Fitter body = Less need for $$ clothes?

[Moustachienne]

Many of the clothes in my closet would fit me better/look better if I weighed just a bit less and was just a bit fitter.  I don't buy a lot of clothes but when I do, it's sometimes to replace something perfectly good with something similar in just a size larger.  Du'oh.

Has anyone else had this lightbulb go off?  And have you done anything about it?

Maybe mostly a question for women but I bet men aren't immune.  There's a reason expensive men's suits look so good - they essentially rework your body architecture to something more 'ideal'!

[I'm a red panda]

The clothes I own are the right size for me.  If I had a fitter body, I'd need to buy all new clothes. 

That doesn't prevent me from wanting to try to get more in shape, but it will be expensive if I do :)



As for men- we are having a really really hard time finding shirts for my husband now. They are all too tight on the biceps. While the women I've seen who have gotten into truly rockin' shape tend to slim down, men often bulk up even as they slim.

[bobechs]

Has anyone else had this lightbulb go off?  And have you done anything about it?

Not 'til now.  But the solution is clear.  Start buying two sizes larger so you'll have room to swell into clothes by the time anything wears out.

[StockBeard]

I've lost weight recently which means some old clothes I didn't fit into are now the right size. I guess that counts as being frugal?

[KS]

As for men- we are having a really really hard time finding shirts for my husband now. They are all too tight on the biceps. While the women I've seen who have gotten into truly rockin' shape tend to slim down, men often bulk up even as they slim.

My husband is also impossible to get shirts for! Broad shoulders and bigger muscles mean everything that fits the top part of him is giant around the waist and looks a bit silly. We haven't gone for tailoring but should probably start (or learn to do it ourselves) if he ever needs to wear dress shirts more often. This general idea may go for women as well, just possibly with different body parts. Unfortunately no matter how fit you are, if your body isn't exactly the measurements the designers use as their standard (which given the variety of body types out there probably applies to most people) lots of clothes may still not sit quite right. That said, yeah if you have clothes that used to fit you awesome and then you gained weight so they no longer fit, slimming back down could help save you buying the next size up of the same item! Not to mention keep you healthier in the long run. :)

[mm1970]

The thing that I've found difficult is pregnancy and childbirth.

My body shifted after each kid.

So, I was fat at one point (5'2.5", 182 lbs).
Then I lost weight, got down to 125-127
Then I had a baby
I did manage to get to 127 after him (eventually), but it was super hard to stay there, and 132 was more realistic.
Even at 127, things didn't quite fit the same way.
Then I had a second baby when I was 42.

It took 1.5 years before I could lose much of the weight.  So I was at 168 pounds for a long time.  And bought clothes for that.  But I held on to my smaller clothes.
Now I'm 140-145.  Been trying to lose those last 5 pounds (so a goal range of 135-140) since December.
I dug out my clothes.  So my closet is packed, mind you, with stuff from an 8 to a 14.
Finally let go of the 14s, they are too big.
Some of the casual stuff that I had before the 2nd baby - you know, even 5 lbs isn't going to cut it.  I let those go too.
Turns out that without realizing it, most of my work clothing (jeans, casual pants) started fitting - probably in November but didn't realize it until Feb.
The cute shirts - well, you know, my shoulders and ribcage got broader with the second baby.  I don't think they are ever going to fit.  So I let them go too.

In some cases "just a few pounds" makes things fit better.
In some cases "just a few pounds" is a crap-ton of work.  If it takes perfection 95% of the time?  It's not sustainable.
In some cases "just a few pounds" won't shift where the weight lies.
I know, for example, that my weight fluctuates by 5 lbs easy over the month.
Some of my older clothing, that I let go?  Really only fits 2 days a month.

So where does your weight come from, and how do your clothes fit?  Me, it comes in the waist and butt, and 5 lbs makes a big difference.  For my husband?  Not so much, the tummy can hang over the belt a little more.

I no longer aim for tight-fitting clothing that is not forgiving (never really was into that) - you know, like skinny jeans and such.

