Hi everyone. The mid-year sales are everywhere these days and I was trying to buy new shirts and pants online (my latest addiction). The "problem" that I'm facing is that it seems all the brands that I like only had sales on the big sizes (L, XL, XXL) but not M, S or XS. I don't recall this being a problem in the past haha. It must be a good problem to have then.

This made wonder what other "good problems" I had since WLS. Here is what I could think of so far in addition to the one above:

- I'm now working size S shirts. I need to find a brand that makes size XS shorts that fits nicely without being too tight. Two years ago, I was on the other end of the size chart / having custom-made shirt

- We had a refresher safety training at site last week and I was chosen more than once to demo what we learned. I had to climb ladders, go into manholes (mock ones), confined spaces etc. I was never asked to do this before

- I can't use my weight as an excuse for not doing stuff around the house that requires climbing on ladders etc.

It would be interesting to hear yours.

Oh straws. It’s one of those things that some surgeons say no & others don’t care. Mine said nothing & I used straws. Not all the time but a few times a week depending on what I was doing or drinking. Never had an issue. Actually found it easier to sip through a straw at first - can’t gulp or take large mouthfuls with a straw.

You’re a couple of months out now so I guess you could give it a go & see. Do you have to use the straw or can you remove the straw & sip through the home?

You can get a "chug lid" for it here!

14 hours ago, BabySpoons said:

My family has been so good in supporting me in my WLS decision. I was recently gifted a Smart Tumbler that reminds me when to drink but uses a straw. Everything I read before surgery said not to use straws post-op so my problem is... can I even use it? I didn't have the heart at the time to even mention that possibility. Just graciously thanked them.

Any experience out there in the straw department?

i used straws...just like @Arabesque, i found it easier to take sips in the early months.

i still use straws whenever they are provided, though when im given one of those paper straws, i chuck em (or give them back). i hate those things...they turn to mush in in like 5 mins.

@The Greater Fool that was too funny, I needed that laugh, I’m scared of rides, so if my kids ask me to ride I’m going to say I’m too big, so the ride owner and my kids can look at me confused…and I’ll look back at them confused and slowly turn and walk away…BTW I have my surgery July 27th I’m excited and scared

I love the light hearted idea of the thread, and think it encapsulates some of the interesting experiences we share going through this process….

my good problems-

Ive been able to dress myself with all the clothes i grew out of on the way up, with a few budget items added in— until about now. If I lose this final 10-15 lbs I will officially have nothing on reserve. On one hand I love this problem- I get to SHOP! But on the other, I HAVE to shop. For everything- underwear, pajamas, and even to outerwear. It is going to be expensive! But also, it’s scary because Ive never been this size, and what If I can’t maintain it? Yikes, it does a number on your brain. Am I really this size? Will I be able to keep it? Lots of catching up to do on what i think I look like and what I do look like.

For some reason, and I don't know why, my parents kept my clothes from the early 90s. It's been fun wearing them again.

On 7/10/2023 at 6:51 AM, Edge13 said:

For some reason, and I don't know why, my parents kept my clothes from the early 90s. It's been fun wearing them again.

OK we have GOT to see some photos of this...

Loving this thread.

Some of my good problems relate to newfound boniness. I went on several rollercoasters in a park at Easter and ended up with bruises right down my spine - because I have no padding now and the seats are hard hard plastic. Does this happen to people who were never obese? What on earth is wrong with park operators building in a bit of wadding???

Also - my ass hurts if I have to sit on unpadded chairs anywhere for more than a few minutes. I have to start jiggling and that's not a good look.

7 hours ago, Spinoza said:

Some of my good problems relate to newfound boniness. I went on several rollercoasters in a park at Easter and ended up with bruises right down my spine - because I have no padding now and the seats are hard hard plastic. Does this happen to people who were never obese? What on earth is wrong with park operators building in a bit of wadding???

Also - my ass hurts if I have to sit on unpadded chairs anywhere for more than a few minutes. I have to start jiggling and that's not a good look.

They have calluses on their bones I’m sure which is why non padded furniture doesn’t bother them. I hear you about the spinal bones. I had to buy an extra thick foam mat to do my floor exercises - I literally feel every bone in my spinal cord. The boniness isn’t as bad as it was though it’s still a way away from good.

On 7/8/2023 at 10:05 PM, Arabesque said:

Do you have to use the straw or can you remove the straw & sip through the home?

Sorry for the late reply. I just took it out of the box last night. Seems I can use it both ways. With or without the straw. Set it up on my smartphone after downloading the app. It's kind of a novelty thing and easier for me to just set my 20 ounce water bottles out on the table and making sure I've drank them all before bedtime. But it claims to keep things hot or cold for hours so that's nice. I tried the straw too and so far so good. No problems.

Also in keeping with the food theme here, I tried a Greek Gyro while I was out and about for my doc appointment Wed. The lamb was so good and tender. I only ate half though and sorry didn't think to snap a pic. ?

Well I had a interesting experience recently. I had to have an abdominal CT (nothing to do with my surgery) & my doctor told me the scan was somewhat inconclusive. It seems I don’t have enough fat around my abdomen for them to see any inflammation & to get accurate images of my intestinal area. I mean … what??? I had to undergo some other testing as a result.

I never expected losing weight would result in this sort of problem.

I hurt my ankle recently and the boot on the tightest setting was too loose. I still remember never being able to wear fashion boots. It really bothered me when I went skiing back then, I had such a difficult time cause my boots could never close properly cause my calves were so big versus my foot size. I remember once I had to remove the lining of my ski boots to close them[emoji22]. I always hid this fact with the people I went with. It was not only too embarrassing but extremely painful to ski with no boot padding inside.

19 minutes ago, Tomo said:

I hurt my ankle recently and the boot on the tightest setting was too loose. I still remember never being able to wear fashion boots. It really bothered me when I went skiing back then, I had such a difficult time cause my boots could never close properly cause my calves were so big versus my foot size. I remember once I had to remove the lining of my ski boots to close them. I always hid this fact with the people I went with. It was not only too embarrassing but extremely painful to ski with no boot padding inside.

same, same.

as i got heavier, not only did my boots no longer close comfortably (or even close at all!) but i weighted out if my skis so much so that only the mid point of the ski would really be touching the ground! i was too embarrassed to get new skis and boots and a single experience of trying to get rental boots to close (unsuccessfully!) resulted in me giving up skiing for years. i still haven't gone skiing since i lost the weight, but now i am going to go into the depths of my basement, find my boots and see if i can fit into them again!

have YOU hit the slopes since shrinking?

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

It really bothered me when I went skiing back then, I had such a difficult time cause my boots could never close properly cause my calves were so big versus my foot size.

i tried on my ski boots! they fit

Last time i tried my ski boots on was maybe 15 years ago...and my calves had gotten so thick i couldn't even close them. tried them on today and they can close again! on the second-smallest setting no less. yay! guess i should take up skiing again!

@Tomo : it may be time to try on some boots again

I went on a trip this week..and I knew I'd be doing a lot of walking so I took my most comfortable furry sketcher clogs. They've always been comfortable for long days, well since I've lost weight they're now lose and as a result they flopped around and I have two huge blisters on the balls of each foot! So good problem with bad results...but still good!