I Hate Shopping
June 29 2010 I hate shopping. Not all of it, mind you. I like perusing shoes or finds for the kids and house. When it comes to clothes shopping for myself, however, I’d rather stab myself in the thigh with a fork.
It wasn’t always like this. I was actually in the best body shape I had ever been in before I gained 50 dogged pounds with my last pregnancy. I was wearing size 6 jeans. I’m not saying what size I am now, but I laugh in the face of my former size 6. The thing is, the majority of my extra weight is located across my middle. It’s not proportioned whatsoever. Finding pants that fit right is about impossible and aggravating. What slides past my knees won’t button around my waist. What does button is like a potato sack everywhere else.
My mom wanted to take me shopping for my birthday, though. That’s how horrendous my wardrobe had become, apparently. So I had to bite the bullet. Because what says happy birthday better than a day of wallowing depression.
I skimmed through racks. I fondled fabric. I looked at sizes. I felt defeated.
We spent 2 hours walking around a single store and I almost came away with nothing. I wanted to quit. I wanted to cry.
I finally found a few things, but I had to wander into the plus-size department to do it. Which leads me to think if my mom wants to take me shopping for clothes while I’m still carrying this extra weight (can I still blame the baby? no?), I’ll tell her to buy me a fork to stab myself with instead.
13 Responses
on June 29 2010
I *so* hear you. It is a painful exercise in futility, I feel like. In between my kids, I was smaller than I’d been since probably highschool and I loved it. But now, still about 20 lbs from that low, I am frequently quite frustrated. Right now I need to go swimsuit shopping. UGH. It is doubly frustrating because I know I don’t eat perfectly, but I run ALL THE TIME. And I’ve dropped two inches in my chest and a whole cup size, and yet the scale has barely budged. I can wear tops from before I was pregnant, but I’m still 2-3 size up in bottoms. WTH?
Well I wish you best of luck. You do feel better when you have nice pretty clothes, I think. And that is good motivation to take care of yourself, I suppose. But it is for sure a big mental hurdle.
on June 29th, 2010
@jesser, I wore the new clothes out for dinner later and I definitely felt better about myself then. Getting there, however, was just torture.
on June 29 2010
You and I have a similar problem. I am plus size all over but the majority of my weight is carried in a weird spot on my stomach that makes it tortuous to find clothes. If the waistband closes the rest of the pants are so baggy, that I have a saggy bum. Not attractive.
I’m glad you found some stuff though! That’s the main thing.
Marilyn’s latest post: It’s My SITS Day-
on June 29 2010
I’m not really into shopping, I like occasionally to go and replenish my clothes supplies but tend to always shop at the same stores for the same brands pretty much. But you know however you feel about your shape, I do think having something nice to wear makes a difference and since I stopped slobbing around in Old Navy worn out and stained tops and pants and switched them for my new “Mommy business casual look” I feel an awful lot better every day.
Aging Mommy’s latest post: Who Am I
on June 29 2010
I have decided that pants are without merit. (I have come to this conclusion because there are none that fit. Well, not NOW, because of the pregnant thing, but USUALLY.) Skirts work better, but I, um, sew my own. Because the ones in the store are not so much better than the pants. And shirts? For shirts I have no solution. Sigh.
Melissa’s latest post: logic puzzle
on June 29th, 2010
@Melissa, Well aren’t you creative? That’s a great solution. Unfortunately, I can’t sew, not even a button. It’s quite pathetic.
on June 29 2010
I remember when I was 17 and I would complain about my body. Sometimes I want to go back in time and slap some sense into myself. I looked awesome! I should have appreciated it while it lasted.
As for the shopping trip, yeah, not fun. Not fun at all. This is how come my kids are much better dressed than I am.
Amber’s latest post: Calling People Nazis is Uncool
on June 30th, 2010
@Amber, When I was 17, I was apparently really skinny. I’d always cringe when someone said that, though, because all I saw was a bit of stomach pudge. My teenage self had NO CLUE what stomach pudge was. If I could, I’d go back and knock myself upside the head.
on June 30 2010
I often regret not wearing certain clothes when I was skinnier and youthful. Now I only shop at certain stores, places where I know I will find something that fits. Glad you found a few things though and hope you enjoyed some time with your Mom.
Rudri Patel’s latest post: Trust Your Instinct
on June 30 2010
I used to love to shop. Now the idea sends chills down my spine. And somehow online shopping is even worse; it feels worse to have a whole package full of clothes that are too short or too tight than a bunch of clothes on the rack that I don’t even bother to look at.
I hope you enjoy the few things you did buy!
Kristen @ Motherese’s latest post: On Faith- Safety- and George Corrigan
on June 30 2010
Well, I still love to shop. I do however sympathize…. I lost all the baby weight (I had only one, so…no prize for me). I still get asked about once a month when my baby is due. It’s been 3 years and I still look pregnant. Sigh….
I’m glad you found some things you liked though!
Best,
Tina
on July 1st, 2010
@Tina, I get that all the time, too.
on July 01 2010
Oh man, me too. My mom brought me shopping last year for my birthday…and I crept back home with my tail between my legs. I can’t get rid of the baby weight, and my “baby” is now 2 1/2. Just last week I had someone start talking about pregnancy, and hinting that she “knew” my big secret…she thought I was expecting and hadn’t told anyone. Gah. I fyou could have only seen the expression on her face when I finally caught on to what she was thinking, and informed her that there was no baby, only pudge… ::sigh::
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