Cindy, Jan, Ellen.....

I feel sorta like I somehow may have hurt your feelings. I would never in a million years try to bring anything but inspiration to you all. I am sorry for going on and on this morning, I just wanted to share and celebrate all the joy that I felt. I was not trying to compare myself to anyone else, or brag for that matter. I was just shouting my praise out loud!!! You all are such wondrous and beautiful women that are strong and brave. Each of you has helped me find some confidence in myself. One of the things I was talking to a friend about was how you all are so confident and open. That made me so jealous at the tub and tea. I so badly would love to shine the way you were and stand tall and fell confident about me. The numbers can never define who we are and we need to remind ourselves of that each day. I think Dawn said it best, can you think of three things that you can do now that you couldn't before? I bet that list could be stretched to at least 10 in a few minutes of reflection. I hate the word only! "I have only lost 3 lbs. last month..." I love to try and remember to say that I was blessed with loosing another three pounds last month. Praise yourselves for the many wonderful things you are and have done for you and your health! And just a last note about me, I think I have a touch of OCD so maybe that has something to do with all my "success" Blessings and praise to you all, Carmen PS Happy rebirth to you Cindy!!

Carmen, Maybe, I am wrong, but I don't think that you hurt their feelings! I thought of it as, not everyone has enjoyed their journey as much as you have explained in your post! That is not to say that they/we aren't happy for YOU - but that some may feel that their accomplishments didn't seem to be as much as yours. That being said, that is not fair, everyone loses differently and each journey is individual! WE all know that you have worked VERY hard and exercised like a mad woman LOL- I am happy for you! I on the other hand have unfortunately not put as much effort into my journey as you have and it shows! I am not saying by any means that I am uncomfortable with my wow moments or my journey, I am, but I also know that if I or anyone else for that matter wanted to do more we probably could but haven't! Again we are each individual and have our own struggles! YOU have done an awesome job on your journey and should be proud of your accomplishments! Your new image is amazing and your success is an inspiration! Cindy, is an inspiration in her own journey to many as well! I hope that she sees it and is able to realize that her accomplishments are her own and she is worthy of being happy for her own achievements! We all I believe struggle somewhat with the fact that we have fallen off of the wagon and could have done more, on and on, but we all need to realize that we are on our journeys together, we are each different, food choices, drink choices and exercise choices as well as many other things, but we are human and all are not comfortable with ourselves! Unfortunately for some of us our heads are not caught up with the weightloss as well as our esteems! For you to show us your PS was amazing and I applaud you! I don't know that I could do it. I appreciate you and the many that have shared their pics with me and others, it is needed and has helped BUT my own insecuries leave me to wonder if I could ever be that brave! Funny, you mention in your post that that being open by some at the tub and tea left you feeling a little jealous! I wonder- GIRL you should not have been feeling any jealousy as we were all so in AWE of you! YOU my friend couldn't have been much more OPEN. You shared your yourself openly and we are proud and happy for you! I think some of us, at least myself, wait for the day to be as comfortable and secure with our weightloss and our journeys as well to be as confident as you and able to have been such a success! You were able to do it in less than a year! I again applaud you! I hope that this helps for all of us to see that WE all are at different stages and even though we ALL know that numbers shouldn't play a part- it does, unfortunately for MANY! We ALL have chosen this path to better ourselves and love to see each others accomplishments BUT it is hard for some to see this in themselves! I am one of them! Hope everyone can be encouraged by your courage and strength to do the best that you could, it has paid off for you! I hope that you know that I mean no harm to your post and am trying to both see that I am hoping that there has been some misunderstanding! Hoping that everyone can see their own journey as a blessing and different! As well be able to be blessed to share in each others WOW's and accomplishments, too! ;dance: Love ya, hugz Dawn I hope that this has not come acrossed HARSH on ANYONES part that is NOT my intent! I believe that many struggle with accepting their individual success and yet we are still happy for others who have done what seems to be much more than "US" individually speaking therefore it sometimes seems so irrelevant to post when we don't see our accomplishments are worthy- does that make sense ? I hope! Sorry so long, hope it helps, someone, at least! Hugz Dawn

Oh Carman Sweety, Never in a million years would I be offended by anything you say! I certianlly hope I didn't offend you!I am really excited about every accomplishment you /I/Jen/Cindy~& everyone has!! I really have appreciated every word of encouragement and support you have given and hope that you feel the same. PLEASE don't feel as if you said anything out of order- I applaud & celebrate YOU!! You have every reason to feel proud of all you've done- you've worked HARD for every bit of loss & change you have made and are a true inspiration! You are such a wonderful person, and I love you! (((hugs))) Ellen

Carmen, Please don't feel that you have hurt my feelings in any way. That is absolutely NOT true. I only mentioned your post because you were so obviously aware of all the good that has come your way through the effort you have made. I felt like I had failed to notice all the good things that have happened over the last year and I envied your ability to do just that. I don't (and couldn't) begrudge you that. I only want to learn to emulate such positive behavior and attitude. I was a very pessimistic person when I was younger and I have worked hard to learn to "look on the bright side" of things. When I had my son, I swore I was not going to worry over bills, housework, etc. and miss out on his childhood, and I didn't. But I feel like I fell short of this on my journey so far. I let too many things get in the way of paying attention to my achievements. Well, I can't undo this last year, but I'm going to pay more attention to this next one! You are an inspiration, not only with your weight loss success, but with the positive outlook you exhibit to the rest of the world and I want to be just like you when I grow up (when ever that is! ). Just know that I think you are a terrific person and couldn't be happier for you in all you accomplish. Cindy

Carmen, I'm nothing but thrilled for you. I do look at you for inspiration because you have done such a wonderful job on your weight loss. I'll bet you've done better than the average joe. Plus you are so darn nice. If anything, I've been a little dissapointed in myself for not being stricter with my diet and exercise. I wish I could be more like you. Things at home are going great, thank God. Work is getting me down. I have so much to do and can just never get it done anymore. It's the stress thing. I'm fine in the mornings and very optimistic that I can get caught up then He_ _ breaks loose and I'm behind again. I've been getting very depressed in the afternoons and grouchy. Then I want to snack and when I get home I'm so menatally burnt I don't want to exercise. I guess that is when I should be exercising. I wish I could run. I can walk for miles and miles and I've tried to start running but don't make it very far. What is the secret? Anyway, I'm sorry if you thought your success was bringing me down because I admire what you have done.