WOW & Why do I feel like this...?

Hope everyone had a great holiday. I have a WOW moment to share and a question for everyone. The other night when I went to the healthclub to workout, one of the gals that works there (not bad looking!) said that she had noticed that I had lost a ton of weight and was really looking good. She thought it was impressive and wanted to nominate me for "Member of the Month". Me???? Member of the Month???? At a HEALTH CLUB???!!!! It was very flattering, but then I had a feeling that ****** me off, but I have it anyway: If they knew that I had Gastric Bypass, they wouldn't be as impressed or will think that I took the "easy way out". Do you guys have issues with this? We all know that it is anything but easy, and the hard work I have put in with the exercise and weight-training is probably more intense than 95% of the public (if not more). So why should I feel uncomfortable sharing this at the healthclub? Why should I feel like the surgery cheapens the results I have had? I've lost 210 lbs, which isn't easy with or without a stomach, so why the mental baggage that comes along with it! I should be shouting it from the rooftops, not being embarrassed to share it with people. Like Buckeye, I would like to be the poster boy for this surgery, starting out at 478lbs and ending up at 220 (or so!) and looking fantastic. I'm afraid that if anyone makes a comment about this being easy, I would likely knock their block off! What are your thoughts? Chris S. 478/268/220

Who cares what they would think! We all know this is NOT the easy way out and it takes lots of dedication to stay on track and then maintain that momentum. Enjoy- celebrate and let em look!!!!! You look great! Pamela 286/179/150 ish

Hey Chris, Let her nominate you for 'Member of the Month'. Haven't you been going to the gym? Haven't you been working your butt off to get to where you are? There are people who get gastric by-pass and don't get to where they'd like to be because they don't follow the rules and they don't exercise. Enjoy the recognition. You truely deserve it. Missy K 290/167/147

Hi Chris! Take the nomination with pride. It's a hard road, and you were very brave to have even taken this path. I was nominated as the "big loser" at Curves and had the same thoughts that your experiencing. They knew of my WLS, and some were against me getting the recognition. But some of the staff were for me. They had seen me exercising and doing my part. Take the "member of the month" with pride! You deserve it. I chose to take the nomination only once, even though I know I was the "big loser" for quite some time. Just sat better with me and my "fairness" outlook. Best of luck and keep working the tool. TraciL

Chris, I just checked out your profile for your latest pictures, and you look great! The health club has something to do with that, as all your hard work there kick-starts your metabolism. Take the nomination as a compliment, and keep up the good work! Linda 280/160/159