[Gone Fishing]

All I know is that as a pretty average size male, they are usually out of my size when something goes on sale/clearance.

[gimp]

If you look better, you can get away with much less flashy clothes, eh?

[MrMoneyMaxwell]

Possibly true.

I've competed in weightlifting for years. My quads are huge (to the point where I've had to get a larger waist size on my jeans). I finally spent $140 (combined during an REI sale) on 2 solid pairs of pants. Both are partially elastic and I can use them in daily life and they stretch just enough to let me hike or go climbing while wearing them. I have never owned more comfortable pants, aside from sweat pants, in my entire life.

Also, I had a bunch of nice polo shirts that my mom bought me about 8 years ago. Basic colors, good quality. Anyway, they were too big because apparently a "large" shirt in America equates to a guy having a beer gut. They had been sitting in a box for about 8 years until I moved and had my gf tailor them to actually fit me. So now they fit and I don't have to get new clothes for work for the next decade since I've never worn these before.

It's a vicious cycle.

[step_away]

Not so for me.  I have to replace most of my wardrobes after losing weight since I went to size 8 from 12 for tops and size 2 from 6 for bottoms.  It used to be easy to shop at Ross to save money, but I can't find my pant size (unless I go for the Junior section in which the quality is not as good).

Luckily money I saved not eating out partially offset the cost of new clothes.  And I do have some clothes that I kept from high school/college that I'm able to wear again.

[BTDretire]

I've lost weight recently which means some old clothes I didn't fit into are now the right size. I guess that counts as being frugal?

,
My pants are starting to fit tight around the waste.
 I started swiming in April, by the end of May I was swiming at least a mile 3 to 4 times a week.
I thought I'd loose some weight, but I haven't, I don't need to loose much 10lbs maybe 15lbs.
 Last Thursday, I decided to just do it, loose some weight.
  I'm reducing my food intake, eating more fruits and vegatables, water instead of pepsi,
riding the stationary bike while I watch TV,  lifting some weights, increased my swimimng
swam 1-1/2 miles Tuesday and Wednesday and walking more.
Tommorrow, I will make my two mile walk to the store where they have one of those   
large scales and weigh myself.
 Last Thursday 167 lbs. I expect tommorrow that number will be lower.

[big_slacker]

Possibly true.

I've competed in weightlifting for years. My quads are huge (to the point where I've had to get a larger waist size on my jeans). I finally spent $140 (combined during an REI sale) on 2 solid pairs of pants. Both are partially elastic and I can use them in daily life and they stretch just enough to let me hike or go climbing while wearing them. I have never owned more comfortable pants, aside from sweat pants, in my entire life.

Also, I had a bunch of nice polo shirts that my mom bought me about 8 years ago. Basic colors, good quality. Anyway, they were too big because apparently a "large" shirt in America equates to a guy having a beer gut. They had been sitting in a box for about 8 years until I moved and had my gf tailor them to actually fit me. So now they fit and I don't have to get new clothes for work for the next decade since I've never worn these before.

It's a vicious cycle.

I've long had this problem as well. Lots of squats and deads in the past and now a cyclist that loves climbing. Mavi and Levis (as well as others) make jeans now with elastic material. The Mavi ones are expensive but are on sale often around here at nordstrom rack for like $50-$60. For me, worth it because like you say the alternative is buying jeans too large so the legs will fit and having a bunch of material around the waist.

Even though I'm lean I also have the shoulder/back problem. I wear a large so the shoulders/back fits but that means way too much material in the waist. Dress shirts are actually ok cause they have athletic cut, it's the t-shirts, polos, short sleeve button casual type shirts and so on.

[MrMoneyMaxwell]

Possibly true.

I've competed in weightlifting for years. My quads are huge (to the point where I've had to get a larger waist size on my jeans). I finally spent $140 (combined during an REI sale) on 2 solid pairs of pants. Both are partially elastic and I can use them in daily life and they stretch just enough to let me hike or go climbing while wearing them. I have never owned more comfortable pants, aside from sweat pants, in my entire life.

