The Loss of one's "fat" clothes.... A rare "WOW" moment

Umm....ok... Laugh if you need to...but...  I've just recently been pushed to get rid of all of my beloved Timberlands, Eddie Bauers, Columbia's,  and a variety of other great set of brand names that  had for my shirts and my shorts...

I now understand why I looked like a cancer patient...  My clothes were WAY too big...  not just a little big...but ENORMOUS....  for instance...  on shirt size....I was wearing....3X and in Shorts (I don't wear pants since the Caribbean is much too warm for such silly things)....anyway my shorts size were 42's.....

NOW my sizes are :

Shirt size: Large   (I'm still nicely portioned thanks to my wonderful gym, so i fill out my large in nice ways)...  my 4 pack abs are comin along nicely...lol

Short size: 32  yes.... 10 full sizes....  the different is amazing....  I still have no A$$, but I look great in the correct size....  my legs show the muscles I forgot about in my 20's....  and yes, i run them 10 miles a week to keep them in fantasic shape.... 

Some of you may ask..... why wear those huge clothes?  Lack of quality items I can find on the island thinking that I would "hold out" until I reach the mainland.... (online sales weren't much better since I missed out on all of the end of season sales). 

I also found them to be comfortable and I was "used" to having them around....call them a comfortable blanket...and I didn't want to give them up....but alas...I actualy had friends show me how silly I was in my fat clothes... wearing my belt that was 2X bigger than I needed.....

what a beautiful nightmare.....  I'm glad that's over now....   I've found several surf shop that I've been abusing my credit card in their online stores.....  So I'm afraid of what I'm gonna need when I'm heading back home to see everyone, only to find I have no jeans....no cold weather gear... 

I guess I'll cross that bridge soon enough... 

Although most of you may not think I'm a humble person, (and at times, I'm not)... however, those people closest to me know me as more than a online persona. 

Every morning I wake up and I ask God for nothing....  I've been able to use the talents he's given me to make myself happy.  I ask God for one simple daily item...and that He recognizes i'm very thankful for the life that I have....nothing more....simple yet meaningful "thanks" for everyday of the rest of my life.  I've been doing it that way for years.... 

With that method in mind, I've found that I'm always bein granted yet one more terrific opportunity to find another thing to be thankful for.....  You guys and gals inspire me to remain vigilant in my continuing search for my next focused goal..... see....some of you are truly inspirational...


More adventures to come...

T.

I think it wonderful that you gave up the security of the old clothes.  I bet you do look very good with clothes that fit (not that you didn't before).  I haven't really lost very much yet, but I am trying to get the old clothes out when I can so I can appreciate what I've accomplished.  I also think that is good that you thank God for what he has given you.  I have felt for a long time that I shouldn't ask God for his help when I haven't been a very good example, but then I realized that he wants to help me and I know he has, especially in the past two months.  I thought I would go crazy a month ago not eating or drinking, but I finally realized that he was in control and I finally began to feel better.

I look forward to more adventures!!

Congrats on getting the new clothes and looking like a new guy you will have to post some new pictures so we can see the new threads!

Shedding the old "skins" is so hard.  I've made myself only keep one size up from what I currently wear-everything else goes to charity immediately.  (The one size up was not a lack of faith but a lack of funds for an entire wardrobe change with each size).

Doing it your way is an interesting way to go about it-all at once.  At this point I still feel "naked" in my correctly sized clothes., so I know there was a bit of hiding going on, both in the clothes and in the weight.  And, to be honest, I still have to go look at the plus sized section, but I don't allow myself to buy (that would make no sense would it?)

 One of the things I'd like to share with you all who are beginning this journey, it's easier (or it was in my own mind) to plod around in too big shorts because my legs stuck out and showed my "real size".....ladies and gents-don't go there.  Your legs DO shrink, and those big ol' shorts can blow up in this Okie wind just like a skirt....or if you sit down, you may not be as well covered as you think you are......so if you must wear too big shorts-don't go commando. 

