It made me cry...

   But in a good way... I know you guys will understand what I am saying here.  I still see myself as a 300 lb. woman.  Not, like other see me now.  I knew from the beginning that body image would be an issue for me.  I am trying to combat that by buying clothes that fit me and learning to take compliments graciously.  I had a MAJOR WOW moment over the weekend. One of my son's baseball coaches wives made a DVD for all the kids with video from this years games.  She gave one to each player at the last game of the season.  After my son watched it he kept telling me I was in the video.  We finally took the time to watch it and I didn't see me!!!!  My husband said, "there you are, walking up to the field."  I still didn't see me.  I made him back up the video to watch it again.  And, sure enough, there I was.  I didn't recognize myself...all I could do was cry.  I couldn't believe that was me.  Man I don't see myself the way I should... --Kelly   

Kelly That brought tears to my eyes.  I so know what you are saying.  It is so hard for us to see ourselves without all the fat.  I am so glad that you finally see the beautiful you that everyone else sees Melissa

Great WOW moment And I know how you feel about thinking you are still 300 lbs.  I feel the same way.  Even though I know I am not "that fat chick"  I still feel it and I would love to know how to fix that.  I look in the mirror and even thought the image is smaller, it is still looks the same.  I am hoping with time and the plastics, that will change. Congrats on the WOW moment... That is awesome.

julie, plastics won't change that.  you need to see yourself as a beautiful person with some minor flaws that you can change.  my tummy is a little flabby (i am lucky not having too much excess skin), LOADED with stretch marks (ok, not so lucky there), and pretty unattractive.  i don't care about that cause it is "fixable".  you HAVE to look in the mirror and see YOU, otherwise plastics won't help you.  you will just want more and more surgery to fix what can't be fixed.   ok, there is my therapy for the day.  now if i could just make my marriage work........

Thanks Sherry  You are right.  I have been debating back and forth about going and talking to a therapist because I feel like I am have so many body issues right now.  I think I will email Brenda and see what she thinks or if she has any suggestions. Thanks for giving me the kick the butt.

oh and for the record you are beautiful.  you need to see what others do.

thats awesome kelly!!! Now when youre feeling blah, you can go look at that and remember how far youve come and how great you look!!!! :)  

you look beautiful.  i think you should do what i have started doing (and believe me, it's not easy).  find what you like about yourself and focus on it.  i LOVE my calves now.  they look good for the first time in years.  i am even buying some cool shoes with heels to show them off.  i let my hair grow and i wear makeup now.  i am finally taking some pride in the way i look.  i don't focus on the aspects i don't like.  i will work on those later.

You are 100% correct.  I need to see the beauty in myself.  That is very difficult.  My husband said now you know why I worry about other men looking at you!!!   We have a standing joke in our house too that my husband looses me in stores all the time because he doesn't recognize me...he also said, see you don't recognize your self, now you know why I loose you all the time too!!! 

AAAAHHHHH.... between you and the guy who went hiking... this board is gonna need virtual kleenex!!!!