Also, I had a bunch of nice polo shirts that my mom bought me about 8 years ago. Basic colors, good quality. Anyway, they were too big because apparently a "large" shirt in America equates to a guy having a beer gut. They had been sitting in a box for about 8 years until I moved and had my gf tailor them to actually fit me. So now they fit and I don't have to get new clothes for work for the next decade since I've never worn these before.

It's a vicious cycle.

I've long had this problem as well. Lots of squats and deads in the past and now a cyclist that loves climbing. Mavi and Levis (as well as others) make jeans now with elastic material. The Mavi ones are expensive but are on sale often around here at nordstrom rack for like $50-$60. For me, worth it because like you say the alternative is buying jeans too large so the legs will fit and having a bunch of material around the waist.

Even though I'm lean I also have the shoulder/back problem. I wear a large so the shoulders/back fits but that means way too much material in the waist. Dress shirts are actually ok cause they have athletic cut, it's the t-shirts, polos, short sleeve button casual type shirts and so on.

Yep. "Slim fit" shirts don't fit my upper back, chest or arms, so I end up just having to get things tailored to fit. I bought a pair of Marmot jeans and Prana climbing pants from REI. They can over charge a lot of things, but their online store/clearance are usually a reasonable deal.

[r3dt4rget]

I've never heard of a good reason not to strive to be fit, so regardless of the $$$ spent on clothing it's a life-improving venture.

[Jakejake]

I gained 50 pounds in the first 15 or so years of marriage, then three years ago got my act together and lost it again. I kept all my clothes from various sizes (6-14). I was able to fit into some of my smaller clothes from my (f)attic collection, some were not at all in style any more. When I transitioned from losing to maintaining, I bounced up for a year and back down while I sorted that out, and was glad I didn't throw out the various sizes.

While actively losing, I hit up salvation army on the friday dollar sales (5 items for 5 dollars). For buying new clothes, I feel like a walking advertisement for that kmart points for progress program. Apologies if I seem like I spam the board about that - I swear I don't work for them, I just get free things from them! Anyway, the benefit of being smaller is that I can buy boy's shirts in the 12/14 size, which is way cheaper than women's shirts. I wouldn't wear them for work clothes, but I have a ton of boys' lime green high visibility shirts for bike riding now, none of which I actually paid for.

[okits]

When I've been in better shape lots of clothes looked good on me. I could buy from regular stores in regular sizes (10-14) and take advantage of their lower pricing and sales. Older clothes I already owned looked good because my body looked better.

Heftier and flabbier ATM. Shop at stores with vanity/fudged "normal" sizing (size "15"?  XL/XXL/2X) and things just don't look as good on me so it's harder to find stuff.  Obviously, wearing some existing clothes is out of the question as they're too small.

A prime example is a recent swimsuit purchase. When you're in shape you can buy the $19.99 cheapo special.  When you're not in shape your swimsuit needs to do a little more work ("superpowers", my BFF and I call them), and hold in, move around, minimize, conceal, and support various areas.  Swimsuits with superpowers cost a lot more (and the specific combo of superpowers you need is rarer than a generic, regular suit.). So $$$$$$$.

I'm reconfiguring my life to make a health and fitness focus easier. Hopefully means my existing clothes look great again, soon.

[Sailor Sam]

I have broad shoulders, big biceps, and some thunder thighs, all packed into a 64" frame*. The shoulders are genetic, but the biceps and quads are from weight lifting (olympic style, yargh!), and box western style. I have a horrible time finding dress shirts. Just last week I broke down and spent quite a bit on a tailored shirt from Nordstroms. I plan to go back for some pants.

*Yes, I'm a tiny little dudemeister. Only my wife is allowed to comment on this!

