Dana, Becky, Kathy B, George, and other TMB's.... Thank you!
JESSICA-I should have posted to you days ago..I apologize for not doing so. I have followed your journey since the beginning (my memoery is remarkably good for an old person). You are a BEAUTIFUL young lady who has taken charge of her health.
Self doubt? Anyone who says they DON'T have that is probably lying. I am VERY confident about some things in my life (like being a hospice nurse, etc)...but in other areas...like body image..I totally suck...I think most of us do...You are NOT alone....
My best "advice"...do NOT wait until September to start meeting peeps IRL (in real life). Midlothian isn't that far, and I happen to know they have a great Starbucks. Our DFW Supporter group is at Tawnya H's house in Mansfield the middle of June (17th? it's a Wed)..Come join us-OMG-you'll meet a whole mess of us at one time, plus T has a fabulous guest speaker lined up...Didn't you come to the Ft Worth support group once, when it was at a coffee house, or do I have you confused with someone else from Midllothian?
Anyhoo-meeting peeps NOW will take alot of the edge and nervousness off attending the conference for you-you will already feel you are amongst "family".
ok...that concludes my novel for today....
Gina AKA Nurse Diva
RNY 4-22-02...
LW: 6lb,10 oz SW:340lb GW:170lb CW:155
We Can Do Hard Things
Thank you so much for the kind words. I am GOING to make it to the support group on the 17th-- NO excuses. I'm going to just "do" it, and not over think or become self doubt. It's time that I step into my growth state and EMBRACE what I have in front of me-- you all who are so understanding and supportive. I tell all my friends about the "OH- TMB" members and how it's the place were I feel safe with sharing my fears and happiness without being judged, I feel accountable here, and accepted.
The only support group/meeting I have attended was pre-op in June of 2007 at the Doctor's hospital where I met Stephanie G (who I absolutely admire) both of us where pre-op and had to attend the support group before surgery.
I always think about going and plan on going, but somehow I let me "negative" messages convince me that I do not belong or something... Not that you all HAVEN'T been accepting and welcoming, and all of that-- its the "get out of my head and in front of my nose" statement.
Jess
RNY 4-22-02...
LW: 6lb,10 oz SW:340lb GW:170lb CW:155
We Can Do Hard Things
It will only get better from here. I think the point I wanted to make in that endless thread are two things.
We peeps that seem to be so comfortable and relaxed and knowing everyone are NOT. We are taking a risk when we extend ourselves to meet the new folks and our FEAR is rejection as well.
We have spent much of our lives as VICTIMS of fat prejudice and endless insecurity. But we can CHOOSE to hide in the corner or at a table all along or hiding out in another room all together and remain a VICTIM; or we can take a deep breath and walk in remembering that all these NEW peeps never knew us as a victim or most times, even fat.
I am going to try very hard to remember to reach out to all those first timers at events before it even happens to make sure they have their buddy walking in right along side of them.
You have done a wonderful job in your journey and WE are very proud of you; not only for the weightloss but it taking on this fear of rejection and overcoming it!
Becky
forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different
