**My Amazing *WOW* Moment**

***FIRST OFF*** Man, I have been down a pound a day this week... Anyone else doing this too? I think this is just the best. I am almost into my 2teens. I can't remember the last time I was there.. Thats so awesome. I was in a stall for a while, but its moving quite well for me now. I wonder oh wonder if I will make it to 100 total loss by my 6 month mark. That would be awesome. Thats about 27 more pounds to go in about a month and a half. If not, I at least want to be under 200 by then... I'm Rambling on now.....Oh yeah... here is the wow moment I was posting about... OK, so last Saturday me and a group of girls decided we was going to go out to a bar in Gastonia. And well, we were at my freinds house, waiting to meet up with the other girls (WLS friend & others) , (that was on their way) Well, they get there, and well, they said that Becki H (wls freind) brought another freind that they wanted to introduce to us. Well, I get outside to say hey to Becki and give her my hugs and all... Well, she hugs me and about makes me cry for one, cause she says I have changed in appearance so much, and the girl seen me 2 weeks ago... Well, she about had me crying... Thats not the cake topper... Here is what topped the cake.. Ok, the freind they wanted to introduce to us: well, let me just tell you how it was said exactly... Now I am known to get a little too detailed, so... excuse my lenghty story... But this is the best wow moment I had... OK... here it goes: Becki says, "Jessica, this is my freind Mella", I say "hey how are ya?" she says, "good, its nice to meet ya!" Then after looking for a second, I said, "Did you go to East Gaston?"(school I graduated from) and she said "yeah, did you?" I said "yes I sure did!", she said, "for real?" I said "yes, when did you graduate?" she said, "96" I said "me too!!" she laughed a sec, and said, "whats your name", and I told her....... That girl about jumped outta her pants, she hugged me and hugged me, and said "oh my gosh, you do not look at all the same!!!, You look so good" she just kept going on and on about how I have changed....and how she could not believe she was standing there in front of me, and didn't reckognize me.. Now. Then She said, "Jessica, its me!!! Carmella!!!" and I was like "Oh my GOsh!!!" And then I hugged her... She had lost alot of weight too, she too had braces, and had her hair straightened since school. That was simply the best for me.. And we promise to keep in touch, and have been since Saturday. It feels good to not be reckognized... (sometimes) LOL I am just glad I bumped into her now, rather than not be reckognized at 298#. This is a very good ride, can I ride it forever??? Please.... I just wanted to let you all know that this is coming, and its a very good feeling... I love all of you, and glad you stuck by this story, and hoped it didn't bore you... much love, Jessica 294 / 221 / -73

Jessica, You sound exstatic!! Thats the way I feel! Every day is different! It is so much fun! I was stuck for about a month. Getting depressed over it too and thinking this is just where I was gonna be stuck like always!! Then lo and behold this last week I dropped 5 lbs!! I cant wait to get to the "onederfuls"!! And I am now at 201!! Yes I agree I want these feelings to last forever!! I love running into people that I havent seen for awhile and hear them rant and rave at how good I look! It is such a natural high!! I LOVE IT! I just want to go to the mall and try on clothes in the NORMAL section!!! You go girl!! Keep up the good work!! Its so exciting to be a BIG LOSER!!!

I am really exstatic about this whole thing. This is why I wanted this surgery so bad, so I can feel good about myself, my self esteem can rise, and I can do things without feeling the pain or hurt any longer. It feels really good to just walk into a store / mall and be looked at as a normal person now. I still have some weight o get off of me, but its not like, people can look at me now, and say.... "wow look how big she is". Thats the way I felt before. And I knew they were looking at me in laughter under it all, esp when I attempted to go to the Park with my son. And when those Onederfuls get here for me, I am partying like its 1999..... I can't wait. NORMAL SECTION, here we come!!!! Love all you Marchers!!! Jessica

Fabulous WOW moment. Thanks for sharing. I am down 62 pounds and going to see friends I have not seen since before surgery. Sure hope they notice less then me Donna

Good For You!!!!! Down 62 pounds... Don't you worry, they will notice less of you. I'm so excited for you. Isn't this such a great feeling? Just after work today, I am taking my son to walk 2 miles. And I am actually looking forward to it.. isn't that cool. Well, keep us posted on how things go for you. Jessica

How great is that, Jessica? Yeah, it's almost been a pound a day for a month for me (I lost more in July than any other month since March). I mean, I lost 21 LBS in the last month (INCLUDING A 10-DAY VACATION IN CA AND LAS VEGAS!!), to the point I was starting to get nervous that I was losing too fast. As of today, I'm at 220. I haven't been at 220 since I was 30! And the best part, of course, is that every time we get to another of those milestones, at this point in our journey, we know we NEVER HAVE TO SEE THAT NUMBER AGAIN!! My freaking legs are SKINNY again! Very cool, Jessica! Keep on keeping on! Greg (342/220/178--at this pace, I may have to lower that goal #)

Oh my gosh, at this pace, your gonna fall through the drain if you don'****ch it... Woo Hoo, WOW------122 Total loss for you.. Good for you... And thats a nice surprise to come home to, 10 pound loss after a vacation, and I am sure the choices of foods, wasn't exactly the best, but sure you made the best of what you could. And then you lost 10 pounds... wow, I need a vacation like that. It seems that when people go on vacation, they lose a handful of pounds.. Thats so good that you are down to 220. I bet your looking awesome. From the pics on your profile, your looking pretty good... So keep up the good work!!! Jessica

Oh Jessica, What a GREAT moment for you!! I havent had any so huge yet but hopefully when I go to my college homecoming in October I will...Ride that feeling Jessica and you and your son will be running 2 miles not walking!!!! Michelle

Oh wow!! What an awesome experience!! That is so cool!! Yay!! I can't wait to not be recognized!! Yay!!! Thanks for sharing this with us! Trisha