[atrex]

My gf and I are both former collegiate athletes.  I'm about 8% heavier than I was then and she's maybe a touch lighter than she was, and we're both in good shape, still active in our sport.  It makes a HUGE difference in wardrobe costs.  I have items that are 15 years old in my wardrobe, and she has stuff that's even older.  I think the two keys are to acquire clothing that fits well, and to acquire clothing that is not overly trendy = classic, holds its style.  If you can stay in shape, you never have to get rid of something because of fit.  I look it like this now - a tight belt does not mean I need to get new clothes, it means I need to lose weight - and that is absolute. 

For men with odd fits, I say don't settle for a bad fit.  A good fit in clothing will have a real % impact on your professional status, and will be more comfortable and something you are proud to wear.  If you've got unusual dimensions, I definitely recommend trying out something like CottonWork, which builds shirts to spec off of several measurements.  For work clothes, gradually building up a well fitting wardrobe at reasonable cost will open up opportunities and the pieces should last a long time.

[I'm a red panda]

  It makes a HUGE difference in wardrobe costs.  I have items that are 15 years old in my wardrobe, and she has stuff that's even older. 

Wouldn't the key to saving be to stay the same shape? So if you're obese and always have been, you save money by staying that way.   Not to say anyone should want to do this- but I just don't see how being fit saves any money on clothes at all.  Being consistent does.

[Zamboni]

As for men- we are having a really really hard time finding shirts for my husband now. They are all too tight on the biceps.

I have this problem as well when I am more toned, but triceps and shoulders are the bigger issue. And I am female. The tailor shop is my friend, because otherwise pants and sleeves would always be too short, waists too big, and pretty much nothing would fit right. I have been known to get a pair of pants for $3 at Goodwill and spend $10-20 getting them tailored to fit right. I spent big money on a couple of bras at Nordstrom because that is another area where I'm hard to fit and need to try on, but then I found a bunch of the same style 6 months later on ebay for 1/4 the price when they became overstock shipped out to make room for the latest trends in bra fashion (hilarious, by they way, but good for my wallet.)

But, I try to stay the same size overall. As others have said, this it the most important way to save money on clothes.

[atrex]

  It makes a HUGE difference in wardrobe costs.  I have items that are 15 years old in my wardrobe, and she has stuff that's even older. 

Wouldn't the key to saving be to stay the same shape? So if you're obese and always have been, you save money by staying that way.   Not to say anyone should want to do this- but I just don't see how being fit saves any money on clothes at all.  Being consistent does.

You win on math.  But as far as leading a MMM life, I'm going to say that being in shape and rebuilding your wardrobe is much better than being in bad shape and saving money on clothes.  More energy.

And, if you stay in shape, a lot of people will find that visits the thrift shop are far more fruitful, because the thrift shop is full of clothes people gave up when their fitness declined.  Amazing what you can pick up there, I have a Zara jacket that fits better than anything I've bought new and it cost me $12.

[Giro]

Staying in shape is mustachian for a number of reasons.  Most fit people have very little health problems (the controllable problems) and they recover more quickly from common colds, etc. 

I shop thrift stores for all of my tops.  I buy dress pants by the dozen when they are on sale.  I know what fits well and just wear classic styles. 

I watch coworkers spend thousands on clothing.  I just don't get it.  I go to the thrift shops once every 2-3 months.  There are days that I don't find a single item that I like, I just wait a few months and try again.   It's been months since I found anything decent and then I stopped in and walked out with 10 tops. 

[I'm a red panda]

And, if you stay in shape, a lot of people will find that visits the thrift shop are far more fruitful, because the thrift shop is full of clothes people gave up when their fitness declined.

I must life in a fat area... the thrift shops here are full of clothes way too big for me.

I have decent sewing skills, so I can often make things smaller, but sometimes it is beyond me. Based on the number of people who beg me to hem for them (at a high cost, because I hate hemming)- I don't think we have a good alterations shop around here.

I would never argue to stay fat for the sake of saving money on clothes (you probably lose money on healthcare)- but the premise of the thread is that being fitter saves money for clothing.  I just don't see that.

