New Aha Moments for me

So as most of you know, I am presently visiting  my folks in quebec city and my shopping for new clothes and household supplies; well actually stocking up on food and house articles at Costco :).
Living so far away from a major city does make these triyearly trips sometimes very tiring just running around to get stocked up and we bundle our annual spending money in these three trips so next month watch out Mastercard!
I wanted to share alittle bit of my aha moments with you specially the newbies and for those anxiously waiting  for surgery dates.  I experienced moments of excilleration, confusion, niaivity, overwhelmness and bliss alll through out the week. People I no longer has a sense of style and I seem to have lost my ability to create ensembles in my head.  My body is so amazingly different I felt clueless and overwhelmed as to where to begin. I used to have a great sense of fashion and taste but for a 300lbs woman. This woman is so different and we haven't really got to know one another so far. I had great moments of pure joy and self amazement  in dressing rooms and in the store. People must I have thought I was nuts. I even had a crying moment with the biggest smile on my face when I saw this happy beautiful woman staying back at me where size 14!  I was also having a hard time choosing stores to try things on. I forced myself to go into Manteau International and found quite a few outfis with the help of the saleslady; she was wonderful. She had two close friends go the bariatric route and knew what I was going through so I let her guide me. I came out with capri's, two skirts, pant suit x2. Then I went to Simmons and bought two spring coats with a beautiful summer scarf, socks, and a few cami at liquidation prices o***** I wanted to go to OLD Navy but didn't have the chance. Found some work pants at The Bay, a small sun dress and leather purse. I managed to find 6 different pairs of shoes! All on sale. My feet have become a whole size smaller and narrower so nothing much in terms of summer sandals and fall shoes fit. found a tons of new bra's and got eight of them for the price of two I paid full price way back when. I definately lost more boobies but I am stil a D cup,size 38.
Tops are L and some XL , skirts 14, pants dressy are 14, casual 16 with alterations at the waist, blazers, jackets, 12,14.  It blows my mind.  This trip was a learning curve for me. Giving myself time to adjust and figure out my new style for the new body and pushing myself to walk in all sorts of clothing stores. All in all it was a challenging, fun and wonderful week with the folks.  I'll be home on monday late evening. I'LL post a few pics with outfits when I get home.  So the moral of this story....the mind still needs tweaking :).
 

Hi Brenda!

What a week you had! I'm very happy for you! Six pair of shoes, really??? I envy you courage to go in so many "regular" stores. Even if I now wear regular sizes, I tend to stick to l'Équipeur...Probably still fearing getting "looks" from salespeople in regular stores. You're right about more mind tweaking to be done...

Enjoy the company of your new friend (the size 14 lady) and give her my regards!

Hi Brenda,

What wonderful AHA moments you have been having!! I can't even begin to imagine the feelings you were feeling and all the emotions that went with it. I'm really happy for you and hope that those Aha moments keep happening.Just give your brain a chance to catch up...

I actually noticed something today, speaking about clothing and sizes. I got an e-mail from a very close friend whom I see often and actually saw her on Friday. She wanted to know if I wanted any of her sister-in-laws designer outfits in 18-20 sizes? I tip the size chart at 28-30...and 5x!! Can she not see my size or do I somehow hide it well? My point is that "regular" size people have no clue as to what us large size people wear!! Opened my eyes for sure!!

I couldn't tell her to hang on to the clothes because none of my friends know about my upcoming (hopefully soon) surgery.

Brenda,can't wait to see your pics!!!

Hugs,
Ada

Ada,  I experienced something similar to what you said, a friend of mine, who has always wear like size 2-4, asked me if I want to go shopping with her, and when I said that nothing will fit me in a particular store, she said it will, because they have sizes til 12 !!!  I said that I wear 18 and she was amazed " you don't look that big" she said!!!!  She would have never understand what a size 26 was!! ( that's what I was wearing before!) 

Hi Brenda, first I want to congratulate you for reaching your weight goal... I wasn't on the computer last week, because of a bad sinusitis, so sorry for the belated congrats!
And it must be so great to be a size 14... Way to go girl!! It must have been so funny and rewarding trying all those clothes and seeing this beautiful lady in the mirror!!  When I look at myself in the mirror, I don't see so much change, I have to check before photos, and even then... The mind is not following the body...

About shopping, I can understand how you feel, I am on the edge of changing stores, pennington's a little too big, but I don't want to shop elsewhere, don't know where, don't know how... It is frightening! Never would have tought that before... I used to love shopping, but I don't want to go now, too overwhelming! But will have to face the challenge soon...

I am so glad for you, enjoy those AHA moments, tu le mérites bien!

Waiting for those pics!!

Diane

Way to go Brenda. That's a great aha moment for sure. Size 14 that's great.
Can't wait to see pics.

just wanted to thank you all for your kind words of support. I got back late last night and the weather was so friggin cold I had to stop in at a Walmart's to find long pants and buy socks. We kept stopping on the St.Lawrence beaches to allow the dogs to do stretching and us eating. I almost thought it was November outside! So in the first time in my personal history I was able to buy a piece of regular size jeans in a spur of a moment paying only ten bucks for them. It just blows my mind. Diane the best advice is to just plunge right in and seek a nice sales lady. If there are none, change stores. It is overwhelming but an experience worth living. When I get to Montreal this fall we'll get together and do a little shopping.