The Lighter Side of: Weight Fluctuations

Weight can fluctuate for an entire list of reasons...
Changes in eating habits
Medication
Hormonal Changes
Illness
Changes in activity
Stress
Symptoms (like vomiting, swelling, bloating)

This type of drastic change is more frustrating than anything. Large weight fluctuations can be unpredictable, uncontrollable, and annoying.
With medications like Prednisone or other corticosteroids, weight gain is almost inevitable (mostly water weight). With a disease like Hereditary Angioedema, swelling can cause fluctuations in one's size from day to day or even hour to hour depending on the location of the swelling. Hormonal changes can cause severe weight loss or gain, thyroid problems can do the same, and significant increases in stress levels can reduce or increase appetite.
The most frustrating part is the lack of control. For people with various illnesses and on various medications or supplements, no matter how well you eat or how much you exercise, there is only so much that you can control.
Not only that, but trying to find clothing that fits at all stages is difficult and can become a financial burden.

The Lighter Side of weight fluctuation is that it gives me an excuse to go clothing shopping every now and again.
These days, you can find clothing that is very versatile. I have pieces of clothing that fit me at nearly any size. I also have 'Prednisone Pants' and a closet full of sizes from 0-14... clothing I had to buy during weight changes but only wore temporarily. They are all in good shape and are all classic pieces, so when my weight does fluctuate I at least have a few staple options.

There is another positive side - Facebook Auctions.
You can find auctions everywhere online these days. My favourite auctions to watch are the Fb low-starting-bid auctions. I have been able to find a great deal of clothing for under $10, all in excellent used condition and even some still with the tags attached.
I used to be nervous about wearing the clothing of others, but the pieces I have bought have been in 'like new' shape or with the tags on. You quickly wash the clothing before wear and, voilà, good as new!
I would love to organize a clothing drive for people who have undergone severe weight changes due to illness.
There are so many of these auctions all the time online - people wanting to rid themselves of excess stuff. Clothing barely used or entirely unused. I wish I had the energy to run something like this - but maybe one of my readers would be willing to get something like this going?

Essentially, I was thinking of doing a clothing drive to collect like-new or new with or without tags level of clothing, separate them into their respective sizes, and then people can submit applications to receive a bag of some staple clothing in their current size. Obviously it would be limited, so only a certain number of applications could be fulfilled, but I think it would be a wonderful option for people who have undergone drastic body changes and require some clothing in a new size for the short-term. Then they could always donate back those items once their weight returns to normal.
It would be much better than having to fork out money for an entirely new wardrobe if those weight changes only last for 3-6 months or even a year or two (like courses of Prednisone).
It could be as straight-forward as having a drop-off bin location over a period of a month (or however long), then organizers wash and separate the clothing into sizes, receive and organize applications, and fill the applications as they come in.

It would be a much larger undertaking than a simple online fundraiser, but I keep thinking about how much money I have had to spend over the years for severe weight changes and not fitting any of my wardrobe for several months. It would have been so much nicer if online auctions were popular at that time. My weight changes were so common and so bad that our family wound up foregoing vacations because of how much money was being spent on medication, treatments, doctor's appointments in different cities, and clothing to fit me all year round.

With online auctions, there is an easier way!!