[GuitarStv]

I'm in good shape.  Most off the rack clothing these days is made for fatties - either too tight in the thighs and chest, or too loose in the waist.  If I wanted things to fit properly I'd have to spend a fortune getting things altered.  Next best thing is to avoid wearing clothes if at all possible.

[big_slacker]

I'm in good shape.  Most off the rack clothing these days is made for fatties - either too tight in the thighs and chest, or too loose in the waist.  If I wanted things to fit properly I'd have to spend a fortune getting things altered.  Next best thing is to avoid wearing clothes if at all possible.

I like your thinking sir!

[iamlittlehedgehog]

My work clothes tend to stay consistent. But I try to go with a looser fit for the sake of modesty. However gaining weight would a nightmare because flattering plus size professional clothes are extremely expensive and hard to find.

In terms of day to day wear I'm guilty of being very attached to my yoga pants and leggings because they accommodate the severe bloat I get during an ulcerative colitis flare up. They've held up well so far.

I've all but given up on jeans, there is a 13 inch difference between my hips and waist, jeans only fit if I get get the waist taken in or the seat and thighs taken out.

[fitfrugalfab]

This is one of the reasons why I stay in shape. I have a massive closet and would be heartbroken if I couldn't fit in my clothes, and there is no way I'm buying new ones.

[Tyson]

Yes, fitter body equals looking better in clothes (and sans clothes). 

[Camarillo Brillo]

Many of the clothes in my closet would fit me better/look better if I weighed just a bit less and was just a bit fitter.  I don't buy a lot of clothes but when I do, it's sometimes to replace something perfectly good with something similar in just a size larger.  Du'oh.

Has anyone else had this lightbulb go off?  And have you done anything about it?

Maybe mostly a question for women but I bet men aren't immune.  There's a reason expensive men's suits look so good - they essentially rework your body architecture to something more 'ideal'!

Having to buy new clothes in a bigger size would annoy the hell out of me.  I know I'm a bit odd about food, but I'm indifferent about it.  I'm nearly 57 years old and haven't changed weight (or clothes size) in nearly 40 years.  I don't recall ever outgrowing an item of clothing. Next month my wife and I are attending a formal and I'll be wearing a tux I bought nearly 30 years ago.

[mustachianteacher]

Yes, being fit makes a difference. I am definitely happier with the way I look and feel when I'm in shape, and I definitely keep my weight and shape steady so that my clothes continue to fit well.

More than being fit, though, I think it makes a difference when you buy good quality that flatters your shape, no matter what shape that is. Well-made clothes that flatter you are more enjoyable to wear, and they'll last longer, partly because of the quality, and partly because you'll enjoy wearing them.

All of that being said, allow me to point out that it is pretty damn hard to find cute, well-fitting jeans that flatter my muscular legs and hips. I'm a runner, and I know many runners and cyclists deal with this, but I *did* have to go shopping at one point to find pants that aren't too small in the thighs.

[mm1970]

Yes, being fit makes a difference. I am definitely happier with the way I look and feel when I'm in shape, and I definitely keep my weight and shape steady so that my clothes continue to fit well.

More than being fit, though, I think it makes a difference when you buy good quality that flatters your shape, no matter what shape that is. Well-made clothes that flatter you are more enjoyable to wear, and they'll last longer, partly because of the quality, and partly because you'll enjoy wearing them.

All of that being said, allow me to point out that it is pretty damn hard to find cute, well-fitting jeans that flatter my muscular legs and hips. I'm a runner, and I know many runners and cyclists deal with this, but I *did* have to go shopping at one point to find pants that aren't too small in the thighs.

Very much this.  I have struggled with a 6-8" gap at the waist for decades

[BTDretire]

I've lost weight recently which means some old clothes I didn't fit into are now the right size. I guess that counts as being frugal?

