It’s a struggle for most bariatric patients in their first year or two after surgery – whether to buy new clothes during the weight loss phase or wait until you’ve reached your goals. Some patients do not want to spend time or money buying clothes that they won’t fit into soon thereafter. Other patients want to show off their new bodies with well-fitting clothes. So, what’s the best option?
Ultimately, it all comes down to how you feel about yourself. And why you are (or aren’t) buying clothes.
If you simply feel better with clothes that fit, then consider buying a few inexpensive outfits that will highlight and accentuate your new and improved shape. We certainly don’t want you to make all that weight loss effort only to look in the mirror and hate the way you’re dressed. Of course, we understand that there may be financial considerations, and rightly so. After all, you will lose more weight and those clothes will no longer fit. So, find your favorite affordable clothing store and just get a couple outfits to enjoy. How often should you consider getting new clothes? When you feel that your clothes no longer fit you, whether they’re hanging off your frame or they don’t show off the hard work you’ve done, it may be time to consider a new outfit. Again, it doesn’t have to be a designer label, just something that makes you feel good.
On the other hand, you may also wish to keep some of your old, larger sizes. Just as photos are very effective in reminding you how far you’ve come, there’s nothing quite like losing lots of weight and trying on your old clothes. What a way to see your incredible results! It’s truly mind blowing.
Other patients use milestones to determine when they should get new clothes, and doing so can be great motivation for hitting the next goal. However, it is important that you don’t get too caught up in incentivizing your weight loss. Ultimately, we want your new diet and lifestyle to come naturally, and we want your motivation to be organic…not dependent on anything or anyone else.
Whether buying clothes is a chore, or you use it as a motivating factor to do even better, new clothes are one of the most tangible and visible markers of your success after bariatric surgery. When it does come time to get your new clothes, relish in that moment, remembering how far you’ve come. Give yourself a pat on the back for pushing through some of the biggest hurdles, both physically and emotionally, in your life.
Of course, we love to be a part of this journey and we are thrilled when patients update us on their progress. Next time you go shopping, snap a picture of yourself in your new outfit and send it over. We’d love to share it with other patients who need the motivation to get as far as you have. And of course, if you have any questions, concerns, or challenges during your weight loss journey, we encourage you to contact us and talk them through. We’ve seen it all and are always excited to help our patients reach their goals.
