I've just tried that old technique....buying an item of clothing that's too small in order to have something to 'slim into'. In my case, it's a pair of 33 waist grey trousers---very smart. They fit over my thighs nicely...but zipping up and buttoning ain't happening! (To my irritation, as I am wearing a pair of 33w jeans perfectly happily.) I also bought some medium T-shirts from H&M which reveal the ghastly muffintop around my waist in a way that my large T-shirts don't. There's something to be said for having clothes that look *awful* to remind you that though you may have come a long way, there's a way still to go! Does anyone else play tricks with clothes like this?