Lost the weight. Couldn't afford another three pairs of shorts at 100 bucks each (three-short minimum for randonnees of 600km and over). I needed to get it off anyway to improve fitness and hillclimbing. Still got the "third man" so to speak, though.

By the way, I don't think the shorts will loosen up much... at least until they've been worn and washed 100 times or so.