I love big bags. This red one is my absolute favorite because it has lots of room for the many items I carry with me everyday. The minimum stuff I carry include: a kikay kit (which is bursting with face powder, lipstick, contact lens lubricant, lip gloss, etc.), at least one book, my cellphone, my wallet, keys, medicine, a pen, my shades, a fan, pepper spray, a prayer book, a hair clip, anti-bacterial gel, lotion, and my hairbrush. Lots of little stuff when put together make for a heavy load. While I’m used to lugging a huge bag around everywhere I go, I’ve been feeling my right shoulder ache more and more.
I know it’s because I put too much pressure on my shoulder. My Mom told me that a woman’s typical shoulder bag weighs seven to ten pounds. Mine weighs around that much for sure. No wonder my shoulder hurts. This heavy weight can also cause neck pains and even lower back pains. Ow. Trust me on this. This lack of balance also makes for an unflattering posture.
Switching to smaller bags hasn’t really worked that well for me since I still end up stuffing them so much. I end up having small bags that are about to burst at the seams. The key really is in trying to carry as little as possible. The article “Handbags a health hazard, women warned” has information that may help you in case you’re a heavy bag lugger like I am. In a nutshell, it’s about keeping that big bag light.
True, it’s all about prioritizing what goes into that bag. Do I really need that bottle of lotion everywhere I go? What about the books? Perhaps I should try taking away one item from my bag as each day passes. Let’s see if that works! While I love the space a big bag provides, I don’t want to end up with aches and pains all over. Then I’d have to add a couple more items to my already heavy bag: a box of pain-relieving patches and gels!
* Note: This blog entry’s title is inspired by a quote from this story.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Dave
January 26, 2007 at 4:44 pm (17 years ago)I can’t think of anything to say about bags!
Here from Michele’s this morning.
jhien
January 26, 2007 at 10:20 pm (17 years ago)heLlo me too.ilike a big bag buT noT shoulder bag i like pack bag plz visit my site http://x28.peps.jp/friendsathome hope i see you there
sophie
January 27, 2007 at 12:52 am (17 years ago)I have at times had to resort to the backpack style since I already have back and neck problems. This lets the weight distribute more evenly, and they are making some much cuter ones lately.
Here from Michele–visiting randomly.
Pao
January 27, 2007 at 2:17 am (17 years ago)relate na relate ako jan! i also carry big bags and among my other things, lagi ko rin dala my digicam. you never know who or what may catch your eye. hehehe!
mare
January 27, 2007 at 5:54 am (17 years ago)With me, it really depends where I’m going. I noticed that when I used to commute, my bags were bigger and roomier for extra items. At one point, I actually fit an overnight’s worth of clothes and extra shoes! Now I’m okay with a medium tote, preferring to change to something smaller and dressier when called for.
Meeyagirl
January 27, 2007 at 7:42 am (17 years ago)hi toni, wow imagine ha, balik-bloghop ako sa site mo after a long while tapos what do you write about? bags! just up my alley, hehe. anyway, when i’m with ninna, i HAVE to carry a huge bag. ayoko kasi to bring a small purse for my stuff tapos a separate baby bag pa, e i have to keep my hands (and at least one shoulder) free for the imp at all times. pero, when i go out without her, i usually take the smallest purse that i can find in my closet, kasi tipong…i’m free! (hehe!) pero totoo ha, i think my back problems started way back when i was in school pa because i tended to stuff my (huge) school bag with everything from books, gym shoes, baon, my org’s logbook, etc. commuter ako nun and it was easier for me to guard only one bag from the pickpockets of the world. and now my back is shot. i’m not even 40 pero i ache like a granny na.
anyway, i think it’s a great idea to subtract items from your purse every day. good luck! mahal din ng bengay ha! 
anj
January 27, 2007 at 9:40 am (17 years ago)even before i read that article, i decided to go back to the backpack kasi nga sumasakit ang likod ko with using my sling bag. realized na my backpains are due to that. true enough, nabawasan sakit ng likod ko after switching to backpack. not to say that you should too. hirap magbagay ng backpack e. hehe!
