Head meets reality

So my niece got a cell phone for her birthday and took my picture so that it would pop up when I called her.  After she snapped the pic she showed it to me.  My first reaction was - "That's not me, that's your mom!"  I couldn't understand it - I knew she just took a picture of me - I know my sister (her mom) had straight hair that day - but I wasn't seeing me - I was seeing my sister - who's three years out from surgery and a lot smaller than me.  My mom and other sister both mentioned that they had said the same thing over Easter - but I wasn't part of the conversation. What a weird reality to realize! It's so weird that we don't see the same thing in the mirror that we can see in pictures.   This head thing is such a mystery to me!

How AWESOME is that?!?!?!  Congrats sweetie!

WOWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  I know what ya mean about the head thing.  You are very beautiful and gorgeous.  I admire you sweetie.......    You have come so far and it's awesome keep up the great work..... Love ya  Marsha

I know what you mean.  My head is getting behind, too.  I am totally fascinated with myself these days.  It's like I had a brain transplant recently, I'm learning a whole new body a face.  It's all the same, just maybe a little smaller, at least to me when I look inthe mirror, but boy can I see changes when I look at pictures.  I look so  different than I did a year ago!  Oof, when I look at those pics from a year or more ago, it amazes me that I was THAT big.  I've got a ways to go yet, but I'm never, ever, going back. 

The mystery continues... I totally agree that pictures and the mirror and our self perseption are all totally different things post op. I actually carry a pic of me from start to now, each month I take another pic and keep it to show myself the difference and the huge accomplishment I have made. I have to look at each of the pics almost daily just to see the difference. Other people around me actually say they can't even remember the "old" me until I show them pics. Their brains just automatically are set to the "new" me. You look amazing though, and to us you look like Tracy! You  are truely an inspiration to others here.

Tracy that is so awesome!!  I am so happy for you!! Love and hugs.....connie d

Very cool! You are looking good.

Rock on BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  Keep up the good work!!!  You're looking and doing great!!! Hugs, Colleen

It IS odd, how we can see ourselves in the mirror and not be phased, but we can look at a 30 second old photo and freak out!   I still can't get over how fabulous you look.  Every time I looked at you last Weds. I thought 'MAN, is that girl getting slim!'  I should have said it, but you would have blown me off, anyway - so I'm saying it here:   "MAN, IS THAT GIRL GETTING SLIM!!!" Even myself - I took a picture with my phone while at Albertville Outlets on Sunday, soaking up some sunshine.  I couldn't actually SEE the picture on my phone, 'cuz it was so bright out, but when I thought to look at it that night?  It's like - who is the woman with the cheekbones in that picture???  Even Rich can't get over how different I look from the woman in our wedding picture.  I still see ME, but photos don't lie!

Do I ever hear you sistah! The wierd thing, when I was THAT BIG, I never saw myself as that big.  I knew I was overweight, even MO, but my eyes didn't see me as that way.  Now, I still don't see myself as thin as I am, it is really wierd.  I see pics of myself from before surgery and I am physically disgusted with the way I was (don't flame me, I can't help it. And I don't get that way with other overweight & MO people, just myself). Yet, I see myself as heavier than what I am, and that is just so wierd.  I think I can understand a little better what anorexics go through when they think they are fat...just a bit of an extreme from what I am seeing now....