It’s been really cold these days, so I’ve been wearing my winter coat a lot. I remember so distinctly buying this coat about a year ago. We were going to visit our daughter in her Chilly Midwestern Town, and I needed a really warm coat. So I went to the local outdoor gear store looking for a winter jacket.
I will never forget that day. It was such a low point for me. I remember trying on about a dozen coats, all sized large. None of them came even close to fitting me. I was fighting back tears, in a terrible mood, and so upset. Could I not find ONE coat that I could zip up without suffocating??
After a long time, I did find one coat: a black, down-filled, boxy size XL jacket. It was like the last one on the rack. I was so relieved to zip it up and it actually fit. I bought it on the spot and then rushed home.
So now it’s one of the few warm items I own (it doesn’t usually get THAT cold here, but this week has been Different). It is pretty huge on me now. I think about getting a smaller, more stylish warm jacket. But I feel emotionally attached to this one. I feel like, this was the only jacket that let me in, when all the other jackets rejected me. I dunno.
I got rid of a pretty big pile of some of my nicest “larger” clothes over Thanksgiving. I gave them to a friend who is a few sizes behind me on the weight loss journey. It was a scary thing to do. I wasn’t just getting rid of big old trash, I was giving away some of my nicest items. I said to her, I hope I never, ever, ever have to knock on your door and ask you to give me this stuff back. It was an emotional moment for me.
This is one of the biggest gifts of losing this weight: to really be able to go into ANY STORE I WANT and find SOMEthing that will fit me. In some stores, I’m still on the large end of things, but I can find stuff that fits. In other stores, I am at the smaller end, and THAT is certainly a new experience. It continues to amuse me that I have sizes in my closet that range over six sizes, and they all fit me perfectly. Dumb clothing companies.
foodfoodbodybody 
December 10, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I’m not at the smaller end yet, and finding a winter jacket is the bane of my existence right now.
December 11, 2009 at 12:12 pm
LL Bean actually has some really nice winter clothing in all sizes. Which I wish I’d known last year.
December 10, 2009 at 11:16 pm
It is hard to get rid of beloved clothes. I never had much money for clothes until my DH built up some steam after grad school. In my thirties I bought some things I really liked. It was hard to let go of them; still haven’t managed to part with all of them. I was smiling at your loyalty to the coat that served you so well. I totally get that. It IS nice to go into any store and be able to find things that fit, isn’t it?
December 11, 2009 at 7:46 am
so? did you decide? will you be at fitbloggin???
December 11, 2009 at 3:51 pm
oooh… I really want to. But it’s just one day?? I’m trying to think if I can tack it on to something else to justify the cross-country flight. I’m gonna try and make it work! There are so many people I must meet!!!!!!!
December 11, 2009 at 11:46 am
Great job! I am looking forward to just that…shopping anywhere for clothes!! =-)
December 11, 2009 at 2:59 pm
You know, I was really fond of a lot of my large clothes, too. But I had a lot of not-so-fond-of-this choices as well. Losing enough weight to have to buy new clothes is kind of a double-edged sword…almost too many choices! So I’m using closet replacement as a time to be really picky. No more linen, for example, because I hate ironing with a passion and linen always wrinkles like I hadn’t bothered ironing it within minutes of my putting it on.
One thing I haven’t gotten rid of is the garment I’ve dubbed “Fleece Thing.” It’s a jacket-like fleece sweater in an olive brown color. It goes with everything. It’s cozy. I can see why my SIL found it hard to part with when *she* lost a lot of weight. I’ve never been able to find anything quite like it, either.
December 11, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I so hear you on the dumb clothing companies. I have a pair of size 12 Levi 529 Curvy Boot Cut jeans that I love, love, love. I love them so much, they’re wearing out. I bought them a year ago or so. Today I went to the mall to get some more. I couldn’t even get the 12s on! The 14s were too tight, as were the 16s. But the 12s I have fit me like a glove. WTF? I have other jeans in other brands in sizes 10 and 12 that also fit me just fine.
December 11, 2009 at 6:12 pm
i had the same experience recently! i tried on my warm, down jacket and it was WAAAAAY to big. the cold air wooshed in from the bottom hem… not very effective at keeping me warm.
am thinking of getting a new coat too and donating this one.
December 12, 2009 at 5:25 am
I know you said one of the greatest things is being able to walk into a store and find something that fits, but if you want to buy a FABULOUS coat try: http://fabulousfurs.com/
It doesn’t get that cold here, but when it does I get so excited because I get to wear my fur coat and I love it. I was in San Francisco wearing it on Monday and someone stood there talking to me as she pet my coat. Then the other day it slipped off the chair onto the floor and the hostess RAN over to pick it up. I laughed and said, “You just wanted to touch it, huh?” She laughed. It is awesome . . . . and washable!
Just thought I would share because you feel like a million bucks, this will help you feel like two!
December 12, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Um, for a second there you scared me… I was HOPING you meant faux! You’re right, it’s a great site. I love this one: http://fabulousfurs.com/storm-coat-with-faux-sheared-beaver-/p/13222/cn/2005/
But I’m probably too short to pull that one off.
December 12, 2009 at 3:56 pm
After I sent the url I looked at the coats and I LOVE that one too. I was trying to talk myself into “needing” another coat. It IS brown, while my other one is black. But, alas, I don’t need it. But it is gorgeous. I didn’t check the length. I bet you could pull it off. It would keep you extra warm the longer it is!
The coat I have is beaver. And it really is fabulous, it is so soft and warm. It is sooooo awesome.