Do you find yourself keeping your WOW moments quiet?

I have been guilty of doing so. Sometimes out of some type of respect for my friends and family that are over weight and also I struggle so much w/ the idea of tooting my own horn! I was raised in a family where you just don't boast or brag I guess the only thing we could talk about were the negatives in  our life??!! Strange but true!! So I have so many WOW moments in the last 6 1/2 months but have been keeping quiet about them, how do I get over the idea that I am bragging, (which in my mind is a negative thing to do)!! Then in turn it seems if I can't  toot my horn a bit all those WOW moments are diminshed in my mind to almost nothing, how sad huh??!! I know that you guys would all understand my WOW moments but it still feels like bragging, which I just can't seem to do! Help me celebrate the WOW's in my life!!

Linda - it's really NOT a fine line between enjoying successes and bragging.  The most important thing in my mind would be KNOW your AUDIENCE.  Sharing successes here is an easy way to celebrate.  We are all in the same boat, having similar experiences and are the perfect group to share with.  It's OK to share with others, though it may bring up their own issues, or worse, make they think you are trying to influence them.  We all know how it felt to have others point out our defects or compare themselves to us. 

My brother, who is five years out, and doing great cautioned me to be sure and celebrate and appreciate the surgery for myself. We did it for ourselves, our health, and our future.  It is NOT magic, we have to work the tools.  But if we neglect to celebrate at times, it will not seem like we did anything!   
 
You deserve to recognize your wow moments and we all delight in each other successes, because it gives us all HOPE.

This is the perfect place to celebrate your WOW moments!  We all understand the ups and downs of the process, and can celebrate with you.  People who haven't had WLS or who have issues with weight are not usually going to be able to appreciate your successes, and can easily downplay them.  I had a significant struggle in that a couple of friends were jealous of my success, and my sharing my WOW moments with them made it worse.  Once I backed off on that, things were better in those friendships.  But I still needed to celebrate, so I did so here or with others who had WLS.  Congratulations on your success!

Thanks so much!! One side of me wants to shout from the roof tops I just lost over 100# in 6 months and the other side of me says we keep our mouths shut and don't brag!!!! But just picture me on the roof top yelling right now   "I really did just lose 100#!!!"

You know - your WOW moments are worn on your sleeve (er...ah...and on your hips!) everytime people see you that knew you before.  You don't have to SAY anything because they know.  I know it feels good to let people know but I am finding enough people ASK that I can get some of my joy from that. I'm only out two weeks from surgery but I'm down 30 lbs from my highest (when insurance approved me July 28, 2009). 

You go girl!

I find that I would much prefer to toot my horn here on OH and at support group meetings and not so much at home or work. Picking and choosing where to do that seems to work for me.

RP

Wow!!!!!!!  100 pounds.  Do you know how hard that is to do?   YOU did it!   I can't wait until I have lost 100 pounds.  Congratulations.  I never would have known that if you didn't mention it!!!  Good going - you are inspiring me.

Linda, this is the PERFECT place to shout your WOWs from the mountain tops!   Those of us who have experienced our own WOW moments will not only understand and applaud yours, but be reminded of how GOOD they feel! 

And for those who haven't yet made it to their own WOW moments, reading about them here ENCOURAGES THEM to never give up their efforts to get surgery, to be successful with surgery, and to recognize the milestones they reach along the way!

Also - sometimes, the boards get a bit overburdened with negatives - struggles, perceived failures and such.  We ABSOLUTELY deserve and OWE IT TO OURSELVES to CELEBRATE our successes and achievements!

YAY YOU!!!!      

Wow!!!!!!! You look AMAZING! toot toot!! ;)

Linda, your avatar looked so good that I didn't even bother to look at your ticker.  Just figured that you were "THERE" and looked wonderful.   Then I read the 100 pounds part and I think you deserve a huge attagirl!    You have worked hard and it shows so we all applaud you.   WAY TO GO!!

Tuna