I posted this on main board but wanted it here too for my Marchers!

I have been feeling down about the amount of weight loss to this point, I have been worried about how much I eat. I have been stressin over the thought of ...is this it, I recieved in the mail my night before surgery picture on computer disc , taken by hospital, I threw it in and Holy Cow, Okay.... I dont know if anyone else is going through those disapointed feelings or putting themselves down for lack of weight loss but I tell you for true my whole attitude has now changed. I am shocked by the lack of light in my eyes, my stomach pushing at my shirt. my big baggy pants! My face ,oh my face ! So puffy and over blown! Please if anyone is feeling down about the above mentioned things please look at your before pics and you will see the difference. I just got too involved in what I havent done to really enjoy what I have done! That picture of me at hospital is not the picture of me now and if I do not lose another pound I am so so much better off than I was! If this can bring one person to truly look at the old you before the 20,30 40,50 or more pound loss and you can actually smile at the difference and enjoy today that would be very exciting!

Dawn, Truer words were never spoken! It is so easy to caught up in the current struggles and not realize where we started at. When I look at my before pictures I am dumbfounded that I was ever that fat because I still am fat! But like you I realize that every minute of my journey has been so worth it and I am so much better off than before. Not just the weight loss but more importantly how much better I feel...the different way I view things now thru eyes that sparkle and the different way I feel about my self worth which should never be caught up with weight loss but I always used to judge myself by how I look. Now when I see others that are heavier than me my heart just goes out to them. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to tell them what a blessing they are no matter how much they weigh and have them believe it???? Thanks for your post...you must be an angel! Roxi

Good Morning Roxi! I couldnt agree with you more on that one. One of the reasons I am carrying a picture of my before is I think how cool would it be to by chance meet a obese person who feels helpless in there weight situation and then show them my before picture. Not so much to promote the surgery as much to say that that person and I are of the same nature and spirit but one has excess weight and one doesnt due to a surgery. The other day my son was talking about a girl at school that gets picked on because of her weight, he felt bad for her. I showed him the before and after pics on this site and told him to always look her in the eye and say hi and be kind about her...that she just might grow to be the woman who has a beautiful compassionate heart because of what she endured in the teasing and unkindness and she just may be the physical beauty one day when she gets her wieght issues taken care of. He was like ya huh! Woman can be absolutly beautiful with weight on but with myself I see I am physically more attractive with the wieght off. I walk taller and smoother, my eyes are not as as squinced and my face less bloated. I feel prettier. But as much as I feel my outside is more attractive I truly feel my insides are more attractive because of the past wieght issues and from not always being accepted in the wordly sence. So I say I got the best of both worlds!

So true. I have my before and at 5 months at 100 lbs picture on my desk at work just so that I can be encouraged when I start to have sad thoughts. I have done well. I feel great but worry everyday that I am going to blow this like everything else I ever tried I feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop lately. I called my nutritionist and just went over the rules again and got alot of encouragement from her. I think that's what I needed. I needed someone *****ally knows about this (she's a 185 lb lost distal herself) to say I was ok. I love the encouragement from friends and family but from people who are going thru this too is the real joy. I hate it when someone says we have taken the easy way. I'm still waiting for the easy part to start. Subjecting yourself to major surgery, risking your life, changing everything yu ever did in eating in a days time. Hummm...doesn't sound to easy to me. I have done well and have not had one minute of regret. But easy? Get real.

LOL Carolyn, "Get Real" is right on when it comes to one thinking we took the easy way out. Though Ummmm I thought it was a wee bit easier before the surgery. Ive no regrets either though, very happy and healthy I am. I am very happy for you and your success. What a good idea to keep in touch with the nutritionist that has had this surgery. You Can trust she can relate to all you go through. Keep up the great work!