Steps Toward a Better Body Image Tip #3- Wear Comfortable Clothing that Fits Your "Here & Now" Body

The journey toward healing negative body image takes time, patience, perseverance, courage, and self-compassion. One of the most courageous and kind things you can do for yourself is to wear clothing that fits your “here and now” body and that you feel comfortable in. There are many reasons that we may hold on to clothing from the past, and these reasons are as varied as the clothing items themselves. Some pieces of clothing evoke memories of past events or loved ones that have special meaning. Other times, we hold on to clothing items that no longer fit our bodies comfortably because we yearn for what was- a thinner body, a younger body, etc. Sometimes these items of clothing can bring up feelings of sadness, anger, and disappointment because they no longer fit our “here and now” bodies.

Aging and body changes are inevitable. No one’s body looks the same at age 80 as it did at age 15. Yet, we are sold the idea that our bodies shouldn’t change; that this is undesirable, unhealthy, etc. If you’re recovering from an eating disorder or chronic dieting, body changes can be especially fraught. With healing and weight restoration, chances are that you will need to buy new clothing that fits your current body size. Wearing clothing that is too small (or too large) increases the likelihood that you’re not going to feel comfortable or confident. Waistbands that pinch, buttons that leave red marks on your skin, pants that you have to continually pull up, or clothing that you have trouble buttoning/zipping are not going to help you improve your body image. If you find yourself fussing with your clothing throughout the day, it’s probably a sign that new clothing would help you feel more comfortable.

You deserve to wear clothing that fits your body and that you feel comfortable in. Period. I acknowledge that it’s difficult to let go of old clothing. Donating or selling items can bring up many emotions and also may be necessary for continued healing. I also hear the concern about the cost in buying new clothes. There are many options available to sell gently worn (or unworn) clothes on apps, at consignment stores, etc. If you can only afford to replace a few items of clothing at a time, start with items you wear most frequently.

One minefield when shopping for new clothing are the size tags. For many people, pant or dress sizes have represented an aspect of self-worth and going up a size can be emotionally challenging. It’s worth exploring your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs around what clothing sizes mean to you and also exploring what it would mean to wear clothing that you feel comfortable in. When you go to buy new clothing, bring several sizes to the dressing room, pay attention to how the clothes feel on your body, and move around in them before deciding to buy.

Several of my clients have recently taken the step to buy new comfortable clothing that fits their “here and now” bodies. They come back to their next appointments telling me what a positive difference it has made in their lives to wear comfortable clothing that actually fits.

You can do the same- go for it!!

Photo by Lauren Fleischmann (@theburbgirl) via Unsplash