Lani
January 27, 2007 at 11:20 am (17 years ago)Everytime I go out, I usually carry big bag talaga. At sobrang dami ng laman. Ye, that’s true, I usually have neck and back pains. So para pantay ang pain sa left and right side, inililipat ko ang pagdadala ng bag sa magkabilang side, hehehe. Ewan ko ba, hindi ko talaga mabawasan ang laman ng bag kahit anong plano ko, parang I can’t live without those things basta nasa biahe ako. Hay!!!
barbara
January 27, 2007 at 11:48 am (17 years ago)i think it’s time for you to discover and love “handbags” as in, ones that you can only carry by your arm or hand.. enough of the shoulder bags, you will suffer badly.
i have never been comfortable carrying shoulder bags, i somehow look like a hunchback so i treated myself with a nice speedy LV bag last year (that i absolutely love!!!), and i can shove everything in there, unbelievable space and i carry it just by hand or it goes on my arm/elbow area thing and still feel comfortable.
also, maybe you can look at items that can double up as something else, so you don’t have to carry all those things. for example, you can just get baby wipes or moisturiser wipes instead of having a packet of tissue and a bottle of moisturiser or anti bacterial stuff. so that’s eliminating 3 items already. for your notepad, maybe get a really small version of it. i’m lucky to find a lipgloss here that i use everyday that doubles up as a moisturiser for my hands.. imagine.. it works!
hey, be sure that every night, you do some arm stretches and back, so your back, shoulder and blade areas won’t be as sore.. better yet, ask hubby to massage you di ba?!
–miss b
ps.. love that red bag!! it’s so hard to find a fabulous red colour.. but i love this!
eye
January 27, 2007 at 5:36 pm (17 years ago)can relate to this 100%!!! i’m likewise guilty as charged for bringing a big & heavy-everyday-office-bag. aside from the usual kikay kit (i.e., it’s just frustrating when you suddenly find your elbows dry and you don’t have your lotion). also, when going to the mall, i still prefer bigger bags coz’ i don’t want to cary small plastic bags separately. being a mountaineer, i’m used to bringing heavy stuff on my back, so i guess the big handbag is negligible 😀
Kay
January 27, 2007 at 9:05 pm (17 years ago)I am so guilty of that. Like seriously guilty. I have a huge bag and it still gets filled. I have my big Starbucks planner, a wallet, a checkbook, my uber big kikay kit, sanitary napkin in case of emergency, wet wipes, tissue, alcogel, cologne, brush, cellphone, flash drive, mem card, flash ..
ces
January 28, 2007 at 4:41 am (17 years ago)oh i totally dig you with oversized bags! love them! though i’m not exactly the petite type, maybe the reason behind…oh i hope this message gets thru! i have posted a lot in the past but never had luck submitting them…i also emailed you about this..maybe you’re too busy that’s ok…i was just too excited to know we have the same alma mater!
ces
January 28, 2007 at 4:42 am (17 years ago)at last! hahahaha!
Daphne
January 28, 2007 at 4:29 pm (17 years ago)It is only lately as in a couple of months ago that I’ve started using a big(ger) bag.
Not that I carry around many items in it but I tend to stuff grocery items into my bag so my hands are free to text. haha 😀
rach
January 29, 2007 at 12:51 am (17 years ago)I’m used to slightly big bags too because of the numerous things I put inside.
What’s inside my bag: wallet, coin purse, separate leather holder for calling cards and not frequently used cards (usually discount cards), kikay kit, mini alcohol, tissues, keys, small notebook, pen, candies, cologne/perfume (depending on occasion), shades, cellphone.
I adore small handbags but couldn’t seem to fit all these things inside so I often put excess things inside a pouch and leave it in the car.
margalit
January 29, 2007 at 7:07 am (17 years ago)I used to carry a big bag with a lot of stuff too…until my neck started deteriorating from the strain and the doctor mentioned surgery. That stopped me cold. Now I carry a backpack that I actually put on both shoulders to even out the load. But truth be told, I make my kids carry it pretty much everywhere we go. It is so emancipating to not be carrying a big bag of stuff.
Maybe what you could do is use a handbag that will not fit on your shoulder. There are many of those new carry-all bags that are not shoulder bags, and then you could use both hands to carry the bag, evening out the strain. Plus, you get to buy a nice new bag or three!
Here via Michele
JMom
January 29, 2007 at 9:07 am (17 years ago)ako rin, guilty on the big bag addiction. It got started when the girls were little and I just haven’t gotten out of the habit. It got so bad, at one time I was even carrying a backpack around! I’m trying to carry something smaller and more fashionable now, but hard habits are hard to break, so I end up carrying two bags to work. One huge one that I can drop my cute one in
hehe!
David
January 29, 2007 at 10:47 am (17 years ago)I love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:
http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com
If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.
Thanks,
David
Toni
January 30, 2007 at 9:51 am (17 years ago)Hi Dave! Thanks for visiting.
