Just some thoughts and observations

 Well said.  Although I am in the beginning stages of my wl journey, having lost 1/3 of my excess weight, I already feel a big difference. 

We went out to dinner last night (boy, was it hard not having anything from that bread basket!).  As I looked around the room, I notice a table across from us where there were two very obese men.  It saddened me to see how uncomfortable they were and I felt guilty looking over at them a few times as I didn't want to be like all those who used to look at me that way.

And when we first were brought to our booth, I still had to see which side had more room for me to squeeze into.  Then I reminded myself it didn't matter, because I'm smaller now.  I even had plenty of room between my stomach and the table.  

If having moments like that isn't a motivator, I don't know what is!!!

Have a blessed day everyone...
~ Barbara

Beautifully written! I know exactly how you feel, too, even though I'm just getting started. I went into Lane Bryant yesterday to get a pair of pants because all of mine are getting too big (yay!). I started out at a size 28, so I tried on a 26 - TOO BIG! My mom and husband suggested that I try a 24. I was hesitant. A size 24? Really? So I took them back to the dressing room, along with a size 18 shirt (WHOA!) and...

IT FIT PERFECTLY!!!!!

I was so stunned, I stood there in the dressing room staring at myself for a good five minutes. My husband, thinking it didn't fit and I was having my usual mental breakdown that happens when I've attempted to buy clothes in the past, knocked on the door to check on me. I swung the door open and posed for him, laughing. He was amazed and said (and I quote), "holy mamajamma! you look HOT!"

It feels so good and yet...I feel that all of this is but a dream, too flattering sweet to be substantial.

Anyway, congratulations on your weight loss and thank you for continuing to inspire mine.

Cheers!
La Professora

The feeling is like "winning the lottery" I totally identify,,,,,
I went out with friends yesterday for lunch and i'm truly grateful not to be able to eat as much as they can , or i Use to....it's a blessing, 

my band is my best friend.....

Well said.  About a year after my surgery I was walking toward a big reflective glass door at a mall.  There were a lot of people.in the reflection  I saw this slender woman in the refection and thought, gosh she looks nice and slender.  As I got closer to the reflection, I realized it was me.  What a great feeling it was.

You hit the nail on the head!  There are those on some of the other surgical boards who will state emphatically that they did not have WLS to remain overweight or to lose only x% of EW...I disagree and will be very happy to be merely overweight, because that is so much better than being MO.  It's not settling...it is a reasonable expectation based on band stats...

I am scheduled to have my lap bad done on May 6th,2011. Reading great stories likes this makes me excited to think that one day I will be where you all are.

I agree. I still have about 50 lbs. to lose, and even if I don't lose another lb.,it will still be worth it! I actually enjoy doing exercise. I can clean house on my day off in half the time. I spend the rest of the day having fun! I don't have to buy clothes in the plus size dept. anymore. I no longer look around when i'm in public and wonder if I'm the biggest girl in the room. I weigh less than my husband. Life in general is so much better. Would I still like to be high school skinny? Sure. It just feels really good to realistically believe that I'll eventually get there, when before I was hopeless.

"I weigh less than my husband"    You hit the nail on the head for one of my goals LOL.  I'm only 15 lbs away from weighing less than my DH, a day I thought would never happen!