,
My pants are starting to fit tight around the waste.
 I started swiming in April, by the end of May I was swiming at least a mile 3 to 4 times a week.
I thought I'd loose some weight, but I haven't, I don't need to loose much 10lbs maybe 15lbs.
 Last Thursday, I decided to just do it, loose some weight.
  ...
 Last Thursday 167 lbs. I expect tommorrow that number will be lower.

Great! I weighed myself this morning at 162.5lbs, So I lost 4.5lbs in a week.
I expect I won't be in need of an upsize in pants, because I'm going to continue, eating less
and exerciseing more.

[Moustachienne]

Thanks for all the interesting comments and angles shared!

For me, no wriggling out of the conclusion.  I feel better when I'm fitter.  I look better when I'm fitter.  My current clothes would fit better and if I wanted to buy others, I would look/feel better in clothes at all price points.  And oh yeah,  I would also be healthier.  Guess I'd better get on it!

[Bearded Man]

Fitter body also means less need for expensive clothes for "social proof". I don't care if a girl got her outfit at Walmart or at a boutique on Rodeo Drive so long as she is smoking hot :P

[Giro]

Fitter body also means less need for expensive clothes for "social proof". I don't care if a girl got her outfit at Walmart or at a boutique on Rodeo Drive so long as she is smoking hot :P

This. 

[Jakejake]

I would never argue to stay fat for the sake of saving money on clothes (you probably lose money on healthcare)- but the premise of the thread is that being fitter saves money for clothing.  I just don't see that.

I could probably argue this either way.
1. Staying one size is the cheapest no matter what.
2. Except that as you replace clothes, smaller ones are usually cheaper, and there's more variety, so better odds you'll find a good flattering fit for a cheaper price.
3. Unless you shop at thrift shops, where plus sizes don't cost more.
4. Budget wise, I suspect fit people generally have a larger wardrobe, because they try things on and think "oooh, that looks good" and buy it, whereas people who hate the dressing room experience aren't as likely to shop and buy so much.

[JJNL]

I would love to be able to stay in the same shape all the time, but I have a very hard time actually doing that. My body tends to yoyo seasonally: fatter in winter and leaner in summer. Also, when I'm stressed out at work I tend to eat more stuff that's bad for me and not make time to exercise, gaining weight that usually drops off once things calm down and I get back into a healthier lifestyle. My solution: buy EVERYTHING in stretchy fabrics and wear lots of dresses (which are a lot more forgiving to the eternal yoyo-er than things like dress pants).

[I'm a red panda]

2. Except that as you replace clothes, smaller ones are usually cheaper

A x-small shirt costs the same as an large shirt. They don't give you a discount for less fabric. 
Maybe if you are comparing Plus sizes to regular sizes; but otherwise, I've never seen a retailer price by size.  So the "get more fit" would only apply if you are a plus size.  If you're a large, but regular size, there is no cost incentive.

I've also noticed Petites almost always cost more, and they are smaller than the same regular size. For pants, I just buy and tailor, for shirts, I'm SOL, I'm not skilled enough to change the neck/shoulder ratios.


There are LOTS of reasons to be more fit. I just do not see clothing costs to be one of them.
Even if you went from obese to super body builder, you'd likely need to still get custom tailored clothes, because your proportions are not going to fit a normal sloper.

[TomTX]

I've long had this problem as well. Lots of squats and deads in the past and now a cyclist that loves climbing. Mavi and Levis (as well as others) make jeans now with elastic material. The Mavi ones are expensive but are on sale often around here at nordstrom rack for like $50-$60. For me, worth it because like you say the alternative is buying jeans too large so the legs will fit and having a bunch of material around the waist.

Holy shit! $60 ON SALE? For JEANS?

Buy $13 jeans at Costco. Find local alteration lady to take in the waist. Should be like $10/pair, $20 at most. Done.

Or, you know - just wear a belt and skip the alteration step. That's what I do.

[big_slacker]

I've long had this problem as well. Lots of squats and deads in the past and now a cyclist that loves climbing. Mavi and Levis (as well as others) make jeans now with elastic material. The Mavi ones are expensive but are on sale often around here at nordstrom rack for like $50-$60. For me, worth it because like you say the alternative is buying jeans too large so the legs will fit and having a bunch of material around the waist.

