My weight fluctuates so much, I'm afraid to buy clothes! - YouLookFab Forum

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My weight fluctuates so much, I'm afraid to buy clothes!

Liz A.

Veteran

I think the title speaks for itself. In the past 4 years, I've lost 15 pounds, then gained 25, then lost 15 again. I don't even know how much money I've wasted on buying new clothes, then tailoring them, then buying new ones.

At least now I'm making a half decent salary, so the financial hit isn't crippling, but since joining YLF, I LIKE my clothes a lot more, so I'm not happy that they're all too big now. Not to mention, I'm afraid to buy anything or get rid of anything, because I don't know what size I'll be next month.

I'm not doing anything on purpose to lose or gain. Believe me, when I try I can't get the scale to budge! Please commiserate or share strategies...

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Irene

Sarah A

Veteran

Holding zone! I have given away many items that were too big only to wish I had them back now that I am 10 lb up... I am up and down 10- 15 lb it seems regularly. And I have no idea what I am doing differently ... hormones maybe?

celia

Veteran

Being afraid to try clothes because you don't know if they still fit as they should is terrible. Been there, done that.
And that is the real problem, not the money you potentially might spend, not passing items because you don't love them anymore, simply not knowing what to do because you are even afraid to get close to the clothes.
I would keep the clothes that if they still fit I would like to wear again and buy a small wardrobe of clothes to wear now.
Even in the possibility that you gain weight again you will only want to wear the clothes you would love anyhow, not every one of them.

cade

The only strategy that works for me (and has for some years now) is to weight myself daily. Based on those numbers, I will continue with my day. I allow myself a 3lb fluctuation, but when I hit the upper number, my dinner with consist of a bowl of yogurt or an apple and a glass of water. I heard of all those weekly weigh-ins, but a lot can happen in a week...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am in the same boat as Cade. I have a 5 lb 'range' and stay within it. Alternately, you could just try styles with some stretch or give to them, or have 2 sizes in your closet. It might cost a bit more, but you would have items to grab for when you are at either end of your weight spectrum.

KikiG

Veteran

What part of your body gets bigger or smaller when you gain or lose? It is possible that skirts and dresses might be more forgiving than pants? They are with me.

I have lost a couple of sizes, slowly, over the past few years. The funny thing was that things that were flattering at a bigger weight were frumpy at a lower weight. I have exactly two tops--both with a peasant neckline and elastic at the waist--that survived the change, but all the dresses still work ok.

Liz A.

Veteran

Thanks for the support, ladies. It's not that I'm unhappy with my weight at any of the sizes I've been, but I'm a stickler for fit! Too loose or too tight clothes give me anxiety

I think the holding zone is where it's at. I have tried that in the past, but somehow after 6 months or so, I forget my last fluctuation and I purge everything that doesn't fit. Mistake!

Mo and Kiki, you're right, items with stretch and dresses are the most forgiving. Pants cause me the most stress. They just never seem to fit for more than a few months.

Laurinda

Veteran

Clothes serve you, not vice versa ;-).
Maintain minimal capsules in different sizes.
Change out as needed.

T-Rex

Veteran

I'm going through something like that now. I'm at my heaviest because I just haven't been taking care of myself. I know that if I can get my mook level elevated a bit, I will start eating better and I'll end up dropping at least some of what I've gained. In the meantime, everything I try on that would have fit fine a year ago is too tight for comfort and/or unflattering.

I'm allowing myself to buy selected knits, such as the VC tube skirt, that I know will look fine now and after I lose a few pounds. Skirts with stretchy waistbands are OK, because I know that when my weight goes down a bit, they will just hit a bit lower on my waist. Anything that doesn't have a lot of stretch is off the menu for now, though. That includes every pant I've tried, and most of the dresses.

Thistle

Veteran

What Laurinda said!! Clothes are meant to bring you joy and for you to wear. Perhaps a few smaller capsules, and a holding bay.

oooh, and pants. They are not kind to weight changes in the hips and thighs. I know this from experience

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I am struggling with this myself since I lost 30 pounds recently and am struggling with what to keep and what to donate.

Others are right that some silhouettes and fabrics will fit for a bigger range than others. Dresses, especially ones that don't have a waist detail, range pretty well, as do anything elastic waist and knit tops. But sometimes things look frumpy when the sizing is off, sad to say. I am finding that a lot. Of my heels which I don't wear often are now too big - even my feet have shrunk!

