Eight Grade Weight
I got on the scale this morning and what do I see - 156. The number that resounded in my head back in 1973ish when we were weighed in 8th grade as part of the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness. We were assembled in height order so I was weighed second to last. We were put on a scale and the number was called out loudly in front of everyone. I remember being humiliated and ashamed as I weighed the most of all the girls in my class.
But that number now is my badge of honor that I wear oh so proudly. It is a good healthy weight for my height now of 5'7.5". I am 4 pounds below the goal I set for myself prior to surgery.
It has taken me a long time to get here. It has taken me a long time to get to this weight. It has taken me a long time to realize that I look really good and better yet, I'm healthy.
Have a great day, folks. I know I will.
Kathy (-120 lbs total)
Mary 
That's wonderful Kathy! Congrats!
I remember all too well the days of the torturous scales in middle school. Even though they never loudly called out the numbers when we weighed, it was amazing how the entire class would become hushed when it was my turn to weigh as all of my classmates strained to get a peak at the numbers. I would shift myself from side to side hoping to use my large body to cover the metal tabs as the teacher moved them higher and higher. I remember the first time the scale had to be moved to 150+. Everyone watched as she slide the bottom bar to 50, then 100, then to 150 before it decided to have mercy on me and tip the other way.
The physical fitness tests were torturous as well, especially the chin ups. My legs had a hard enough time holding my overweight frame upright let alone trying to encourage my arms to pick the same weight up off of the floor!
Speaking of badges of honor, a lady at work came up to my desk yesterday and noticed my brown suit jacket hanging up on a clothes hanger at my desk. She said, "Oh, what a beautiful jacket", however, she then picked it up and turned it facing the other way. She said, "Dear, everyone could see the label." I was shocked and near tears. I do work for a major defense company and there are some very high dollar suits running around, but my JCPenny suit is nice in my opinion (and is big bucks to me considering most of my clothing comes from Wal-Mart). It was my first "expensive nice clothing" purchase after my weight loss. I thought to myself, "how dare she make fun of my clothing!" I guess my insult began to show because she quickly said, "You can see the size 12 on the jacket. Women don't tell what size clothes they wear even if it is just a size 12." Just a size 12 I thought. I smiled and told her that it was my badge of honor to be in a size 12 and quickly gave her a summary of my journey over the last 16 months. She smiled and turned my jacket back around for my size 12 badge to proudly show and congratulated me on my success.
Wear your badge with pride and honor Kathy. You have truly earned it!
Heather
Laurie Wow, Heather....
That's an interesting story about your jacket. I was wondering if the woman was southern and saying something like "southern women don't show their size tags" or something like that. Glad she understood that to you - it was a badge of honor! Excellent!
Thanks, Heather! Yes, I'll wear it proudly. This is not something I boast about to friends or family but I know folks here truly understand.
Kathy
I have a weight related scarring memory too;
In the third grade we were just learning how to figure averages. So my teacher decided to use our weights, so that we could figure the class average. Third grade...
I weighed in at 112 lbs, just about 40 lbs more than the other kids. I remember going to recess and crying by myself over the embarrassment.
The humiliation we had to go through, that was tough stuff. Glad those days are behind us!
Carol
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