I am very happy for you!  You really should post some pics.  New clothes will make you feel better.  They are just another part of your journey!
I also think your relationship with God is the way it is.  You are thankful for everything. 
You will continue to be blessed because you are such a caring guy.  Not to mention that great sense of humor!
LOL
Thanks for your inspirational post!
I can't wait to hear more of your adventures!  LOL!

Getting rid of too big clothes was way harder than I expected.  I thought it would be easy but it wasn't.  Congrats on finding the courage to rid yourself of too big clothing.  I really didn't realize how much of a security blanket my fat clothes were for me.  One of the strange emotions associated with WLS!

OK, dude! It is WAAAY past time for a new avatar.  Get with the program!

thomas i think you are right about your clothes and comfort. everyone is telling me that i need new clothes and i know they are right. i have gone thru my closet and gotten rid of most of them but there are some that i just feel like i have to keep for now. they're not special or anything. it's just what if i need them again? i know that is crazy talk because i don't ever plan on goin there again but my brain is not catching on yet!!! i bet you look a lot different than when i met you but you still sound like the same ol good guy! keep up the good work and keep those delicious recipes comin!

Omigosh-I was re-reading this thread and just had an insight-Do we hang on to our old clothes because we want to hang on to parts of our "old selves"....?  We talk about the new us, and new beginnings and such, but the truth is, there was a lot of me that I actually liked BEFORE WLS.

Maybe we need to acknowledge those bits too-and then it would help us get rid of the parts we don't like.

(Of course, there are layers to this explanation-another simple truth is I LOVE putting on old jeans that I've worn a zillion time before-it's very comforting to me). 

Deb ha**** it right on the head of the nail!  I liked the "old" me...  I still define myself by those "old" standards....  I was comfortable with the old me and I can't say I'm more comfortable in my new body.  My skin is tight, I'm lean, I'm strong, but I'm not as strong as I was....  I'm not as comfortable as i was...  to sit down and not have my chubby rear end and feel the wallet kill my skinny rear-end is amazing.  My confidence is still the same.  I'm not shaken as far as knowing I can present myself in a well defined manner.....and i'e never met a stranger, so public speaking isn't affected....  I think the mental changes still haven't impacted me in the way I expected.

I don't have full length mirrors anywhere....so when I see myself in the gym, I'm still not used to seeing me look so skinny....  when I put on my old clothes, i still feel comfortabl in them...  it's just no the same in the new clothes...

Odd.... simply odd...  I'm so happy to learn that I'm not the only one who used them as a security blanket....  I am happy to learn that I haven't gained any addictive personailty traits like I was warned about....  I was concerned that i would turn more to partying and stuff, but I've only had one beer and one rum punch.... don't get me wrong...they were nice...but I didn't have to have more of them to feel good.

T.

I think it's a human thing to say "OK< this is how it's going to be....." because it gives us a sense of control....even when we know that control is not real.

Animals are more realistic-they wake up and say "this is how it is right now..." and just move on with their day.

I was sweating bullets buying new clothes this summer-when it hit me-I was treating it like this clothing was choice was forever and would define how I would look from then on....-which is insane because the lifespan of even a really nice t-shirt at my house is woefully short.  And I don't consider myself as a person who puts much thought into appearances anyway (at least self appearance).  If it's comfortable and clean, I'm happy.

The media and all those dang fashion shows, etc. I think has made everyone just a little more self conscious-not just heavy people.  But since we've got the weight loss going on too, it adds a level.  BTW-I used to have nightmares that I would end up on what not to wear....it's not that I don't want to learn, but if that rude mouthed woman came and insulted me and ripped my favorite T-shirt I'd kick her arse but good.  The idea that we have to be "on display" at all times is soooooo not my real life.  I guarantee you, the neighbors don't care WHAT I'm wearing when I go out on poop patrol ever morning.

One thing that has changed is how much the average person is photographed.  I was in a herding video the other day-and when I came home and looked at it, I immediately got out my smaller size jeans and tried them on (I had been putting it off)....knowing your jeans are falling off is one thing-seeing what they look like as they fall off-Oh Lord.....I think I made the goats blush.