Thanks!!!

Thanks to those of you who complimented me on my new picture. This was a tough one for me. It probably sounds weird but I was waiting for a picture that I liked of myself. I didn't like any of them, and I didn't like this one either! I was going to keep holding out when a friend from the Minnesota board got after me and pushed me to post it. I think you are all getting to be so gorgeous and I was hoping I would find one of myself that measured up. Even though I am feeling so much better about myself these days and my 104 lb. weight loss is so great, I am disgruntled about the picture thing. Even though I have worked so hard on my self esteem, I sometimes imagine that I look better than I actually do so that when I see my pictures, I am disappointed that I don't look as good as I feel. Weird?? Any encouragement would help. Anyone else experience this?? Thanks June Bugs!! Hugs, Jo

Jo I completely understand the pic situation. I don't know what the old one looked like but i think you look pretty in this one. I had been getting much grief for not changing mine and the only way it happened is because a wonderful friend took one from a luncheon she saw, cropped it, emailed it to me with instructions on how to get it posted. Pictures are the only thing that helps me to see my true weight loss or how far i still need to go, or how huge i was. Pictures are an amazing things. I have gotten used to my picture being taken at OH outings but not looking at them. I would like to think in time this will get better for us both. Monica

oh jo (((hugs)))). boy, do i ever experience this. whenever i decide to take a new pic, it always takes me like 5 or 6 times. every pic i find something wrong with it. my stomach looks big or my legs look fat or my boobs look lop-sided or....you get the picture! i never dreamed of being the weight i am at now. i hear people say a lot that we shouldn't be obsessed with a number on a scale, we should go by how we feel. for me, the number on the scale i sometimes feel like is all i hvae to feel good about. i am not sure if i will ever like what i see in the mirror or in pictures... hugs~mary jo

I think it is so sad that we go through this. I hate my picture because I was not smiling, but it was the only one I had that I could use to show the difference before and after. I am down about 40 more lbs than that now too and I need a new one! I don't like myself in the mirror either. Saggy skin and I still feel HUGE! I do have alot more weight left to go, but I don't think I should feel so fat still. I am in counseling now to help with the body image thing and the other problems. I hope we work this out, but at least we know we are not alone. Wendy

Wendy, I have been considering starting counseling for the whole body image problem too. Did you contact a Doc with this as specialty type thing, or just any psycholigist? I can't marry the two images in my head. I know I have lost weight (obviously), but when I am folding laundry, if distracted while doing so, I start to wonder "Whose pants are these?" because the look too small. When looking in the mirror, it is the same body, just deflated. I wonder if the insurance companies realize this or even care when deciding whether or not to cover plastics. Best of Luck All, Laura 300/173/150?