Anything Goes Post!

[BusyGirl]

So, of course the sleeve is a serious topic; we all know that. But I was thinking about a less-serious exercise.....

I know that we all want to be healthier. But I have been thinking about all the "little things" in my life that the sleeve is going to change, and I would love to hear from everyone else, too. Pre-sleevers, what "little things" are you looking forward to? Recent-sleevers, what have you noticed so far? Sleeve veterans, what "little things" have changed and enriched your lives so far?

This is supposed to be fun and just kind of a less-serious post. Anything goes. It can be silly, funny, insignificant, anything you want.

I'll go first... the little things that I'm really looking forward to are:

- my inner thighs not rubbing together when I walk
- not having to flip my mattress as often (to avoid body compression in the mattress)
- being able to pack a week's worth of clothing in a smaller suitcase... we've all seen those people at the airport that put a week's worth of stuff in a small carry-on!
- not having to silently wonder how much a chair is going to squeak when I sit on it in front of strangers


C'mon everybody, hit me!

[bjcarey2005]

My first Ah-Ha moment - was when I went to a doctor's visit and the waiting room was filled with chairs with "arms" on them. Ordinarily I search for a chairs without arms/sides, as they are more comfortable and I don't have to wedge myself into it As I sit, I fit very comfortably - I'm thinking, "Wow, they must have larger chairs... how nice!" It wasn't until I was home and laying in bed... that I had this thought; Maybe, just maybe it wasn't the chair that was larger... I was just simply smaller!! I was so excited at this thought, that I woke my sweet hubby up right then & there to share!! *lmao*

And then today alittle over 4 and 1/2 months since my sleeve - I tried on a 3X and it was too large!! I know to some they'd wonder "whoa, that is large" - but alittle over 4 and 1/2 months ago... I used to be a 6X Best Day.. EVER!

Huggles & God Bless
~Bren~

[mrsjumbo]

airplane seat without doing "the bump" with the passenger next to me. wearing stripes in any direction I want.

[cindylutz]

Going to a restaurant and not having to peer at the booth to decide which side is large enough for me to slide in and sit comfortably!

[splendaaa]

I'm with you on thr thighs rubbing together thing. I also look forward to wearing a backless shirt with no back fat on the sides.

[Amie Beale Reeny Blair]

im lookin forward to shoppin and things fitting me again with out it having to be a big girls shop

[Rubyslippers1]

going shopping and finding something really cute in less than an hour;
going into a doctors office and feeling good about getting on the scale rather than "refusing weigh-in;
having my rings down-sized;
not feeling like the heaviest girl in the room;
throwing away all of my size 14 clothing;
buying new bras;
going to the beach;
not having people say, "what happened to her, she was so beautiful";
feeling really good about myself;
not being reluctant about going out in public;
walking around naked in my own home;
not feeling so tired all the time;
getting off anti-depressants;
feeling better running after my grandchild and not getting out of breath;
not putting a pillow on my tummy when i sit down; and
wearing a sleeveless dress shirt.

[cindylutz]

man i would kill to be in a size 14!!!

[BusyGirl]

Bren - How exciting! I bet that must be a great feeling, and I'm with you on the chairs with arms thing. When I see chairs with arms, my heart sinks. I manage to get my big butt into them, but I imagine I must look pretty ridiculous.

Mrs. Jumbo - Airplanes are a great example! So far, I've been lucky to always be flying with a family member, so they pretty much expect me to be easing into their seat with them. Hopefully that will change before I have to fly again! And I giggled at the stripes thing because when I read it, my first thought was, "been there!"

Cindy - Girrrrrl. I play that game EVERY time I go out to eat. If I'm with family and friends, they'll even tell me to take the bigger side! Even though they love me, it still kind of stings. I hate when the booth table is glued or screwed into the wall. When it's moveable, I will actually move it further away. I really hate it when I'm with my boyfriend. He's the classic "tall and skinny" guy; he tries so hard to be understanding, but he just doesn't get it. So most of the time, with him, I just sit there uncomfortable the whole time.

