I gotta have a mini-vent...

Oh my!!! Thank you so much everyone! Your responses made me feel so much better. Rarely do you ask for support or advice and receive such heart-felt, truly positive and EMPATHETIC advice! And Bernice, what your niece said just put me over the edge!  

Looking at ourselves from the eyes of those who love us so much, it's LUDICROUS for us not to love ourselves in every way just because we are/were overweight. I have to be careful about saying self-deprecating things to the people who love me because sometimes it catches them so off-guard, I think they are hurt. They don't see any reason for us not to be at every event, in every picture, at every sleep over, on every trip and generally just by their side as they go through the most important events in their lives. I've always tried to maintain some semblance of self confidence alongside my weight struggle, but it's just become especially hard this past year. But I DO need to embrace that part of myself that's just me...only my weight will change after surgery.

Thank you all so much for your support and your kind words. I am so happy that I learned of OH so that I can meet all of these news friends. Your success is truly amazing and it keeps me going every day!!!

Laura -

I still struggle with this, but let me share some words of wisdom.  The people that love you love you for what you are on the inside, not the outside.  I know it sounds trite, but it's true.  Think about the people YOU love - do you love them any less because of their differences?  No, because you're looking at them through love - and love filters everything.

Things will change for you, but the people who love the real Laura will continue to do so!

Hang in there!

Hugs,

Tia

Oh sweetie (((Hugs))) I was so in the same exact boat as you a year and a half ago! I skipped out on a wedding because I could NOT fit in a dress. How vain was that? I felt AWFUL! I didnt want to be the laugh of the party and even though I knew I would not be I had that fear. YOUR BEAUTIFUL!!! You truly are and you will look amazing no matter what you have on...if I know anything about you girl its that YOU DO HAVE STYLE! You have beautiful clothes! So you hold your head HIGH and you focus on your FRIEND and everything else will fall in place I PROMISE YOU!!! 
                                                       Your time is ALMOST HERE and if you want I can send you Nadja's email and you can send her a "I dont mean to be a bother but do you know if I have a surgery date yet or not?" She emails everyone back right away! SHE ROCKS!!!!!
                 YOUR GONNA HAVE THIS SOON I FEEL IT....VERY VERY SOON!!! I am excited for you sweetheart!!! By the time YOU are taking that walk down your own aisle you will be having trouble keeping that size 6 wedding dress up on your ever shrinking narrow ass body! 

                                            Im here if you need ANYTHING honey and I mean it!!!

Laura, Let me say first thanks the beautiful Valentine surprise box. I loved everything and can't wait to eat the s/f candy. Thanks again.
Second I can relate and I know how you feel. I also know that if someone really loves you they love you no matter how big or how small you are. They should also be willing to make accodomations for you as needed. You are beautiful no matter your size. I hope that you can got to these events and hold your head high and be proud of who you are no matter your size.

                                                                                                 Julie

THank you so much girls! Your words are so comforting and so true. I just need to stay focused on the the prize! Thank you!!!
You are all my fairly godmothers!


Julie - you are most welcome. I hope you enjoy!

Patience my dear, patience.  This too will pass. We've all been there and done that.  You forgot to mention the pure embarrassment of putting on your bathing suit, along with all your normal sized friends, and prancing down to the hotel pool area only to find that you can't even sit in the lounge chair, much less get out of it!!  That's a favorite of mine.  I would sit there in the hot steaming sun trying to figure out how I was going to get out of the chair without it collapsing.  You didn't get to where you are overnight, and you're not going to get where you are going overnight either.  But, it does happen ... and by August you will be celebrating the fact that you can get your butt right out of that lounge chair by the pool!  I hope to be there right next to you!

I love it! Thank you for your response. It's awesome to hear from friends who are not only successful in weight loss but GROUNDED emotionally enough to give such sage advice. And you're right...I did forget to mention "chair drama". Oh there's always some chair drama, isn't there?

Awww Laura....your such a sweet, beautiful person!

Like everyone says, we've all been there. I don't think there is one person that hasn't felt that way before on here!

Your worrying over stuff that probably hasn't crossed your friends' minds.

Trust me, your time is coming..... Like they say, this too shall pass.

Thank you so much! What a wonderful compliment.

I'm hangin there...

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. Change is comming trust me