WLS Moment....

OKay...well...here I am......kicking and screaming, but giving this experience credit where it is due. Alert the media! Saw an old RN pal today...who has always told it like it is....is petite and SKINNY...had not seen her in 2 years. She said "You look great! You're not going to lose anymore weight are you?"... I LOVED IT! In my usual diplomatic manner....I said "Are you out of your MIND?? I weigh 213 pounds as of this morning! I am HUGE!"....Apparently it IS true that I "carry it well".... We proceeded to hike with our dogs for about 4 miles and I had no problem...could never have done that 6 months ago...used to dread walking to the MAILBOX! I know I have shrunk..and it feels good to be told that it shows...by a respected friend who NEVER blows sunshine U-KNOW-WHERE....Marion knew me when I weighed 335. I DO think ALL of the head trips that go with this experience are mind boggling at times....and I definitely ALWAYS see myself as huge no matter what...even though clothes sizes are shrinking etc....but I reckon all things in time. I admit I have been terrified that this surgery OR me would fail...and my defense has been skepticism and jaundice at times. Sorry about that....it's just where I have been at.... because success means so much to me. There...I said it! I am 5/7 and TRULY "big boned". Sher' 272/213/?????

Hi Sher, I smiled as I read your post. Congratulations on your weight loss success so far. I too was very skeptical about WLS and no matter how much weight I lose I still considered myself as being the same. As of today I was able to see the changes that have taken place in my body. For the first time in 6 yrs. I was able to tie my shoes and paint my toe nails. I am looking forward to more accomplishments as the weight continues to come off. Best wishes to you. Georgeann -545/460/goal 200

WOW! You too are doing great! I also love being able to paint my toenails and cut them.... or tie my shoelaces on my sneakers..without feeling like I am going to have a coronary! I also like being able to get in an out of the tub without a crane and being able to stand on a chair to change a light bulb without fear that the chair will collapse...I once broke a bench in public in an emergency room by sitting on it wrong....I was mortified. Thanks for writing and for your encouragement and good wishes....all the same back at you! Sher' 272/213/???

You deserve many more moments like this. You're doing great. I am not big boned and am only 5'4", so I have a long ways to go. I've read that many people continue to see themselves big when in fact, they are quite normal. Continued good luck. Dianne

Dianne, Thanks so much! You are such a good person...I always enjoy reading your posts and I wish you every success as well. Your kindness truly touched my heart. Thanks again! Sher'

That is great, Sher, especially since the comment came from that type of a friend! I understand what you mean about how we still see ourselves huge, mainly for me because I have so far to go still (50+ more pounds). I am getting ready to visit family in another state that I have not seen in at least 1 year. I am very worried about their reactions, because I can hardly tell a difference in the way I look. Everyone knows I had the surgery and how much weight I have lost, so I think they will probably expect me to be "skinny", which I am not and will never be again. Most of them have no clue that I was around 300 pounds before surgery, but knew I had put on a lot of weight. They also knew me when I was a normal weight and may expect that to already have happened. None of these family members are even overweight let alone morbidly obese, so if they lost the amount of weight I have, they would truly look TOO skinny. I hope to hear at least one sincerely positive remark when I go to visit them. Thanks for sharing! SueZ

SueZ... take it from someone who knows... if you don't want your friends and family to peg you as "she talks about her surgery all of the time" then make sure you gather as many as you can at one time, in a room and take that moment to explain the surgery and your results so that each time you meet someone again you are not having to re-explain over and over in front of people who already know. Now if you are alone when meeting folks for the first time then it really does not matter. My sister and mother complain that it is "all I talk about" when it really isn't. It is just they are with me when I see people again and those people are curious and want questions answered so I have to explain it for them and my mother and sister get annoyed. HTH! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/176/146 BMI- 44.1/30.2/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -81 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney My Live Journal is at: livejournal.com/users/magickalmom/

From one "big boned" girl to another... CONGRATZ! I too have been one of those girls who carried her weight well and the more I loose to more I find that I really am "big boned" as I suspected. Like my rib cage and shoulder measurments have stopped changing and they are huge! LOL! So I have come to realize that even if I loose another 30 pounds I will never be a 6 or 8! I'll be lucky to get to a size 10 after plastic surgery! Hehehe... But I am totally fine with that! Keep up all the hard work and the positive outlook... you deserve some celebration girl! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/176/146 BMI- 44.1/30.2/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -81 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney My Live Journal is at: livejournal.com/users/magickalmom/

I can totally relate to you. My first WLS experience was about a month ago when I going to my car and this man in the parking lot made a pass at me! Whew!! I was astonished, I have not had that experience in God knows how many years,lol. Its funny I can catch myself in the mirror sometimes and still see a fat girl. Plus when I was doing all my pre-op stuff people were forever saying to me that I did not need this surgery because I did not look like I needed it. Nobody believed me that I weighed 257. That was a big problem for some people they would argue with me, however it was their problem and not mine. I knew what I had to do for my own well being and I do not regret one decision that I have made. So now I find photos with me in them and I show those same naysayers and they just are amazed that that person in the photos is the same person standing before them. so far I have lost approx 70 pounds. I donot get on the scale on a regular basis. It makes me nuts so I will weigh in once a month at my surgeons office and once on my monthly anniversary. I think I have ramble on enough, did not mean to make this about me. But I just had to share. Chris 257/????/ goal 145

Congratulations on the compliment you got from someone who doesn't dole them out like candy! The head trip of this journey is definitely the hardest part for us. Like you I was initially skeptical and felt that I would be the "one" person that WLS did not work for. I still don't know how to take people's reactions to me at this weight or when they hear that I want to lose more. It is so strange to have store clerks come up and offer help and to get second looks from men....I am no longer the "invisible" person I was when I was MO. Just go with the flow and try and deal with it the best you can....cause the changes aren't stopping today and you have many more to come. Best of luck!! Mary Ellen