How is YOUR self esteem these days?

Hello everyone, I thought I would pose a question to you all about our new found self esteem. I know mine varies from day to day a tiny bit. It all depends on what the scale is doing! Scales goes down, I can take on the world! Scale goes up, Eh, not such a good day. But overall, I think my self esteem has really improved. I am starting to think that I look better, therefore I feel better about myself. I can see the slimming of my face and that totally thrills me. There for so long I would not even other with make-up anymore. Years ago, I used to consider myself pretty, then with all the extra weight on my face, I felt that I was losing one of the only good things I had, my face. Now, I can look in the mirror and see the changes in my face and think, wow, maybe I will be pretty again someday! Thats a great feeling! I still have a hard time looking through catalogs and stors, I want to pick up the bigger sizes. I do go ahead and pick up what size I think should fit me now and when it fits, it is always a shock! I am almost into an 18 now, mostly 20/22 depending on the item. But at 18 I would be skinnier than when I married my husband 13 years ago! My husband asked me yesterday...."how much DID you weigh when we got married, you would never tell me" SO I told him and it made us both think that I am almost back to that weight now! How is your self esteem now, yesterday, tomorrow, and what makes you feel good about yourself since losing weight? Tracy

Tracy, Right now my self image is pretty low. I am still heavier than most of you started out at and to top that off, I now have loose skin and am becoming the shape of a gourd The good news is, it surely can only get better from here Jackie

Tracy, I would have to say that I usually have a much higher self esteem than I used to. I am about 5 pounds smaller now than the day I met my hubby and that was 10 years ago. I am almost in a size 14 and I haven't been that since the 9th grade!! I am getting some loose skin on my arms and the upper part of my thighs. To be honest it isn't as bad as I thought it would be...but then again I still have 45 pounds to go to get to goal. ~Rachel

I have always (well, for years anyway) had a healthy self-esteem when it came to intellectual things, work, being a friend, etc. I didn't have good self-esteem about my appearance though and am now starting to realize how I just tried to find clothes that "FIT" and didn't care much about what they really looked like. Now, I'm beginning to enjoy working on my appearance. I have always worn foundation but not any other make-up for the last 10 years.....now, I'm experimenting again. And I've worn the same hairstyle for, oh my gosh, about 25 years (short, layered and permed) so I am now in the process of growing it to one length and hoping to get a wedge-type cut--and to go without a perm. And I'm very excited to soon be getting into some neat clothes. I was cleaning out my closet the other day and it is now almost bare, but I said, aloud (even though no one was there).."I will not wear clothes I don't like anymore." Wow, how liberating! SO my self-esteem in my appearance is getting closer to my other aspects of my self-esteem! I think the last time I was my current weight was early in my pregnancy with my youngest son.....and he is 11 now. Jenni -63

I have never had a self esteem problem. At 208 lbs and 4'11" I didn't feel as fat as I was--go figure. Perhaps it was because my fat was pretty evenly distributed. I am now glad that I am able to fit into old underwear and bra's. Can you believe I saved them from 7 years ago pre-pregnancy. I fit into my 34C bra yesterday!!! Thumbs up. I am now having problems with compliments. Lately I have been receiving alot. It makes me uncomfortable. I have always been a giver not a receiver. Sounds like a counceling session huh. I feel acqward and don't know what to say except thank you. Mind you, most folks don't know about my surgery. Like I said I don't like to draw attention. The critical me thinks to myself yah I still have 35 more to go. Long ways away from where I want to be.

I am still having a hard time saying, WOW! I've lost a lot of weight and I look good. People give me compliments all the time, but I guess I'm really hard on myself. A part of me thinks I should have lost faster and/or more than I have. I think that I should look better than I do. I think I should have more energy when by 10:00 I can't hardly keep my eyes open any longer. I think I should be Super Woman!! Wait, did I say that out loud. My goodness what is wrong with me, the other part of me says. Great job Jill! You are actually walking, exercising, and watching what you eat and NOT even thinking about cheating on a daily basis. I'm just moving along singing a song! I've learned to accept and be very thankful for those compliments because at times its what keeps me going. I am thankful that God had heard my prayers and gave me WLS. In ALL His wisdom He knew that I could NOT do this by myself. Have a great day! Jill

ok, now this is funny. I identified with at least one statement from each of the above posts...laugh with me now: Never had low self esteem so to speak.........but now I ask my self quite often "just HOW fat was I?" always thought I had a nice face.......wicked cool to see my bone structure again. fitting into a size 18........what I always considered my prime in high school never wore much make-up......just went and bought some new make up always had long hair, no style.........just had hair severely cut and styled used to handle compliments well.........just went to a wedding where everyone was making a fuss over me and all I wanted to do was shut them up *I can't believe they didn't see the batwings that hung down below the short sleeves of the dress* was upset when I had to walk to the store.........now I exercise 6 days a week, and lecture my husband on his eating habits....... Its really amazing the changes that can take place in 3 months.