate that often, or even just from menstrual cycle, then you should keep at least a few pieces on hand for those times. I can't answer for the dieting part though, I generally stay the same (other than being pregnant), so I purge based on having too much and not needing so much choice.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think you should keep clothes that accommodate the 5-10 lb fluctuation but not the 20 lb loss, if that makes sense.

ElleH

Veteran

I don't plan to put back on the 20 pounds but the 5-10 pound fluctuation is inevitable, at least until menopause & figuring out food allergies etc. The clothes that I'm thinking of purging were too tight at 20 pounds heavier (everything was & I didn't want to buy more hence the cleansing & subsequent weight loss) but they were just right at 10 pounds heavier, which is possible unless I live on green smoothies & protein shakes forever & don't have a period.

ETA: When it is a bloat from food allergies I'm not sure if there is an actual increase in pounds but my size which may look like a 10 pound increase. Actually when it's bad I look pregnant.

rachylou

Veteran

I do. With pants. I was getting frustrated and depressed buying pants over and over.

ElleH

Veteran

Rachylou do you purge or keep the pants?

Anonymous

I purged too-big clothing. I hope never to be that size again. Even if I am, I probably would have moved on from the styles. Someone else can get the benefit from your weight loss. If there are times that you would still wear them, then maybe hang on to a few things.

rachylou

Veteran

Elle - I decided not to purge anymore. It was paining me to always be buying and not having pants when I'd just had perfectly good pants.

Or to put it another way, I decided to have a selection of pants in sizes 4, 6, and 8. Five lbs in one direction or the other, and I need a different size. Guess that says a lot about where I carry weight.

Anonymous

I had my weight well under control until I developed digestive issues. After my gallbladder surgery, my weight returned to what it was before, so I confidently got rid of all the clothes that no longer fit. I've found it easy to keep the weight off, and feel that I once again have it under control.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I purged the vast majority of my too-big clothes after I lost weight last year. Not only do I want the incentive of a well-fitting wardrobe to keep in shape (if certain things start feeling tight, I know it's time to watch what I eat more carefully), but I also went through a significant style change.

If I drop another size, I'll have some tough decisions to make, since I love most of my clothes now!

But I gain and lose very slowly. It sounds like you fluctuate a lot more, so I think you need to think more carefully about keeping multiple sizes.

A.Kiernan

(website)

I lost 20 lbs this year, but my clothing size didn't change much. It was strange. It was like my body re-adjusted itself. I'm still between a 14/16 in pants, but still a dedicated XL on top due to my bust size.

And since I've pulled out my winter clothes from last year, I've had to purge some pants, sweaters, and jeans that technically still fit my size, but no longer fit me the RIGHT way.

I have been making a conscious effort not to focus on the size on the label, but how the piece fits, makes me feel, and how it looks.

If a top or a bottom piece is uncomfortable in any way, pinches, pulls, doesn't lay right, it goes in the bag for donations. I'm done being uncomfortable in my clothes, no matter what my size.

Does that make sense?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'd say if it's an ongoing thing you've been dealing with for a long time, and expect to continue having to deal with, it only makes sense to have clothing available for those bloated times. It's not like getting rid of a pair of pants is going to change how your digestive tract or monthly hormones work!
Now, if it were simply a matter of having too many after dinner treats or being more of a couch potato, I would say to purge. But it doesn't sound like that is your issue?

HeleenH

Veteran

I would suggest you to try the bigger clothes on at a heavy time of the month, even though you might not feel like it at that specific time If it fits and flatters you, it stays, if it is loose or is less than a 7 it goes.
I have a story about too large clothes... A couple of years ago I had lost weight and my sister had gained weight and I gave her my large jeans and other pants. A perfect fit on her, she was very happy with them. A few years later she returned them to me as she had lost the weight and I had gained most of it back... I am glad to say now we both are a little bith lighter and the clothes have been purged.