One of the drawbacks of Bariatric Surgery when on the weight loss journey is that new clothes are a must at some stage. Obviously it is an expensive business buying a new wardrobe several times. Depending on your starting weight and how much you lose, your general shape etc., will determine how many clothes size changes you need to make on the way down.

Personally I have bought clothes all the way down. I’ve bought mainly clothes from the major supermarkets who sell cheaper clothes. They may not last as long as when you buy better quality clothing. However, there is no real need to spend a lot on any single item, unless of course you have a special occasion and do not want to look too generic.

Paying attention to the styles you buy may allow you to be able to wear them a little longer. My weight loss started in the spring/summer and I discovered that I had quite a number of staple items that I could spin out. Maxi dresses/skirts with elasticated waist bands etc allowed the shrinking to happen gracefully. I easily opened a few waistbands and tightened elastic. I had to take some hems up too since skirts got longer as my tummy and behind shrank.

As the weather changed I found myself wearing skinny jeans a lot with vest tops. I bought a couple of pairs size 20, then 18, 16 and 14’s. That’s where I’ve reached at the moment. I was lucky to have a good stock of clothes. Some would say excessive. Yep I had hundreds of pieces of clothing when I started. They have gradually been given away to charity shops along the way. Some went to a lady in a group I attend and others have even gone to Sierra Leone with a friend who works there, (yep Aileen a wee call out to SL to you) just to check you are still reading my blog from there.

I’m into 12/14 tops although still preferring to wear my 16 jeans since they are super skinny style. I can get into and fasten my 14 jeans but feel I want to wait a few weeks yet. However I  am wearing 14 jeggings already.

Tip: I like to have at least a couple of pieces of clothing waiting in the sidelines ready to move down into. This may seem a bit extravagant. But it is more of a brain booster. When the scales are on a stall and and I am getting frustrated. If my skin is getting flabby or like today, I felt my tummy looked bigger, that tells me I am probably losing inches. So I may get the tape measure out or try on something that I bought a month ago that was too small and see whether I am losing inches. For instance today I put on some jeans that are bigger and need to wear a belt with them. As I tightened the belt I realised that I was pulling tighter than normal. Here I was pulling the strap to fit the end hole. I bought this belt at month 3 and I was wearing it in the second slackest hole but today I was needing to get the leather punch to make additional holes. Wow that felt great.

That brings me to underwear. Bras especially. I am about to do my second change-down there.

How to Measure Yourself for a New Bra

Many fellow sleevers and bariatric peeps ask this question online;

• Where can I get measured for a bra? Well the answer that always comes to mind is “wherever you have been measured in the past”.

Maybe you never have been measured before and have been wearing the wrong sizes all your life. Tch tch shame on you.

I have gone to my local M&S many times in my life to be measured. But the only fail safe way to be sure something fits, is to try on different styles and take the advice of the fitter.

There is lots of advice online and even the best stores who make their own brand will have a video demonstrating instructions or instructions with diagrams. If possible in doubt always google and have a good look through what’s on offer.

I started as a 42DD in April. At that time my bras were mostly the same style; full cup full support and mostly non wired. I had been told years ago that the reason wired bras hurt me was to do with the shape and space available at the  top of my ribs. I only wear a wired bra when I want to feel extra special but definitely not every day or I would be in agony after a few hours. The secret to a comfortable bra is that you should not feel it when you are wearing it. It should fit like a glove, not pinch, jag or annoy.

About three months into my journey my bras were all too big and it was time to invest in a few bras. They were sliding up my back and I was getting no support or comfort from them.

I chose to measure myself rather than make an appointment to be measured. It was something that I had done years ago, when I was slim. I checked online to make sure I had remembered correctly. There are different methods out there and different manufacturers use a variety of techniques so that you fit their bras rather then they fit you. If you are following?

The technique I use insures I fit a bog standard shaped bra. But the cup size can change depending on the style.

So here is the technique /method I use.

1. Find your best fitting bra at the moment and make sure your breasts are not sagging but sitting in the correct position. This is where an expert can help as you may not be wearing your boobies in the right place. They should sit half way between your shoulder and elbow.  They may be over your shoulder for instance cos you’ve just jumped off the couch. Or maybe you are “older” and they naturally swing low sweet chariot.
2. Get a measuring tape and measure yourself under your boobs and around your back, ensuring the tape is running horizontally and not up and down.
3. This gives you your bra band size. Take a note. I am now 34. I was 36 last time I changed sizes. NOTE: Not really any point in changing when you are an odd number as the hooks may not be able to give the right resistance. Or you may not get very long in your new size.
4. To ascertain your cup size; now measure around your back and around the front through the middle of your nipples.  Note: This is where it is vital your breasts are hanging as high as possible. For example. If I measured 36 here and was 34 around the underneath of my breasts I do the subtraction 36-34=2.

1=A    2=B   3=C    And so on

That would make me a 34B

For a bra size calculator using a similar method see Bra Size Calculator   Below the video.

Remember there are many different methods out there. So if you are confused go to a store you trust.

For tips on bad fitting bras and many videos on how to measure Click here

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