One of the most appreciated benefits of weight loss surgery is seeing the pounds drop off. While each pound lost is definitely cause to celebrate, steady weight loss also means you’ll need to find new clothes that better fit your newly trim body. This is a good problem to have, but it can also become overwhelming if you’re not fully prepared for how to handle it. Here are some tips to help you out.
‘Discover’ Your New Body Type
Before running to the mall or adding new fashion finds to your cart online, take a moment to get to know your new body dimensions. Get a tape measure and take your new measurements. Then use an online body shape calculator to determine your new body shape.
Buy for Your Current Size
It’s great to have goals and envision yourself in smaller sizes, but it’s not going to do your confidence any good to buy clothes that will be stashed away for later. Make your purchases based on what fits you now.
Just Get Some Wardrobe Basics to Start
Since you will likely be losing weight on a fairly steady basis within the first six months to year or so after surgery, don’t overdo it with the new threads. Just get the wardrobe basics and maybe a few “treats” but otherwise keep it simple. Keep track of how much weight you’ve lost so far to get an idea of how much more you’ll likely lose.
Have a ‘Swap Party’ with Friends in Your Current Size Range
Expand your new wardrobe without breaking the bank by having a swap party with friends who are within your new weight range. Turn it into a festive event to celebrate the new you by serving up healthy snacks and asking attendees to clean out their closet and share anything they don’t want anymore that may make work well with your slimmer look.
Alter Favorite Wardrobe Post-Weight-Loss Pieces
You don’t necessarily have to toss all of your bigger clothes as you shed pounds. Instead, keep some of your favorites and have them altered as you lose weight. It’s a lot easier to take material away from clothes or punch holes into a leather belt than it is to accommodate an expanding waistline.
Before spending too much on new clothes, have a good idea of when you’re likely to level off and maintain a steady weight. If you plan to have surgery to deal with loose skin, wait until that procedure is over since tighter skin may knock some more pounds off. Your doctor should be able to give you a more exact guideline based on the type of bariatric surgery you had performed. Minimize your investment by buying the bulk of your new clothes once you’ve reached a point where your weight is staying within a certain range.
