Does Clothing Size Matter for Fitness Success

I went shopping for new gym leggings today and I had to go up a size. My first instinct was to feel devastated, but then I realized that my legs have grown because I am actually making progress with my lifting. I am trying to tell myself that a clothing size is just a number and does not reflect my fitness success.

It is hard when we are taught from a young age that smaller is always better. I am trying to reframe it as my body taking up space because it is getting stronger. I am currently loving the Gymshark Apex range because it is so comfortable, even if I am now a size large instead of a medium.

Do you struggle with the mental aspect of changing clothing sizes? How do you stay positive when the labels do not match what you expected? I would love to hear your stories about embracing your growing muscles and letting go of the fear of a bigger size.