Trying to work up the nerve ...

Hi everyone! I'm trying to work up the nerve to go to this brand new class at my gym tonight. It's called "Group Groove" and it's an aerobics class where they play hip-hop and latin music and do dance moves for aerobics. They turn off all the lights and put a disco/strobe light on! Anyway, tonight is the very first class and I really, really want to go try it! But my old insecurities are getting the best of me and I'm convinced that everyone will laugh at me! I still see myself as the 307 pound person, even though I know full well I've lost 100 pounds, I just don't see it. I'm so torn right now ... do I go or do I give in to my insecurities???? It's scary!!! Anyone else trying new things like this? I told myself when I get below 200 pounds, I was going to try the rock climbing wall at the gym. I'm only 7 pounds away from that goal and now I'm getting worried!!! Deanna

Hi Deanna! I TOTALLY understand what you are saying! I went into Victoria's Secret to see about getting a bra and I felt sooo self conscious I finally just left. Afterward, my husband was like why didn't you buy anything so I told him how I was feeling and he was like there were far bigger girls than you shopping in there. Yet, I felt like everyone was thinking what is she doing trying to shop in here doesn't she know she's too big (even though I'm not...)? I guess at least I made myself go in and that in itself was a victory for me. So anyway, enough of me rattling on...I think you should go. If it's that bad and you really hate it you don't have to go again, but if you go you are kicking the old insecurities butt and maybe the next thing you try will be just a little easier...You can do it!!! Hopefully our brains play catch up with our bodies really soon and we don't have to go through this anymore!!! Hugs, Bobbie

Girl get on out their and shake your groove thang!!!!! Have you lost the whole 100 or so lbs since WLS or some before?? I'm sure everyone lookng on dont see the 307 lbs person, I've read alot of profiles and it seems alot of "us" have a problem seeing ourself small. One of the girls I talk to started out at 291lbs and is now 145, LOOKS JUST GREAT!!! She says she still sees a fat person, thats just US as women OK OK I'm rambling now. No worries, ok????????? Simone

Hey there Deanna - Go try it - it will probably be fun, and you will be so busy dancing that you won't have time to think about how you look! I joined a Dodgeball league; this past Wednesday was my first game. I was very nervous and apprehensive too, but it ended up being a lot of fun (though I'm discovering soreness in muscles that I didn't know I had). Oh, and my team lost 9 out of 10 games.... Good luck! Heather

Good Morning Deanna! I hope you work up the courage to try that new class. I live my life under the premise that if i die tomorrow i want everyone to know that i lived my life to the fullest! Think about it doll, no one there knows you, it's a chance to let the real Deanna come out and play, she's been hiding for a long long time! Be Well and go with your hearts desires it'll be the best thing you did just for you in a while. Hugs, ANDI

Hi Deanna Well it's tomorrow now so I'm not going to encourage you to go to class as you've already made that decision ha ha. Anyway, I hope you did go. I try to live by this phrase - to live without risk, is to risk not living. We had WLS to begin living again and living is not staying at home, staying in the 'safe' zone, it is getting out there - doing all the things we didn't do because we were overweight. So we are still overweight but not nearly as overweight as we were. We have already taken a huge risk by having WLS. I want to and am trying to live my life, now that I've been set free. We are no longer slaves to food and the consequences of food. We have choices and are not controlled by negative external forces. Let's all get out there and make the risk we took by having WLS worth it and not wait til tomorrow, or until we reach xxxlbs weight loss, until we look better, until we 'see' the thin woman we actually are, until we feel more confident, etc. We gain confidence by doing, small step by small step - how do we know we fit into a smaller clothes size until we take the risk and try it on, how do we know we've got more energy until we exercise? Ok, I've rambled and most of this is telling myself! But seriously, I once heard Oprah saying play the what if game. What if, and then think of the worst thing that could happen and how you would deal with it. What if you went to the class and people laughed at you. You would maybe not go back, but they are poeple you don't know so it wouldn't really matter, at least you'd tried. What if you went and couldn't keep up - you could stop part way through and do a bit more next time. See what I mean. With the what if game you can ALWAYS find a positive outcome and see that the what if's are mostly worse in our minds and emotions than they really are. Sorry for rambling on - I've quite got into this now and need to go away and think some more on it - for myself. Thanks for listening Ruth