What to Wear While Losing Weight

So you’ve finally started shedding those dreaded pounds. Now that you’re on a roll with losing weight, I imagine you won’t be picking up a French fry from here until the finishing line, whether you have 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 or more pounds to go!

Yes, this transitional phase comes with plenty of compliments, but it’s also cursed with a few complications. While your old clothes are now too big (congrats!), you probably don’t want to invest in new clothes until you’ve hit that magic number on the scale.

Since most of your friends will hate you too much when your biggest dilemma is losing too much weight, we’re here to answer your questions about what to wear while losing.

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Say goodbye to your lumberjack wardrobe.

Listen ladies, those baggy plaid button-downs and your hubby/boyfriend’s oversized jeans have got to go. Send them to Goodwill, or perhaps, return them to that ever-patient man in your life. At this point in your weight transformation, you don’t want to be swimming in old clothes; you’ll barely even notice the progress you’re making and will definitely be cutting down on potential compliments from your coworkers. Many women plateau towards the middle of their weight loss journeys, so right now is exactly the time to keep yourself motivated by flaunting your shrinking waistline. According to Philip L. Goglia, PhD, founder of Performance Fitness Concepts in Santa Monica, California, “You don’t need a big old potato sack… You need to see your shape change. It’s very motivational.”

Many women use clothes as incentives to shed pounds, which is an excellent replacement for, say, chocolate cake. That butter cream frosting may taste great after a hard day in the office but certainly not as good as a tiny dress you can wear for years after that very same day.

While you may not want to… shop cheap and practical during your transition.

Despite your leaning physique, now is not the time to fork over an entire paycheck for a designer number from Saks. Instead, buy a few reliable pieces, which are flattering and stretchy, but won’t break your heart to let go of once you’ve reached your goal. Clothes that have some elasticity or are made from lycra are your best friends during your transition, as they will hug whatever size body you fill them with.

Surprisingly enough, one of the greatest troubles a woman faces mid weight-loss is her shrinking bust-size. Just like your dream dress from Saks, you won’t want to buy your dream bra (lace? leopard print? gold?) until you’ve reached your goal. In the meantime, invest in a stretchable bra, like the Comfortisse Bra, which comes in simple sizes (XS/S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X), is made of a comfortable and elastic blend of Euro-soft cotton and spandex, and hides back fat and underarm bulge seamlessly (trust me… these tough spots are always the last to go!).

Don’t go too small!

Buying clothes that are too small or too tight will make you feel heavier. Feeling like you’re not thin enough is the kind of negative thinking that will sabotage your weight loss efforts.

If you absolutely must buy something that doesn’t fit now, keep it as a “goal piece” to inspire you to lose more. Put the dress, bathing suit, business suit, or whatever else on a hanger where you can see it (maybe the kitchen for maximum effect), to remind yourself of what steps you still need to take to fit into that precious piece of apparel.

Remember, you are on a journey with ups and downs, and your transitional wardrobe should reflect that. Keep some looser items for those days after a binge and some tighter ones for when you need a confidence boost. The best part: before you know it, you’ll be wearing what you want to wear, no longer what you have to wear.