Linda - My thighs have rubbed together for as long as I can remember, even when I was kid. Of course, when I was younger, it wasn't as bad. These days though, the friction could start a fire! And I totally feel you on the back fat... my back runneth over, man.

Amie - Me, too! I was just telling someone the other day that I can't wait for that. They really stick it to us big girls. Lane Bryant, Roaman's, Avenue, etc are not cheap by any means. I get so jealous when I tell someone that I like their blouse, and their response is, "Thanks! I got it for $8." .........I've never gotten a blouse to fit me for $8 bucks. A t-shirt, maybe, but never a nice blouse.

[Rubyslippers1]

i have always been a small person, so a size 14 is much for me. don't worry u will get there. i'm going to be a good size 8 to 6. i'm 5'2", small body frame, small feet and hands. people can be so cruel, i hear all the time, "what happened to u". right in front of my face. i tell these people, "u can loose fat, but u can't loose ugly" and these people r ugly. i have done this for me and my health. i want to hang around a bit more and be part of my grandchilds life.

[BusyGirl]

RubySlippers - I can relate to pretty much your entire list. Not being tired anymore is high on my list. I shouldn't be this tired at any age but especially not at 27 years old. You mention running after your grandchild. That resonates with me, too. I don't have children yet, but this is part of me planning ahead for them. Not only could it be risky for me and a the baby, but I simply don't have the energy or stamina to care for a helpless child, ya know?

I'm in a 30/32, so I have to agree with Cindy... I would love to be a 14! lol But it's all relative though. My 14 could be your size 4. We'll all get there!

[BusyGirl]

i hear all the time, "what happened to u". right in front of my face.

Wow. That blows my mind. People are scum, sometimes. I'm sorry that you've had to deal with that, and it kills me that you "hear that all the time". You must have more patience than me, because I would lose my crap on someone. You just don't say that kind of thing to people. Gah, what is wrong with people???????

[cindylutz]

Amen to that Ruby! Everyone IS different.. and.. I get tired of hearing.."you have such a pretty face, if only you would lose weight" WOULD like i don't want to!.. and you are right you can lose weight but you cant lose ugly! It's all about the health for me too and being able to get around without being in so much pain! I have bad arthritis and a prosthetic hip from a bad car accident. And nerve damage from my last hip replacement. Its real hard for me to get any exercise. Good Luck everyone! oh and Busygirl: my boyfriend is tall and thin too.. he is 6'4" . He is very understanding about the booth thing thank god! lol He is my angel! I really love this site.

[Gordon129]

I'm SOOO looking forward to several things:

I REALLY want to be able to cross my legs

I can't wait until my pants get bigger and I have to get rid of them instead of wearing the inner thighs out at the seam

Not sit under the umbrella in a cover-up on the beach

Not eat very little at a restaurant because I think everyone is talking about how much I ordered

Being able to sit next to anyone in a theater or on an airplane without making sure it's my kids in case I "spill" over my seat.

I want to dance with my husband, maybe at a wedding or party.

I missed my 20th High School reunion because I felt I was the one they would talk about "Look how fat she got" I want to go to 25!

Being able to shop in ANY store, not just the big girl stores. And not pay $40 for a T-shirt because I don't have a choice.

[Dana]

I know! When I hit 14 I think I wil cry. I don't know if yall left me anything I ditto everybody here. Hmmm, okay. Every year we go to campmeeting and everybody is so beautiful and dress up and all the cute clothes and shoes! The few things that I have that might be cute in some universe are so big I never feel good about myself. And I can never ever wear the shoes I get for the trip! They always hurt and I end up dressing down so I can wear my tennis shoes. I'm not a fancy dresser and never will be but I won't to be able to wear flats w/o my heels hurting or a little heel without feeling like my toes are in a blender! And I might throw out all my black skirts! ..and..- still fit in a seatbelt but it stabs me in the side of my hips and if if I drop something I can't just reach down like everybody else. I have to unbuckle and feel around cause I can't see it. (How amny ands are we allowed?) AND I want to look in the window of any store I walk by and not avert my eyes bc I can't stand what I see. Enough of that, benefits so far: I have no swelling or fluid retention, I feel great, and I already feel better when I cuddle with my baby.