[sue4491]

As you can see, I changed my before and after photo. As I look at my before photo, I honestly never realized how large I was before! I mean I knew I wasn't slim but wow!

And as far as photos go, I'm kind of used to the new look because that's the way I looked before I got pregnant in 1968 (well, minus a BUNCH of wrinkles... )

But you know and I'm wondering if anyone here can relate and how you dealt with this...

I am having a hard time getting used to the feel of my slimmer body!

For example, my collar bones really stick out and that has become rather uncomfortable when I play the violin. I've been using a towel to soften things but lately I seem to need something more padded - thinking of hauling the violin to the music store and trying some of those shoulder pads that are soooo expensive..

My shoulder bones and neckbone stick out too and not sure I like the feel. It's just so.... different...

Then there's the butt problem. Those hard chairs that I never had a problem with because I always had nice padding on my butt... I've recently taken to carrying a pillow with me when I know I will encounter hard chairs.

Do you ever get used to those things?

thanks in advance! You folks are so supportive and this is such a great place - my second family!

[not quite Barbie]

LOL I'm sitting on a pillow right now. I've gotten used to the collar and shoulder bones, but the butt bones still bother me.

[bluedelight]

I am always touching my ribs wondering if they are sticking out too far and something is broken. At times and almost being self-conscious when in public frightened if these ribs are protruding through my shirt that sets people gawking at me.

Then I realize I am just normal size and its been quite a while since I could feel or see my ribs.

The greatest difficulty is shopping for clothes because I can't believe the sizes that fit me now. I am inclined to go to the same racks as I did before and by the time I work myself down to the clothes that fit me, I have blown an hour figuring that out. Also when I try on a much, much smaller size than what my mind tells me should fit, I figure that it must be a factory second that is actually a larger size that was marked wrong.

The other hard part about shopping is my favorite stores pre-op, don't stock as many normal size clothes as I am now able to wear so I have fewer choices.

I went to Burlington Coat Factory in Watertown and Syracuse Saturday with my daughter and found that I had about 1/4 of the choices in suit jackets as there were in the larger sizes. Same thing with shirts, belts and pants.

I guess I can live with these types of problems and possibly get quite used to it but it does present some funny situations at times.