Hi jhien! Thanks for sharing your site with me. I hopped over!
Hi sophie! That’s true, there are cuter backpacks now. I should check out some of the styles… and still make sure not to overstuff them! Thanks for the tip.
Hi Pao! Digicam pa pala! Hehe. My cellphone doubles as my camera nalang din so I save on one extra item in my bag! Thank goodness.
Hi mare! I like the extra space for extra items too. I don’t think I’ve ever fit in an overnight’s worth of clothes AND shoes though. *L* That must’ve been a really big bag, mare! Or maybe you’re very sweet and petite!
Hi Meeya the Bagaholic! 😉 Oo nga ‘no, when one has kids, one tends to bring a huge bag or an extra bag. Napansin ko nga rin yun sa friends ko. Pero para na rin akong minsan may baby kasi si H panay ang palagay sa bag ko, haha. I’ve tried the subtract one thing from my purse a day, and so far it’s working.
Hey anj! May mga bago atang styles na cute, pero kailangan ko pa maghanap. Ang takot ko lang eh baka damihan ko rin ang lagay, makuba naman ako!
Hi lani! You can relate! Hay salamat. At least I know I’m not alone here! Kahit anong bawas ko rin, eh parang napapalitan lang din naman yun tinanggal ko. Ang hirap talaga magbawas ng gamit pero kailangan na talaga. Sumasakit balikat ko eh. I try to carry a sling bag sometimes, para palit-palit lang ng shoulder at slight even ang distribution ng weight, pero ganon pa rin. Kahit anong size ng bag, ganun pa rin ang problema. Dapat talaga bawasan ang laman!
Hi Miss B! I’d love to have a handbag, but there’s one problem: SNATCHERS! I’m so praning when I’m at the mall. I’m so scared that someone will snatch it while I’m window shopping! I’ll try those bags that I can carry around the crook of my arm though! Thanks for the tip on looking at items that can double up as something else. WONDERFUL tip. I’ve taken out my hand lotion and replaced it with some wipes that moisturez indeed. I’ll try to find other items that can double-body too. Thta’d be a great way to eliminate items from my heavy load! And oh, the red bag was a gift from my Dad. It’s lovely isn’t it?
Hi eye! And you have your cameras pa.
Hi Kay! I want to lug my Starbucks planner around with me everywhere I go too but it won’t fit into my bag anymore. I also want to lug around a first aid kit, an extra shirt, my eyeglasses, vitamins… but that would be really pushing it. I’d need a stroller to carry my bag around if I add any more stuff!
Hi ces! Yey! Nakapasok ang comment mo! I did get that email of yours before. I replied to it! I asked what batch you were. 😉
Hi Daph! I do that too! When I buy small items from bookstores or groceries, I stuff them into my bag too so my hands are free for more shopping. Haha!
Hi rach! Don’t you find it heavy? Do you get those aches and pains too?
Hi margalit! Thank you for the tip! I’m definitely checking out different bag styles to see which ones are the easiest on women. I don’t want to cause any more strain to my neck and shoulders, so I have to get serious into taking some stuff out of my bag and looking beyond shoulder bags!
Hi Jmom!The two bags idea sounds great! I predict though that I’ll end up with two heavy bags so I think I’l lstop at one. Haha!
Christianne
January 31, 2007 at 7:18 pm (17 years ago)I love looking at cute and trendy bags but I always end up buying big messenger bags or backpacks. I need to carry all Annika’s diapers and toys and I prefer using normal bags than buying expensive diaper bags
Before I had a baby my shoulder bag usually just had my wallet, cellphone, keys, anti-bacterial gel, tissue, and a small Post-it pad and pen
Abi
March 3, 2007 at 11:45 pm (17 years ago)Awesome, man
Gloria @ Leather Messenger Bags for Women
May 19, 2011 at 6:58 am (13 years ago)Some advise I can give you is that when you are putting stuff in your bag, go for the small version of it. For example: a smaller version of your favorite lotion or hand sanitizer. Second, don’t bring all your make up, just bring the most important one, a face powder and/or foundation and lipstick. I think you get the point by now. That way you can have more space and lesser weight in your bag.
Gloria @ Leather Messenger Bags for Women´s last blog post ..Vintage Leather Messenger Bags for Women
Mila
October 18, 2020 at 12:41 pm (4 years ago)Thank you for posting such great beauty tips! I found your website perfect for my needs. Thanks,
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Kos Valley