Be Careful What You Ask For

Monday when we were shopping for husband's new wardrobe, I did a little shopping for myself, too. We were at Kohl's, and I walked around the active wear section. I wanted some workout pants, specifically capri style. I was looking for a 2XLG, because of my big belly.

Zip, zilch, nada. The sizes went up to XL.

So I purchased five pair of pajama pant bottoms, capri style, which were on sale for $5 apiece. I got two 2XL and three XLs. That should do me for awhile.

As the clerk started ringing me up, she asked, "Did you find everything you were looking for?" I said, "Well, now that you ask, no, I did not. People my size exercise, too. There was nothing in your active wear section in my size." She asked what size I wanted, I stated a 2XL, and then she did it.

The clerk turned to another gal who was miles away (two sections over) and hollered out: Do we have any plus size active wear? Size 2XL? Oh, for the love of Pete, I wished the earth would open up right then and swallow me. There were a lot of people around. Granted, if you look at me, you know I'm plus size. But sheesh, did she have to announce it to the whole flippin' store? The gal hollered back, "Yes, X brand (I forget) carries plus size.

So the gal came and got me and we walked through that department together. Was she ever shocked that there really wasn't any plus sized stuff. She kept pulling out XL stuff. Nope, not quite there yet. Then she told me that I could order the stuff online. I said the problem with that is that I can't try it on, and clothes sizes run differently, pants are cut differently, and it's really best to try things online. I then told her it was really unfair--not her fault, but it stinks. She agreed, and told me that she has that problem with the junior department, too, as they make and sell plus sized junior stuff online, but not in the store.

So I bought my pajama bottoms, didn't tell them what they were for, and left. Thank God I exercise at home!

I did also look at JCPenney and another store that carried plus size, but no active wear was to be found in my size.

So we're supposed to work out, eat healthy and lose weight, but yet we can't go into a store and by clothes to work out in until we've done all the hard work and lost the weight. Hmmm.

Guess what else the clerk told me? They used to carry plus sized active wear, but it didn't sell. I don't know if she was telling me the truth, trying to placate me or what.

Oh well. The good news is that I tried all the capri pajama pants on and every single pair fit, even the three XLs. I can wear them all now--in fact, I have a pair on right now. How cool is that? Yet, it's not the same as pants. I have found pajama bottoms are cut looser and bigger than pants. I'm still excited that the XLs fit.

I had a difficult time shopping in that I didn't know what sizes to try on. I ended up buying one size of 20 pants and four shirts which were all marked 18/20. That sure beats the size 24 I started out with!

I cannot wait until I can fit into capri exercise pants. I'd like the French terry pants. I'd like some yoga pants. Shoot, I'd like anything other than the cheap sweatpants I'm used to from Wal-mart. At least I could always find those and they always fit.

I will think twice before telling a clerk I didn't find what I was looking for again!