For the rest of us!

Well, I haven't done it, and I doubt I will, but there are so many posting their pictures and whinning, yes whinning when you look so beautiful, so fit and healthy, about the rolls, etc. Apologizing for crying out loud for looking totally awesome!! I would love love love to post a picture of me - in bathing suit or shorts, or whatever --and show you all what you could look like except for your age, your good genes, your wonderful skin. and probably hard work cause I am sure most of you do work harder at exercise than my little yoga, pilates, and water aerobics -- and how truly lucky you are! And to validate to anyone else out there who is looking like me - there must be some, surely I'm not the only Shar Pei pup out there!! The only thing is I have to have someone take the picture and I don't have the guts to ask anyone, not even my husband. So you all are spared from that ugliness!! Seriously though, it really points out that we have had so many body image issues during our obese years, that no matter what we look like, how good and normal we look, we just see the old fat person. We have got to let that go. I've always said that when I weigh 150 you can expect to see me on the cover of Cosmopolitan -- well now maybe More (the older magazine). But I forgot about the sags!! love donna

You're right Donna, we all have not adjusted to the new body in our minds and although we look "much better" than we did- there is the hope that it will all magically be perfect when the weight is gone.I don't think of any of us look forward to having any type of reconstruction surgery but that is probably the case for most if not all on some level. For those who don't- I am thrilled for them. I suspect that you do not look as bad as you think either. So stop your whining That is said with MUCH MUCH love! I am gonna post a half naked picture here in a few days to show what I am working with.. so prepare yourselves. LOL.. have a good one hon!

ha ha -- whew!!! I was so afraid I was being rude. I sure hope no one takes it as that. But what you say is so true, we just have trouble seeing ourselves in a good waay. And okay, I won't whine either!! I am hot hot hot!!! But I still think I better not post a picture!! Can't wait to see the nudie!! love donna p.s. going to CA next week, but not your area. I may try to make it to Grass Valley, do you know where that is? I don't think it's by you but it's where my sister lives. Maybe more northern.

Donna, Wow, I hope you can make it to Grass Valley. That is about 20 minutes from me on the other side of Marysville ( yuba city and marysville hooked by a bridge ) I work in Grass Valley every morning right now. I started a new job tutoring autistic kids. Apparently I am certifiable according to my husband as he thinks ours is plenty to be dealing with. SoOO.. if you make it there I would LOVE to meet you.!! email me and I will give you my cell number. Heather

I've got that same 50+ wrinkly thigh and butt and tummy thing going on, not to mention GIANT bat-wings! And I love the way I look!!! I cannot even believe that I wear a size 12/14 (and one wonderful size 10 dress!) and that I am in the 150's! Maybe being older means we do appreciate more what we've done and that we can shed those stereotypes easier than the younger ones...maybe? I do still have a hard time believing that it has worked so well for me... Pam 53 years old 5'2" 282/156/145

Oh yeah, I forgot the bat wings!! But you know, Pam, they don't bother me that much. Now the tummy and thighs, that's a sight!! But I do look at myself, not quite in the 150s but getting close, and wearing smaller sizes than both my daughters, and smaller than I can ever remember wearing in my adult life - and I am giddy!! Like I said, a few more pounds and you'll see me on the cover of one of your favorite magazines!!! Yes, let's all rejoice -- we're working it!! love donna

Donna, You hit that one on the head. I now weigh about 145 and I am 5'10. I still have to ask if I look fat or are my clothes too tight. I have never been one to 'toot" my horn. I guess my self image is really something that I need to work on. Christine

Not to get off the topic here but Donna I am curious how did you get your avatar picture to look so good? It is not stretched this way or that and distorted, it is very clear. What am I doing wrong? If you can help that would be awesome!! Yes you are right about what you are saying and not rude. I know I am insane at least, I mean I am wearing a size 10, I am smaller than I was in high school, I have a 28 inch waist and I still ***** about my appearance all the time. What is wrong with me?? Who knows! We just can't see it even though we KNOW we must surely look better. Some day it will come hopefully but you look awesome too so no feeling sorry for yourself either! And I want to see a picture, have your husband take one soon!

Ha ha ha ha -- yeah right, I will definitely have my husband take a real nice bathing suit shot of me!! It's like when I went bra shopping with one of my daughters, which was a huge mistake, and she was in the room with me and I said, okay be prepared (by the way this is an adult daughter) for the tube socks with nipples on them, and then when she saw me she said 'ah, yikes what does dad say about those', and I said 'are you kidding, like I would let me see these girls!' Anyway, I got off point -- thanks Stacy, for the comment about my picture and the only thing I can tell you is I didn't do it!! I know there is the capability to load it on yourself, but I just sent my to the photo place at OH and they put it on for me. I think they get distorted if they are sized wrong when you send them, and then OH has to resize and it gets funky looking. If you're not in a big hurry to have it up (it takes 2-3 weeks) just send it to them as an attachment and they do the rest. I think the instructions are on the FAQ page. And a size 10, a 28" waist -- please, you are a tiny one!! I bet you never thought of yourself as tiny have you -- well I think you are. One thing that I think is helpful, and I was just doing it tonight, I have a scrapbook going of my wls with pictures along the way, and I go back and look at when I first started and I really can see a difference. Well cutie, thanks for popping in love donna

Yes Ms Christine, you are beautiful and you are not tooting!!! Just keep looking at those beautiful pictures of yourself and you will believe me!! love donna