Holy shit! $60 ON SALE? For JEANS?

Buy $13 jeans at Costco. Find local alteration lady to take in the waist. Should be like $10/pair, $20 at most. Done.

Or, you know - just wear a belt and skip the alteration step. That's what I do.

I have 4 pairs of jeans in my minimalist closet, they go 3-5 years. I'm fine with that expense. $100 over 3 years isn't an obstacle to my FI plans. :)

[BTDretire]

I've long had this problem as well. Lots of squats and deads in the past and now a cyclist that loves climbing. Mavi and Levis (as well as others) make jeans now with elastic material. The Mavi ones are expensive but are on sale often around here at nordstrom rack for like $50-$60. For me, worth it because like you say the alternative is buying jeans too large so the legs will fit and having a bunch of material around the waist.

Holy shit! $60 ON SALE? For JEANS?

Buy $13 jeans at Costco. Find local alteration lady to take in the waist. Should be like $10/pair, $20 at most. Done.

Or, you know - just wear a belt and skip the alteration step. That's what I do.

 What! $13 for pants?  I couldn't resist :-)

 Four years ago I found a rack of pants at Salvation Army, $3 a pair. These were all brand new, the only deficiency was
the legs were not cut or hemmed.  I bought 4 pair, my wife cut and hemmed them and they've been in my weekly rotation since.
If I had know how good they were, I would have bought all they had in my waist size.

[I'm a red panda]

These were all brand new, the only deficiency was the legs were not cut or hemmed. 

That's usually a sign of a high end brand.

It's really the mass market ones that think all people fit into their "short, regular, tall" designations (if they offer anything other than regular.)

[hypertrichosis]

Fitter body also means less need for expensive clothes for "social proof". I don't care if a girl got her outfit at Walmart or at a boutique on Rodeo Drive so long as she is smoking hot :P

This.

I will THIRD this (if that is even an expression). you get yourself in good shape, and you can wear Faded Glory / Wrangler brand, dress at Sams Club, Goodwill, wherever, and still look WAAAAAY better than someone not in shape who buys their clothes at Nordstrom!

In fact I will go as far to say that being not in shape is plain unmustachian more so than being in debt. You are neglecting your body and health and I am pretty sure that comes before your personal finances in the order of importance of things. So if you need to do something about this, I would encourage you to do it NOW!

[oinkette]

As a person who sews, it's MUCH easier to take something in, than let it out.  If I became more fit, I'd just tailor my current clothing down myself, as I've done in the past. Getting bigger would probably mean buying new clothes. So in my case, yes, fitter = less $$.

[GuitarStv]

Also, I had a bunch of nice polo shirts that my mom bought me about 8 years ago. Basic colors, good quality. Anyway, they were too big because apparently a "large" shirt in America equates to a guy having a beer gut. They had been sitting in a box for about 8 years until I moved and had my gf tailor them to actually fit me. So now they fit and I don't have to get new clothes for work for the next decade since I've never worn these before.

I bought a few shirts last weekend and ended up with mediums.  I have them hanging next to old XL shirts that are slightly bigger, but not by much.  Apparently XL from 10 years ago is between M and L today.

Yeah, I've noticed this as well.  I used to always wear an L or XL, and now am an M in most US made shirts.  It's kinda annoying.

[MayDay]

As many have said, staying the same size is obviously ideal.

When you are thin, even cheap clothes look ok.  When you have bulges, you can't wear any size medium t-shirt, you have to find the particular shirt that flatters your "problem area" and that might not be at Target or the thrift store, so you may have to or choose to spend more. 

We have a variety of sizes at thrift stores.  But I am finding my thin kid needs slim sized pants and those can either be easier to find (no one else wants them) or hard (no one buys them so they don't get donated).  And my H has a "small" (He is actually not all that small, but I guess other people are fat?) waist, size 32", so he can be either hard or easy for the same reasons. 

