Burn Those Britches Behind You

You are losing weight! In fact you are getting smaller every day. And if you are anything like me your closet is an veritable shopping center with an array of sizes to choose from. I saved my "skinny" clothes and everything in between. Slowly, very slowly, I have gotten back into a descending number of sizes and have reached the smallest number, a number I never thought I would wear again. And now, wonder of wonders, that teeny, weeny size is getting loose!

So I have a ton of clothing that doesn't fit. I'm glad I saved my clothes when they were too small to squeeze into - a motivation to lose weight. But now, my friends, we are faced with a new challenge -what to do with our large sized clothing. Do we keep them, just in case? Or do we say "out with the old and in with the new"?

Let me tell you, there is NO just in case. We will never be fat again! Not us. We, in all probability, have gone up and down so many times we've lost track. But this time it's different. It feels great to try on that old pair of pants and see physical proof of your weight loss, doesn't it? I suggest you find the biggest pair of pants, dress or skirt and hold on to them as a reminder of your past, of all your hard work that got you where you are today, no matter if you are in your "skinny" size or just heading in that direction. Put that item aside and take the rest of your fat clothes and get rid of them!

There is a wonderful article on charityguide.org about options for our used clothing. In fact, it says that plus-size women's clothing (14 and larger) is the most requested type of clothing. There are a number of options listed in the article, including two websites, Freecycle and Freesharing. Oprah also has a wonderful article about where to get rid of old clothing on her site.

Although the people of Haiti need just about everything, most organizations clearly state that money is the recommended way to help. But you can check with your local Red Cross chapter to find out if they are taking donations of clothing.

If you're hesitant to get rid of a garment because it was expensive, you might think about having it re-tailored or consider a consignment shop to recoup some of your money.

Here's another idea for those too big items, a clothing swap. Get together with friends and acquaintances and pool your clothing, then have fun selecting items that actually fit while someone else is benefiting from your discarded past. It's a win-win situation and lots of fun to boot!

Show yourself that you have committed 100% to your goal and that you have said a final farewell to the fat person you used to be. Get rid of those clothes anyway you like, but do it!