Patricia, You know if not for the pictures and the seeing it there that I have lost this much, I would not be able to see it at all. I think we will always have a fat mind or at least until there is no fat there to see. I think part of it with me is that I see the loose skin and I see that as fat. I used to not wear shorts either but I have started and I really dont feel badly, Ive got the loose skin on my thighs and its bad but I can live with that much better than I can this tummy and boobs and even my batwings. Honey I could fly south for the winter with these arms! I do think the skin is the lesser of two evils but we did not come this far to be unhappy now did we? I am proud of my loss and no I could not have done this much before on any other diet, I am so thankful for that but I have also worked to hard to not love myself. Ive went from not liking me because im fat to not liking me because when im unclothed im ugly. I see myself as that way now. All my life Ive wanted to be beautiful. Its hard to see yourself as that when you see skin that is so gross and horrid. It kind of puts a damper on the excitement of having lost over 100 lbs. Double that with knowing that you are so very very close to goal but still not able to feel normal? its tough on your mind and your heart. I try to be optimistic but it gets harder when so many tell you that youve done wonderful and your pretty and you get all these compliments and then you know that they would never say that if they just knew what you were hiding under your clothes. I feel embarrassed around my own husband, I feel like im letting him down in a way. He loves me loose skin and all and it doesnt bother him a bit but ive lost the weight for ME now I want to be attractive and beautiful for HIM. I love my inside, I love me as a person, im a much better person than I used to be, but I want to love the outside as well. Its a long road to hoe honey. I just pray that in time we all begin to love ourselves a little more and accept ourselves for who and what we are. Thanks for listening hon. Hugs, Carol

Jesse, you are an inspiration to us all. Great job!! You look Mahvelous!!! I also said passing my and my doc goals was all added bonus, just to have the medical problems under control was well worth it all. My goal was set with doc at 190, my 9month annivesary is wed the 30th and I am at 175 and off 15 of the 17 meds. So keep up the good work! Patricia

I agree about the movie loudness, last movie I got my hubby to see was Titanic and he complained for months. Refuses to go back, says he wants to see and hear a movie not a concert. Take in some sunflower seeds with you, instead of the popcorn, it's a killer. Patricia

Carol, don't be so hard on yourself. They say it will take up to 2 years for our bodies and our minds to fall into place with our weightloss. It has happened pretty quick. I mean we women develop a beautiful child inside us in 9 months, You have just the size of a teenager!! LOL I understand you on the excess skin issue, I also am fighting it, and found out yesterday my Ins deied my TT when I have my hernia repaired. I sag from my arms to my knees. But only my family see that part. The best thing was a family reunion on father's day, people telling me they don't remember me this size since the 70's and they are right. I now weigh 175, I weighed 172 in the 7th grade! I will learn to live with the skin it is better than before WLS. Chin up, and embrace that new beautiful person in the mirror. I have studied my own pictures monthly just to help me understand how I look now. Makes a difference to see me standing there with my 19 yr old daughter or with my husband, we all wear the same size, some of mine are even smaller now. You will grow on you,LOL best wishes, Patricia 314/175 (15 past goal)

I to am a lurker. My husband wear earplug Sharon -106 My plateau is broken today