Unrelated to exercising, I've always had bigger thighs and a smaller waist.  I learned in high school through trial and error how to take apart the back waist seams in pants and alter them to be smaller in the waist.  Belts with bunchy fabric are uncomfortable. 

[kite]

I see far more small clothes in thrift stores.  Intuitively, this makes sense as I think people generally get larger and discard the too-small stuff. 

[golden1]

Not just clothes, but everything.  This is probably going to sound overly judgemental, but I find it is mostly the overweight ladies in my town that seem to have fancy purses, hard to maintain hairstyles with highlights that requires constant upkeep, fancy clothes etc...

I do agree that you can save money by just staying the same size.  In fact, clothes size is what I use to judge whether I need to cut back on calories for a bit.  I wear size 6/8 clothes, and when the belt gets tight, it's time to up the exercise and eat better for awhile.  I have been a size 6/8 since I hit adulthood, except when pregnant of course. 

[golden1]

The thing that I've found difficult is pregnancy and childbirth.

My body shifted after each kid.

So, I was fat at one point (5'2.5", 182 lbs).
Then I lost weight, got down to 125-127
Then I had a baby
I did manage to get to 127 after him (eventually), but it was super hard to stay there, and 132 was more realistic.
Even at 127, things didn't quite fit the same way.
Then I had a second baby when I was 42.

It took 1.5 years before I could lose much of the weight.  So I was at 168 pounds for a long time.  And bought clothes for that.  But I held on to my smaller clothes.
Now I'm 140-145.  Been trying to lose those last 5 pounds (so a goal range of 135-140) since December.
I dug out my clothes.  So my closet is packed, mind you, with stuff from an 8 to a 14.
Finally let go of the 14s, they are too big.
Some of the casual stuff that I had before the 2nd baby - you know, even 5 lbs isn't going to cut it.  I let those go too.
Turns out that without realizing it, most of my work clothing (jeans, casual pants) started fitting - probably in November but didn't realize it until Feb.
The cute shirts - well, you know, my shoulders and ribcage got broader with the second baby.  I don't think they are ever going to fit.  So I let them go too.

In some cases "just a few pounds" makes things fit better.
In some cases "just a few pounds" is a crap-ton of work.  If it takes perfection 95% of the time?  It's not sustainable.
In some cases "just a few pounds" won't shift where the weight lies.
I know, for example, that my weight fluctuates by 5 lbs easy over the month.
Some of my older clothing, that I let go?  Really only fits 2 days a month.

So where does your weight come from, and how do your clothes fit?  Me, it comes in the waist and butt, and 5 lbs makes a big difference.  For my husband?  Not so much, the tummy can hang over the belt a little more.

I no longer aim for tight-fitting clothing that is not forgiving (never really was into that) - you know, like skinny jeans and such.

Hmmmm, my body size shifted slightly with pregnancy but not enough that I had to throw away all my clothes and start over.  Mostly, my waist and hips just got a bit broader.  Maybe it depends on what you wear.  I wear casual clothes, even at work - one of the benefits of working in Tech.  Most of my clothes are loose fitting, not tailored. 

Jeans for runners and/or girls with thighs - sigh...   It is so hard to find jeans that I am not constantly tugging up, especially with a smartphone in my pocket.  Ones where the waist fits are super tight around the thighs.  I seem to do the best in boyfriend type cuts for some reason, mostly because they have straight, generous legs.  For cheap jeans, the old navy sweetheart jean is pretty good although they are also a bit wide waisted. 

[dachs]

The clothes I own are the right size for me.  If I had a fitter body, I'd need to buy all new clothes. 

That doesn't prevent me from wanting to try to get more in shape, but it will be expensive if I do :)



As for men- we are having a really really hard time finding shirts for my husband now. They are all too tight on the biceps. While the women I've seen who have gotten into truly rockin' shape tend to slim down, men often bulk up even as they slim.

On the long run you will definitely save money being in better shape :)