I like the idea of several capsules in each size variation, and then you can supplement as your budget allows with fast fashion and thrifted items.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I tend to fluctuate between sizes in pants, even if I'm only flexing 5 lbs as I tend to lose/gain in the bum & thighs. I've started having a holding zone, for me a plastic bin, where I hold the size of pants I'm currently not wearing. I used to leave them all hanging in the closet which made it look like I had way more to wear than I did. It was also quite depressing when I put on a pair of pants in the morning only to find that they were to tight. This is the best way I've found to handle it for now.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I lost 42 lbs last year and like Cade weigh myself daily allowing for a 3lb fluctuation. Sticking to proteins and vegetables for a day usually brings it right back. I've had great success with this.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

AviaMariah's comment reminds me, I've been thinking about the idea of buying another color of hangers, so I could sort my clothes by size and know which ones fit the heavier me or the skinnier me. A holding zone works well if you vary over a long time, but if you vary between days and weeks, sometimes it gets tedious pulling out items and putting others away all the time.

fieldmouse

I can relate, I still have lots of clothes in various sizes stored away and I hate it when an item I love becomes too big or too small. But in my case the weight changes have had obvious reasons every time - either I was engaging in disordered eating or depressed and not giving a crap... Has there been any pattern at all to your fluctuations, e.g seasonal, stress-related..?

Jules

Veteran

Agree with above comments - well, except that I refuse to weigh myself regularly and obssess over the scale, but it does catch up with me from time to time, or I wouldn't have input for this thread! To add, I find true wrap dresses particularly forgiving on fit.

Liz A.

Veteran

So much insight!

Laura, I have had a change in shoe size too, but actually it's a half size increase due to an impinging bunion. Sad, because up until now shoes were the only constant in my wardrobe.

Avia, I am like you, even at my steadiest weight, I always seem to fluctuate between 2 sizes of pants (darn them!) Your solution sounds like a good one.

fieldmouse, you're right there are specific reasons I can pinpoint. Even though I've never successfully lost weight on purpose, I seem to drop it as soon as drama starts creeping up in my life. I guess it's lucky I gained the 25 as a result of a medication I was on, because otherwise, I'd be unhealthily thin by now.

unfrumped

Veteran

Sympathies! I think the fitted look that you say you like does make that more of an issue.

You got some great suggestions above, and since I'm always on the fence, I'd use several strategies: holding zone, check--but just the best--things you really loved when you wore them, as others suggested. As in, if the same kind of pants fit well but in 2 sizes; or you know "how" you gain weight so you can anticipate which top A and top B . Also, I'd find a few styles that are forgiving--? wrap tops or wrap dress can look about as good over a range--many folks have had a hard time choosing exact size--hmm, a bit looser has this advantage; tighter has that; sweaters that look tailored fit, when you're up, or fluid fit, when you're down. Some dresses can be belted or not--that can be harder to find than a good forgiving wrap style.

There have been some great posts on all of this. then you have a small higher-weight capsule(s), small lower weight, and several crossovers. Probably good to have a tight color palette and good neutrals.

I think once you have a strategy in place, and tell your clothes that you're the boss, you'll feel more secure.

Anonymous

My weight change is always in my stomach - actually I don't necessarily gain weight, but my body changes.

As I work my way through my health journey and take various supplements, my stomach gets bigger, and incredibly sensitive. I need these supplements to heal my body after eating "healthy whole grains", but it is painful when clothes I just bought physically hurt me.

Knit dresses and skirts work best. Unfortunately it gets difficult in the winter. I don't have any advice, just wanted you to know that you are not alone!

Actually I agree with the others that a very small capsule works best. In fact that is exactly what I need to do!

Adelfa

Veteran

When I'm at a weight I hope I won't be at for long, I buy cheaper clothes. I have found lovely things at Target and H&M and then I don't feel bad about clothing the body I'm in. I can totally relate because I don't think my weight has *ever* been stable.

elpgal

Veteran

Yep, same problem here and I know it is very frustrating. I gain weight in the stomach and the love-handles so it impacts both tops and bottoms. The most I have fluctuated is 8 lbs but I am only 5' 3" so it involves a complete wardrobe switch.

Irene

Veteran

Note this is coming from someone whose weight is usually stable (I was at a stable heavier weight some years ago, and now I'm at a stable lighter weight and have been so for five years, fluctuating only around 3-6 pounds). Still, I weight myself regularly (every 2-3 days) and switch up some little things in my diet when the scale is going too much up or too much down. I do this for health reasons, but also because, like you, I don't want to have wardrobe issues and find myself too small or too big for my current clothes.
I know women who don't own a scale and I think they pile kilos more easily because they don't notice the weight gain until they are 5-10 pounds heavier and the clothes start to not fit. The same goes for those who lose weight rather easily.

And, if you are an hourglass, it will be even easier for you to pile pounds without noticing until it's too late, what with the weight piling on evenly.

If you still can't control your weight fluctuation, for whatever the reasons, maybe it would be a good idea to go for more inexpensive items and buy duplicates of the best fitting items in various sizes. Sounds crazy, but if you are a petite woman, just 3 kg (6-7 pounds) might make a difference in your size, so it kind of makes sense!